“The Pumas are probably the best team in the world”: the tremendous praise of a legend of the All Blacks

The Victory of the Pumas against the All Blacks for the second date of the Rugby Championship, Not only did he leave the Red Vivo tournament, but also put the Argentine team on everyone’s lips. Facing the third date that will have the All Blacks receiving South Africa in the mythical Eden Park, a legend of the New Zealand team and considered by many as one of the best in history, Sean Fitzpatrick, released an unthinkable praise that full of pride those led by Felipe Contepomi. All rugby, in Disney+ Premium plan.

The legendary 62 -year -old All Blacks, He referred to the great present of Los Pumas in the framework of an interview that BriIn the podcast of his country “DSPN” that Martin Devlin leads.

The talk began with the focus on what will be the great duel among the first two selected in the ranking, New Zealand and South Africa: “There is some history in Eden Park, and we feel comfortable there. We have not lost there since I was captain in 1994, believe it or not”Said the former player.” It’s a series of two tests, this is how I see it, and We come from a defeat against Argentinaso we will be desperate, sure. “

Then he continued with the present of his selected compared to the other, and admitted that although he expects the All Blacks to win all the tests they play, That is not realistic in the modern era, and points out the improvements that Australia and Argentina have recently achieved.

“Argentina is probably the best team in the world”

In the continuity of the talk, Fitzpatrick referred to the evolution of the All Blacks: “You and I need to change our mentality Because we are forming a World Cup team. I think last year we have made real progress in that aspect, ”he explained.

And in the comparison, it was where he highlighted the work of Felipe Contepomi: “Like many Rugby experts, we are in New Zealand, and Argentina is probably the best team in the worldregarding your performance in the last two years or 18 months. With the way they have developed their team, They have defeated Lions and South Africa “.

Who is Fitzpatrick: one of the best players in the history of the All Blacks

By the time he was forced to retire, just before the start of the 1998 season, due to a chronic knee injury, Sean Fitzpatrick had established himself as one of the most important All Blacks of all time. As a legend, it was up to figures such as Colin Meads and George Nepia, men who are not only considered rugby stars, but popular heroes.

As a player, Fitzpatrick, with his resistance, competitiveness and his role as Hooker, a dynamic combination of a closed and loose striker, reached greatness. But he was also an inspiring leader and, of the 92 tests he played with the All Blacks between 1986 and 1997, 51, also a record, they were as a captain from 1992.

In the first World Cup in 1987, Fitzpatrick was probably going to have little game time during the tournament. But before the first game, Dalton was injured, so Fitzpatrick played in the opening match of the tournament and all matches of the group stage. For the quarterfinals, Dalton had recovered, but Fitzpatrick had played so well that, despite being a captain, he was forced to stay in the substitute bank and, in fact, along with two others (Bruce Deans and Frano Botica), he did not play any match throughout the World Cup.

Since 1987 and until the early 1990s, both with the All Blacks and with the powerful provincial teams of Auckland, Fitzpatrick quickly became one of the best New Zealand hookers. Shortly after the 1987 World Cup, He scored two tries in the victory of the Bledisloe Cup over Australia In Sydney.

In 1992, again by chance, For Brewer’s injury in the final test of 1992, Fitzpatrick led the All Blacks in the three games against World XV, as part of the celebrations of the centenary of the Neozylanda Union. In 1996, they beat the Wallabies 43-6 in Athletic Park and a few weeks later, a victory in the series over the Springboks on South African soil.

During most of his career, Fitzpatrick had been remarkably free of serious injuries, for despair of his many substitutes as Warren Gatland, Graham Dowd and Norm Hewitt, who during their periods received few opportunities.

But in 1997, on the end of the year tour of Wales, Ireland and England, it became clear that Fitzpatrick was in decline due to the worsening of his knee and only played 45 minutes of rugby during the tour and, at 34, he had reached the end of a star race.

He played 346 first -class matches in total, only surpassed by the 361 of Meads. Of these, 128, including 92 tests, they went with the All Blacks127 with Auckland and 25 in the Super 12 with the blues, When they won the first two titles of each of the 1996-97 seasons.

Lindsay Knight profile for the New Zealand rugby museum.