All Blacks compared to Argentina’s World Cup-winning football side by Los Pumas star who admires their ‘culture and passion’
Argentina back-rower Marcos Kremer (inset) and the All Blacks performing the Haka.
Los Pumas back-row star Marcos Kremer has drawn a comparison between the All Blacks and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning football side ahead of this weekend’s Rugby Championship clash between the nations in Cordoba.
The 28-year-old is among several players who will make their first Test appearances of the year after being included in Argentina’s squad for this year’s prestigious Southern Hemisphere tournament.
Kremer, who currently plies his trade with Top 14 outfit Clermont Auvergne, is set to return to Los Pumas‘ matchday squad in Saturday’s clash with the All Blacks, whom he rates highly.
“What I admire about the All Blacks is their culture, their passion for rugby,” he told Reuters ahead of the eagerly anticipated encounter at the Estadio Mario Kempes.
‘You’ll always respect them because they’re the All Blacks’
“So, as Argentines, even if you’re in better form than them, you’ll always respect them because they’re the All Blacks.
“It’s like what any football team must go through with Argentina.
“It’s going to be a great match. We’re at home, with our people, in Cordoba, a place where rugby is a thing.
“I think right now it’s going to come down to the final minutes with a small difference between the teams, depending on how things go and how each team’s mindset and mentality work during the week.
“That’s going to be the key.”
Kremer has been struggling with a knee injury since last year’s Rugby Championship and is relishing the opportunity to return to the international arena.
“Playing in this jersey after not having played for two or three months, I don’t think there’s going to be much change,” he said.
Argentina head into their clash with the All Blacks after sealing a solid victory over Uruguay in their final mid-year Test, but prior to that, they suffered back-to-back losses on home soil against England.
More Los Pumas stars returning
However, they have been bolstered by the return of several stars, with Juan Cruz Mallía, Santiago Chocobares, Bautista Delguy, Mateo Carreras and Ignacio Ruiz joining Kremer as players who have been called up to head coach Felipe Contepomi’s squad for the first time this year.
Meanwhile, Contepomi has also been boosted by the return of Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia, Franco Molina and Joel Sclavi, who all started in Los Pumas’ memorable 28-24 victory over the British & Irish Lions in June but were rested during the two-Test series with England in July.
In other news, Benjamín Grondona, Emiliano Boffelli and Thomas Gallo were not be considered due to injury.
“We have to go all out, put those nerves aside, and focus on playing rugby, which we know how to do. We have what it takes, we have the players,” added Kremer.
“We know that if the forwards are performing well, we have players at the back that will allow us to fly a little bit more, so we’ll see on Saturday.
“In the meantime, we have to stay calm. There’s work to do, so we have to fine-tune the details and be ready for the weekend.”