<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:10pt"><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">
<H1 class=heading><FONT size=4>Secondo questi due giornali, Times e Clarin, i Pumas potrebbero andare già al tri nations, dipende più da loro. </FONT></H1>
<H1 class=heading><FONT size=4>I Problemi erano tanti come pensavamo già, i viaggi, i diritti TV già divisi fino al 2011 e la situazione amatoriale del campionato argentino, ma tutto è sormontabile e si vengono in contro i quattro paesi con l'aiuto dell' IRB.</FONT></H1>
<H1 class=heading><FONT size=4>Vedremo</FONT></H1>
<H1 class=heading>
<H1 class=heading><A href="http://www.timesonline.com.uk/"><FONT size=4><A href="http://www.timesonline.com.uk/"><FONT color=#0000ff>www.timesonline.com.uk</FONT></FONT></A></A></H1>
<H1 class=heading>Ambitious Argentina poised to secure TriNations place</H1>
<H2 class="sub-heading padding-top-5 padding-bottom-15">Rugby’s governing body has paved the way for the South Americans to join the southern hemisphere giants</H2><!-- END: Module - Main Heading -->
<DIV id=region-column1-layout2><!--CMA user Call Diffrenet Variation Of Image --><!-- BEGIN: Module - M24 Article Headline with no image (a) --><!--set value for print friendly --><!-- getting the section url from article. This has been done so that correct url is
generated if we are coming from a section or topic --><!-- Print Author name associated with the article -->
<DIV id=main-article>
<DIV class=article-author><!-- Print Author name from By Line associated with the article --><SPAN class=small></SPAN><SPAN class=byline><FONT size=4>Nick Cain </FONT></SPAN>
<DIV class=clear></DIV></DIV></DIV><!-- END: Module - M24 Article Headline with no image --><!-- Article Copy module --><!-- BEGIN: Module - Main Article --><!-- Check the Article Type and display accordingly--><!-- Print Author image associated with the Author--><!-- Print the body of the article--><!-- Pagination -->
<P><FONT size=4>ARGENTINA, one of world rugby’s rising powers, are on the verge of being admitted into the TriNations, the southern hemisphere’s premier tournament, bringing an end to decades of exclusion in which the Pumas suffered from lack of meaningful competition. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The move for Argentina to become a TriNations member, playing home and away fixtures against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, is part of an initiative to improve standards and opportunities among the so-called lesser nations, with a view to challenging the big unions and producing more potential shock results in World Cups. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The International Rugby Board (IRB) is brokering Argentina’s entry into the TriNations with Sanzar — South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby, who run the TriNations and Super 14 — in the belief that it is the right home for a southern hemisphere nation. Mike Miller, the IRB’s chief executive, said he hoped Argentina’s admission would be achieved as soon as possible, even though a Sanzar broadcasting deal has four years left to run. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>“It is a complicated issue,” says Miller, “but there’s nothing to stop it happening next year if everyone wants it to. The TriNations are all agreed that we need to do something about Argentina and the IRB has made it clear that we will look at any scheme that helps to ensure that they are properly integrated into international rugby.” </FONT></P><!--#include file="m63-article-related-attachements.html"-->
<P><FONT size=4>Having taken the Pumas to sixth in the IRB rankings, including victory over England at Twickenham last autumn, Argentina’s leading players have been pressing for inclusion in the RBS Six Nations, especially as most of them are contracted to clubs in France and England. However, logistical problems, not least the distance between Buenos Aires and European venues and fixture congestion in northern hemisphere rugby, has convinced the Six Nations that the admission of the Pumas is untenable. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Argentina’s incorporation into Sanzar has been given added impetus by dissatisfaction among southern hemisphere fans and players with the TriNations format, recently expanded to add an extra match between the three countries. Former All Black scrum-half Justin Marshall accused Sanzar of overkill last season and there is plenty of evidence that Argentina can pump new life into the tournament. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Players such as full-back Juan-Martin Hernandez, prop Marcos Ayerza, scrum-half Agustin Pichot and flanker Juan Fernan-dez Lobbe are regarded as among the best in their positions in the world, and the growing depth of the Pumas was shown recently when a young touring side beat Northampton and Leicester. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Gary Flowers, the Australian Rugby Union chief executive as well as secretary of Sanzar, admits Argentina’s inclusion is possible. “All of us have a duty to make sure that our product is out there and fresh,” he said after an Argentine government approach at the end of last year. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>South Africa’s dislike of the existing Sanzar schedule is another factor in Argentina’s favour. The Springboks have long considered it to be lopsided, requiring them to tour for a month every season, whereas their Australian and New Zealand opponents fly in and out of South Africa in a week. Having Argentina on the schedule would even up the tour commitments. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Springbok coach Jake White is strongly in favour. “If we are honest about making it a global game, we must try to accommodate Argentina,” he says. “They have shown they are competitive in every way, against us, New Zealand, England and the Lions. The TriNations does need something fresh.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>However, a Sanzar proposal that Argentina take up residence in South Africa during the tournament, to cut down on travel, smacks of the existing TriNations unions trying to have their cake and eat it. Flight times between Auckland and Buenos Aires of just over 14 hours compare favourably with 14 hours between Sydney and Johannes-burg, while Buenos Aires is a seven-hour flight from Cape Town. