Matera’s 100th test for the Pumas gives 2nd France test a little cheer
FILE - Argentina’s Pablo Matera runs with the ball during the Rugby Championship test match between the All Blacks and the Pumas in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Matera will play his 100th test for Argentina against France in his Buenos Aires hometown on Saturday, July 13, . Matera will be only the third Puma to reach a century. Matera says lots of family, friends and people from his local Alumni club are coming to help him mark the occasion. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard, File)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The arrest of two touring France players for rape has cast a pall over rugby in Argentina this week.
Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou were charged with aggravated sexual assault on Friday and jailed in Mendoza, where they made their test debuts for France last weekend.
The second test between Los Pumas and Les Tricolores is still going ahead on Saturday at Jose Amalfitani Stadium and the home side has reason to celebrate.
One of their own, flanker Pablo Matera, will play his 100th test in the light blue and white hoops.
Only the third Puma to reach a century, Matera couldn’t be happier, even though he would have got there last year during the Pumas’ run to the Rugby World Cup semifinals in France if he hadn’t torn his hamstring in their final pool game.
As he’s back in his hometown, Matera said lots of family, friends and people from his local Alumni club are coming to help him mark the occasion at the home stadium of soccer club Velez Sarsfield.
“I am happy. Not so much for the 100 games, but for being here,” he said. “Velez is a place that means a lot to us, we played with Jaguares there for many years. We practically feel like it is our stadium.
“Being here again, with this team, having the opportunity to play, is something unique. It is a very special week.”
Matera has long been one of the first Pumas picked since his 2013 debut. He was key in their run to the 2015 World Cup semifinals and captained the team at the 2019 tournament. He played in their first wins over South Africa in 2015 and New Zealand in 2020. He made the World Rugby dream team of 2022.
“It’s amazing to be part of this team once again, which is more competitive every year. It’s more ambitious every year, too,” Matera added. “Today, I have a new opportunity to wear the jersey and put it in a little bit of perspective, because it’s here in my home, the city where I was born. I hope there are a lot more (opportunities) and I hope it’s a great match for me and for the whole team.”
The Pumas need a great match after they were trounced 28-13 by a third-string France side with less than 100 caps last Saturday. The Pumas scrum was a liability, the focus was off as France scored tries just before and just after halftime, and the three tries by the visitors were relatively soft.
Neither were the Pumas clinical, and they suffered a fifth straight loss to France, and fourth straight overall at home.
In order to win a series in Argentina for the first time since 1998, France limited the changes to replacing only forwards Jegou and Auradou. But Stade Francais flanker Romain Briatte, Clermont No. 8 Killian Tixeront and scrumhalf Baptiste Jauneau, and Lyon flyhalf Leo Berdeu could make their test debuts off the bench.
Argentina made five changes, recalling inside center Santiago Chocobares after he helped Toulouse win the French Top 14 final two weeks ago, fullback Santiago Cordero for the first time in nearly a year, scrumhalf Lautaro Bazan Velez, lock Franco Molina after he debuted off the bench in Mendoza, and loosehead prop Mayco Vivas.
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