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    Pumas determined to give retiring Creevy fitting farewell against Wallabies

    By FOSTER NIUMATA,

    4 hours ago
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1tlLkg_0vFwISdr00
    Argentina’s Agustin Creevy and Pablo Matera celebrate a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

    In a heartfelt message confirming he’s retiring from test rugby, Agustin Creevy promised an unforgettable Saturday night.

    His Argentina teammates have vowed to make sure their former captain gets the hometown sendoff he deserves when they play Australia in the Rugby Championship third round in La Plata.

    The Pumas, all of whom began their international careers with Creevy in or around the squad, have praised the 39-year-old hooker beyond his ageless skills, for his team-first attitude, humility, generosity and leadership. Center Santiago Chocobares, who debuted in 2020, tells how he will miss Creevy’s post-meal stories from a 19-year international career that always make him laugh.

    “He taught me a lot, he gave me a lot, I will always be grateful to him,” flanker Marcos Kremer says of Creevy. “I wish him the best and I hope that as a team we give him the best farewell week and the best match, so that he keeps that memory. He said that he has nothing left and I agree, because he always gave everything for this team, so in that sense, I will give him all the help so that he has a nice farewell.”

    Creevy won’t start the match but should appear for a Pumas record-extending 110th test sometime in the second half.

    It could even be sooner. The match is expected to be attritional as rain is forecast throughout.

    That’s probably why the Pumas loaded their bench with six forwards, but they were thinking of taking the direct route against the Wallabies, anyway. That’s how they saw progress against New Zealand in the last round two weeks ago, even though they were whipped 42-10 at Eden Park.

    They were outclassed by the All Blacks in contact and the scrum, which was all the more shocking to the Pumas as tighthead Joel Sclavi said they had the best week of training he’s been involved in.

    The wet ball will add pressure on halves Gonzalo Bertranou and Santiago Carreras to gain some control, and the same will go for Wallabies counterparts Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio.

    Beside Lolesio will be debutant Hamish Stewart, who has more than 100 Super Rugby games and was invited to his first Wallabies camp six years ago. His defensive prowess is certain to be tested.

    Australia’s pack has been bolstered by the return of tighthead Taniela Tupou, hooker Matt Faessler, and lock Nick Frost. No. 8 Harry Wilson will captain them for the first time, just hours before his brother Will leads Brothers club into the Queensland Premier final.

    Argentina has a win under its belt against New Zealand in the first round while Australia was winless after dropping both of its home matches against world champion South Africa, which was no surprise.

    “It takes time to grow as a group together,” new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says. “Particularly a group that was low on confidence, that didn’t qualify for the playoffs of a Rugby World Cup for the first time. So rebuilding that is going to take a bit of time, and there are some newcomers, we’re trying to find our feet.

    “What I hope is that we continue to build on the processes that we are trying to do well. Sometimes the results take a while. We are impatient and I know that our supporters are also impatient for the results to come, and that is what we will try to achieve on Saturday.”

    ___

    AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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