Los Pumas legend’s plea before Springboks showdown after disgraceful England scenes: ‘Football is a different story’
Argentina’s conduct will be under the microscope this weekend when the nation returns to the international sporting stage for the first time since disgracing itself in football and rugby.
Los Pumas’ match against South Africa is widely billed as a warm-up for the world champions ahead of their four-Test ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series against New Zealand.
But those shocked by the behaviour both of Argentina’s footballers during and after the FIFA World Cup Final, and their rugby players against England on the same July weekend, will view the Buenos Aires ‘friendly’ as a litmus test of what lessons, if any, have been learned.
“The good thing about rugby is you can always look inwards and try to change and improve,” Federico Méndez, the Pumas legend, tells Planet Rugby.
Bottom line
Mendez is living proof of this. Sent off as a teenager at Twickenham for punching England’s Paul Ackford, he went on to win 74 caps and become the first player to win the Champions Cup twice, with Bath and Northampton.
“As rugby people, we know that what the referee says is the last word,” he continues. “This is rugby rules. You have to behave. You have to control yourself. It’s been the bottom line since rugby started.”
Those fortunate to have toured Argentina – as I have three times, in 1997, 2002 and 2025 – will vouch for the incredible sporting and cultural experience it is; from the warmth of the welcome to the passion on the terraces.
On the first of those visits, Méndez, himself, invited us to lunch at his family vineyard in Mendoza.
But one week in July has tarnished the country’s sporting reputation.
It started with the footballers celebrating their come-from-behind semi-final win over England by parading around the stadium in Atlanta with a banner referencing the Falkland Islands: ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’.
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Three days later the provocation continued on a rugby field in Santiago del Estero where the same two countries met in the Nations Championship.
The Pumas chose to wear a replica of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup kit, made famous by Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against – you guessed it – England.
Before both matches the English anthem was booed. During the rugby, a contest won 31-24 by England, the Pumas were guilty of a number of cheap shots off the ball.
At the final whistle, frustrated by the non-award of a Bautista Delguy try which would likely have changed the result, fly-half Tomas Albornoz first remonstrated, then made physical contact, with referee Angus Gardner.
An object was thrown at the Australian official from the stands. Albornoz was hit with misconduct charges by World Rugby. He will learn his fate before team selection for Saturday.
“Totally disgraceful, unforgivable behaviour,” rapped Ben Youngs, England’s most-capped player. “I hope there are bans dished out. No-one wants to see that in our game.”
A day later came the World Cup Final: Argentina’s extra-time defeat, Enzo Fernandez’s red card and Lionel Messi’s apparent attempt to get Marc Cucurella sent-off by claiming the Spain star covered his mouth when speaking to him.
It was when the game ended that they really lost their heads. Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala all involved themselves in altercations, prompting FIFA to open disciplinary proceedings for “offensive behaviour”.
“Football is a different story (to rugby) with the history between Argentina and England for that game and what happened afterwards,” says Méndez.
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“I think that’s kind of a cultural thing for the main Argentinian population. Soccer is crazy, for Argentina it’s like a religion.
“Of course, losing the final was something the people didn’t take very well, given Messi is 39.
“The feelings I went through, as a fan, during that tournament were unbelievable. To lose the final hurt but you have to live with it. That’s sport.
“With rugby, we have played many, many times against England and the rugby culture is right to play.
“I would just say in consideration, if you actually check what happened with the last try, you can see there was something wrong by the referee or the TMO. Something was not right.”
Méndez refers to the lengthy disagreement between Gardner and TMO Brett Cronan over whether to award Delguy’s score.
It was an extraordinary exchange. Gardner gave the try on the field before, eventually, and it seemed reluctantly, being persuaded to chalk it off by the eye in the sky.
“And that’s happened a couple of times,” Méndez adds, pointing to a Rugby Championship match in Townsville last year where Australia picked up two bonus points with a late try from a pass so forward even the Aussie commentators could not believe it was allowed to stand.
Saturday’s match at Estadio José Amalfitani pits the Pumas against one of the two countries to have kiboshed the Rugby Championship by setting up their own series, thus leaving Argentina and Australia to make alternative arrangements.
Lions warning
A year ago Felipe Contepomi’s side came close to denying the Springboks the Rugby Championship title in a thrilling encounter at Allianz Stadium.
If the Boks think this will be a straightforward run-out before the main business against the All Blacks, they would do well to remember how the British and Irish Lions fared against the same opposition last summer.
In a match arranged in Ireland to give Andy Farrell’s Lions a springboard into their Australia tour, Argentina triumphed 28-24 and, according to Farrell, “thoroughly deserved to win”.
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“The Lions was a new team, many players coming from different teams and put together,” says Méndez. “South Africa will be tougher, they are the best team in the world and have the strongest scrum in the game.
“Last year was the best level of rugby I have ever seen from Argentina. Felipe has created the best set-up the Pumas has ever had. But we are up against by far the best team in the world.”
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