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Argentina coach Nicholas Fernandez Lobbe feels his young side have the ability to consistently be one of the top four sides in the world. The Pumas have enjoyed a richly promising start to their 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series despite losing a host of players to the national 15-a-side team.

They were denied in extra-time by England in the Dubai Cup Quarter-Finals before going one better in George going down to Fiji 19-14 in the Semi-Finals. Despite introducing players with little international experience, Lobbe’s has been impressed with how his side has come together and performed.

“With a practically new team, with little experience, we secured Cup qualification for the first two stages. We managed a semi-final and lost by very little to Fiji but played very well. The balance of the side is good and the boys understand the system we use,” said Lobbe.

Another aspect to please the coach was Argentina’s ability to learn mistakes from Dubai and improve significantly a week later in South Africa.

“In the second week we improved in defense a lot, we lowered the amount of tries against. Offensively we were good again as we were in Dubai.”

Lobbe lost Juan Imhoff and Martin Núñez to injury in Dubai and had to fly in Rafael Parlatore and Pedro Waiter for George but felt the newcomers dealt admirably with the situation and can no go on to fight for their place permanently.

“It’s never nice to lose players to injury, as happened to Juan Imhoff, who not even got to play the first match, and with Martin Núñez. Perhaps that made the group more united and motivated. “

“They combined well and worked together and responded how we hoped they would. In addition, (Rafael) Parlatore and (Pedro) Waiter adapted very well to the team in one week. All we can do is to continue to fight to gain a place in the set-up”.

“I believe that Argentina could aspire to be one of the top four best sides, that is definitely one of our aims”.

Argentina face Samoa, France, and Canada in Pool D at the next leg of the World Series in Wellington.

Translated from UAR