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The other main issue is how Argentina’s involvement will affect the division of broadcast revenue, which is currently split equally. The IRB does not see this as insurmountable, according to Miller, who says funding is in place to “prime the pump” for professional rugby in Argentina, including a £5m grant from its strategic investment fund over the next four years. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Ironically, the only stumbling block could be the conservative Argentine union, some of whose members are deeply attached to amateurism. Even an IRB blueprint for a South American provincial competition, including six Argentine sides and one each from Uruguay and Chile, which is ready for immediate implemen-tation, has yet to be approved. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>However, Miller says that Argentine rugby has the right to decide where it goes next. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>“We have money burning a hole in our pockets,” he said, “and we would like to invest it in bringing Argentina properly into international rugby. We are here, ready to go, but it’s up to them.” </FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT size=4>Argentina against the TriNations</FONT></B></P>
<P><FONT size=4><B>New Zealand</B> P13 W0 D1 L12 <BR><B>High:</B> 21-21 draw in Buenos Aires in 1985 <BR><B>Low:</B> 93-8 defeat in Wellington in 1997 </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><B>Australia</B> P17 W4 D1 L12 <BR><B>High:</B> Winning their first meeting 24-13 in Buenos Aires in 1979 <BR><B>Low:</B> Losing 32-19 in the 1991 World Cup in Llanelli </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><B>South Africa</B> P11 W0 L11 <BR><B>High:</B> Losing 26-25 in Port Elizabeth in 2003 <BR><B>Low:</B> Shipping five tries in a 39-7 defeat in Buenos Aires in 2004 </FONT></P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT size=4><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT color=#810081 size=4><STRONG><A href="http://www.clarin.com/">www.clarin.com</A></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><STRONG>Los Pumas, cada vez más cerca de los grandes<!/TITULO> </STRONG></FONT><SPAN class=sep><BR clear=all></P></SPAN><SPAN class=txt9></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=txt9><FONT size=3>El director ejecutivo de la </FONT><A href="http://www.clarin.com/redirect.html?url=http://www.irb.com/EN/Home/"><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>Federación Internacional de Rugby</FONT></A><FONT size=3> confirmó que estudian la posibilidad de incluir al equipo argentino en el prestigioso torneo </FONT><A href="http://www.clarin.com/redirect.html?url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/01/16/um/m-01346116.htm" target=_blank><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>Tres Naciones</FONT></A><FONT size=3>, en el que participan Australia, Nueva Zelanda y Sudáfrica. "No hay nada que impida que eso ocurra el próximo año", </FONT><A href="http://www.clarin.com/redirect.html?url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/" target=_blank><FONT color=#810081 size=3>confesó</FONT></A><FONT size=3> Mike Miller. <BR></FONT></P><!/BAJADA></SPAN>
<DIV class=sep4><FONT size=3></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FLOAT: right"><A class=txt25c title="Haga clic para ver todas las noticias de esta categoria." href="http://www.servicios.clarin.com/buscador/jsp/rc.jsp?fDesde=20070225&tagId=1460"><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>Deportes</FONT></A><FONT size=3> <SPAN class=txt25d> | </SPAN><IMG height=13 alt="Noticia destacada." src="http://www.clarin.com/shared/v8/img/home/ic_NoticiasClave.gif" width=15 align=absMiddle border=0><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=sep2><FONT size=3><BR></FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT size=3>La Federación Internacional de Rugby (IRB) es el principal aliado para que Argentina se incorpore al prestigioso torneo Tres Naciones junto a Australia, Nueva Zelanda y Sudáfrica. "No hay nada que impida que eso ocurra el próximo año si todo el mundo quiere. Las Tres Naciones están de acuerdo en que tenemos que hacer algo con Argentina, y la IRB dejó claro que estudiaremos cualquier esquema que asegure su adecuada integración en el rugby internacional", cita hoy el diario británico The Times a Mike Miller, director ejecutivo del ente rector del rugby mundial.<BR><BR>Los "Pumas" son ya sextos en el ranking mundial de la IRB, después de demostrar en numerosos amistosos como el triunfo ante Inglaterra en Londres que su rugby está al nivel de los mejores del mundo. Sin embargo, su integración en el Tres Naciones se vio repetidamente frenada por australianos, neozelandeses y sudafricanos, principalmente por motivos económicos, ya que el torneo tiene
ya vendidos y repartidos sus derechos de televisión hasta 2011.<BR><BR>"El dinero nos está causando un agujero en el bolsillo, y nos gustaría invertirlo en llevar a Argentina adecuadamente al rugby internacional. Estamos aquí preparados, pero depende de ellos", afirmó Miller, recordando que otro de los problemas a superar es el estricto <B>"amateurismo"</B> que defienden importantes dirigentes de la Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR).<BR><BR>Ante el bloqueo al que se ven sometidos en el Tres Naciones, Argentina también exploró la posibilidad de integrarse en el Seis Naciones, el torneo que agrupa a los seis equipos más poderosos del hemisferio norte: Inglaterra, Francia, Irlanda, Gales, Escocia e Italia.<BR><BR>La IRB, sin embargo, parece preferir la inclusión de Los Pumas en el Tres Naciones. Para ello podrían contar con una inesperada ayuda en Sudáfrica por culpa de los desplazamientos. Durante años, los Springboks se quejaron de que ellos se ven obligados a
estar un mes fuera de casa para disputar sus partidos en Australia y Nueva Zelanda o recorrer cuatro veces en un escaso lapso de tiempo el vuelo de 14 horas ente Oceeanía y el cono sur africano. Wallabies y All Blacks, en cambio, sólo necesitan una semana para aclimatarse y medirse a Sudáfrica.<BR><BR>La incorporación de Argentina podría nivelar el conflicto de los viajes: Hay catorce horas entre Oceanía y Buenos Aires, y siete entre Argentina y Johannesburgo. <BR><!/CUERPO></FONT></P></DIV></H1>
<H1 class=heading><FONT size=3></FONT> </H1><!-- End of pagination --></DIV></div><br>
<hr size=1><font face="Arial"
size="2"> L'email della prossima generazione? Puoi averla con la <a href=" http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/it/taglines/hotmail/nowyoucan/nextgen/* http://it.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html">nuova Yahoo! Mail</a></font></body></html>