Back in the summer of 2006, the then rookie Argentine international prop forward Marcos Ayerza was plucked from Buenos Aires amateur side Club Newman to come and play for the Leicester Tigers. Much as he impressed from a very early stage, it would have taken a very bold prediction to imagine that nine years later he would have remained at Leicester, become one of the finest loosehead props in the world today, and earn a testimonial game between his English club and his home nation. Yet this was precisely the occasion today.
The match served as Leicester’s first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2015/16 Aviva Premiership season, as well as Argentina’s final warm-up match ahead of their Rugby World Cup opener against New Zealand at Wembley on September 20th.
Leicester Tigers 34-55 Argentina
Leicester gave debuts to new signings Mike Fitzgerald, Greg Bateman and Lachlan McCaffrey, as well as Gonzalo Camacho, making his Tigers debut two years after first moving to Welford Road following his recovery from a serious shoulder injury. Los Pumas named a strong side, and were predictably the quickest out of the blocks having already had a long summer that has included the Rugby Championship. The Argentine backs looked sharp and incisive, and a well finished early try from Santiago Cordero, followed by Marcelo Bosch showing some quick feet to dance in for a second, gave Argentina an early lead that was extended by a further try from Juan Imhoff.
However, the early points deficit belied some play from Leicester that will have brought a smile to the Tigers crowd (which was sadly much lower than the occasion may have deserved). Former All Black Aaron Mauger has been drafted in as head coach in an attempt to breathe some life into a Tigers side that had been far too one dimensional far too often last season, and on this evidence it appears that his influence may already have made a difference. There was clear evidence of a more dynamic approach to the backs with plenty of offloading and instances of players backing themselves to beat their defender and break the gain line. It may take time for the new game plan and players to gel, but the new style of play bodes well.
Leicester’s pack struggled against their international counterparts, which, with the Tigers depleted to the tune of their six most senior front row players to the Rugby World Cup and coming up against the quality that they did, was to be expected. However, as Leicester are likely to be without these players for the opening rounds of the Aviva Premiership, Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill may well have been forgiven a few sharp intakes of breath.
Leicester’s tenacity was rewarded on the half hour, when prop forward Riccardo Brugnara finished from close range after some good work at the breakdown from the Tigers pack, which had followed a good platform set up by more intricate back play.
Leicester’s willingness to pass the ball around and release runners proved to be their undoing just before half time, when the Argentine fly half Nico Sanchez intercepted a loose pass to score under the posts for Los Pumas’ fourth try of the afternoon, putting Argentina ahead 28-13 at the interval.
Predictably, given the warm-up nature of the game, both sides made a number of changes for the second half. However, this did not dampen the pace or intensity of the game, with both sides continuing with their back-orientated play.
Argentina threatened to cut loose with tries from Julian Montoya and former Tigers winger Horacio Agulla, but three quick tries from Harry Thacker, Freddie Burns and young debutant, Paolo Odogwu, put Leicester to within four points of the South Americans. Odogwu’s try deserves special mention: the academy graduate received the ball on the right hand touchline with quite some distance to go, but used searing pace and improbably nimble footwork with little space to speak of to beat two defenders and score a quite remarkable try in the corner. The quality of his try was amplified by the quality of his international opponents. A truly world class try from a player who on the evidence of today may just be a name that we hear more of in the coming years.
However, Argentina took the tight scoreline as their cue to raise the bar in the final ten minutes, and further tries from Juan Pablo Socino, Juan Manuel Leguizamon and a second from Agulla, rounded off a high scoring game. The final scoreline read Leicester Tigers 34-55 Argentina, Los Pumas outscoring the Tigers by nine tries to four.
By the time the Argentines had cut loose, testimonial recipient Ayerza had already stolen the show by swapping his dark blue Pumas shirt for the green, red and white of the Tigers. By taking his place in the Leicester front row, he ensured that he represented both of his beloved sides on his special day. It is hard to imagine a player more deserving of a testimonial match than the unassuming prop forward who has become an invaluable asset to Leicester in his time at the club. Very few opponents find weaknesses in Ayerza, whose side of the scrum so rarely moves in a backwards direction. And yet, perhaps for the first time in his Leicester career he showed a brief hint of weakness after the final whistle, when he was reduced to tears and could find few more words than “thank you…just thank you!” as he was afforded a standing ovation from the crowd.
A few conclusions can be drawn from today. Leicester can draw encouragement on today’s showing in what was their first run out of the season. Argentina can feel satisfied with a sharp showing from their backs, although leaking 34 points may alarm them ahead of facing the All Blacks. Marcos Ayerza, if proof were needed, proved his immense popularity to club and country who will both count on him being a key man for their immediate campaigns.
Main Photo
