Agustín Creevy and Pablo Materathe two most experienced men on the team The Pumas who is disputing the Rugby Championshipcelebrated the victory that the team led by Felipe Contepomi achieved this Saturday against New Zealand in Wellington for the first date of the most important national team competition in the southern hemisphere.
“When I was in the last ruck and looked at the stopwatch with Pablo (Matera), I couldn’t believe it. It is a dream that I had been looking for for a long time and it happened today. It’s no coincidence, it was what we came looking for. Today it is no longer so new to have beaten the All Blacks. “That is the progress of Argentine rugby.”highlighted Creevy, who entered in the second half to replace Ignacio Ruiz and scored a decisive try in his 109th game with the albiceleste shirt.
The 39-year-old hooker had not been called up for the July window matches against France and Uruguay, and had not participated in the training camp held in London in March. But the intercostal fissure that Julian Montoya suffered against the French allowed him to reintegrate into the squad and celebrate his first victory against the New Zealanders (he had not played in the 2020 and 2022 triumphs).
“Three weeks ago I was sitting in a chaise lounge on vacation with my family.and today I am here beating the All Blacks. Although I had never stopped training, I was very afraid. But I trusted what I had been doing, I trusted myself, and today we have this result, so I am very happy”celebrated the player who represented the English Sale Sharks last season.
Creevy thanked Felipe Contepomi for giving him a chance that, at his age, did not seem safe: “Feli had told me that I would surely have a game to say goodbye, but he couldn’t guarantee it. He kept his word, called me and I am happy I came. I had an incredible week, I had a great time with the kids, with my friends, and now I’m here enjoying this. It was incredible to wear this shirt again”.
“At my age, It is a challenge to be training with 20 or 25 year old kids who hit each other hard.. But he was confident, he felt he could. And also the team, this shirt and playing for Los Pumas infect me.”highlighted the first line, who set a goal for the next duel against the New Zealanders, next Saturday in Auckland: “We never beat them twice (in a row), so that’s the next step. It’s good that we’re happy now, but it would also be good to beat them twice, especially at Eden Park.”.
The forced absence of Julián Montoya not only allowed Creevy to return to the national team, but also momentarily gave him back the captaincy to Pablo Materawho after his 102nd match with the national team assessed that a victory against a superpower of this sport no longer represents a rarity for Argentine rugby.
“This is no longer historical and that is the most beautiful thing of all. 2020 (the 25-15 victory in Sydney) was a feat, something that seemed like it would happen once in a lifetime. We did it again here, in New Zealand (in 2022), and today we had decided to do it again. The feeling when we won the first time was excitement, euphoria. Today I feel calmer and I choose this feeling,” highlighted the third line.
The man from Mendoza highlighted that the national cast always looked for “to be at this level, to be competitive and to play as equals with the best” and he especially valued the contribution made by the youngest players such as Ignacio Ruiz, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo and the debutant Efraín Elías. “Sometimes it is thought that because they have few games, they are in an inferior position. For me, it’s the other way around. Those guys brought tremendous energy. “It is a positive seasoning,” he assured.
Like Creevy, Matera was also encouraged to pose a challenge for the duel of the Next Saturday at 4.05 in Auckland: “This team is more ambitious every year. I am sure that this victory will give us a lot of confidence. “I don’t want to think about the next game, I want to enjoy today and tomorrow, but the second game with New Zealand always cost us a lot, so we will have a huge challenge next week.”