My Rugby World Cup hero: Juan Martin Hernandez

Colin Newboult

Argentina's Juan Martin Hernandez during the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007, Pool D, Ireland vs Argentina at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France.

Ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, we dig through the archives to highlight a hero from the tournament. Next, Juan Martin Hernandez.

Player background

Juan Martin Hernandez was born on 7 August 1982 and is an Argentine legend after earning 74 caps for the national team between 2003 and 2018. A player who was equally adept at full-back, fly-half or centre, Hernandez began his career at amateur team Deportiva Francesa before he took the path trodden by many of his fellow countrymen over the years and moved to France.

It was at Stade Francais where his significant talent was recognised on a wider scale as he helped them to the Top 14 title in 2004 and ’07, while the talented back started in the 2005 Heineken Cup final defeat to Toulouse. Hernandez duly went into the 2007 Rugby World Cup as one of the stars in Europe and ‘El Mago’ then became a global icon during that tournament. Named at pivot, the playmaker starred as Argentina reached the semi-finals before they were eliminated by eventual winners South Africa in the last-four.

Those performances saw him nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award, but it would be eight years before he appeared at another World Cup following a serious injury sustained before the 2011 tournament. However, he made up for the lost time in 2015, primarily featuring at centre as Los Pumas once again thrilled onlookers by qualifying for the semi-finals. Hernandez, after two years with the Jaguares, then announced his retirement in 2018 having left an indelible mark on the game.

His Rugby World Cup moment

There were so many wonderful moments in a blue and white hooped shirt, but you cannot look past his efforts in the 2007 tournament and, in particular, Hernandez’s performance against Ireland in the group stage. The Argentinians had already shocked France in the opening match of the competition before they faced the Irishmen in the final pool game with qualification at stake.

Marcelo Loffreda’s men were favourites to make it into the last-eight, with Ireland needing to score four tries in securing a victory and prevent Los Pumas from gaining a bonus-point, but they were utterly ruthless in defeating the Six Nations side. Hernandez was to the fore, controlling play superbly from fly-half and kicking a remarkable three drop-goals during the 30-15 triumph.

That display saw Argentina seal their passage into the quarter-finals where they faced Scotland. Once again, the pivot kicked a drop-goal as they edged past Frank Hadden’s charges 19-13 to set-up a huge match against South Africa. Ultimately, the Springboks were too good, claiming a 37-13 victory, but the Argentines re-found their best form in the bronze medal encounter versus France. This was seen as a chance for revenge for the hosts, but Loffreda’s outfit were too good as they touched down four times in the 34-10 win. It ended a wonderful World Cup for both the team and Hernandez himself, who became a global star as a result.

This series is open to all our readers so if you have a World Cup hero – for whatever reason or from whichever country – then get on your computer and pay tribute to them in the above format. We will strive to publish as many as possible before and during the tournament. Email your piece to planetrugbyeditor@planetsport.com

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