It was a great theory,but unfortunately the underlying premise just wasn’t true.
Why? Pablo Matera,Marcos Kremer,Matias Alemanno,Guido Petti and Nicolas Sanchez - the literal and figurative giants from the Bankwest heist - have been playing since September in the attritional Top 14 or England’s Premiership.
In fact,Matera and Kremer have been playing in the same back row at Stade Francais. No wonder they looked in sync as they constantly drove into All Blacks ball carriers for 80 minutes.
And when Stade started their Top 14 campaign with a victory away to Castres on September 13,Sanchez was pulling the strings from No.10 with countryman Benjamin Urdapilletta (who didn’t make the Tri Nations squad) standing opposite him in the home side’s playmaking role.
It could be a glimpse into a better future for Pumas rugby,and a reminder that the Jaguares’ forced exclusion from Super Rugby may actually help the Test team.
For all the excitement that greeted the Jaguares’ entrance into Super Rugby,it has not aided the Pumas and Ledesma hinted at why that has been the case after the win against the All Blacks.