Inevitably the rugby headlines this week have been dominated by the fallout of England's seventh successive defeat.
Equally inevitably that has overshadowed the measure of Argentina's achievement in pulling off their first-ever win at Twickenham.
The current Argentina squad are fired, as their eloquent captain and scrum half, Agustin Pichot says, by a strong sense that they are the outsiders of world rugby.
The victory over England was only the latest in a string of good results against the world's top sides. They've beaten France and Wales on the last four occasions they've met and last summer only lost 25-19 to the All Blacks in Buenos Aires.
Last Saturday former Ireland captain Keith Wood said on our programme from Dublin that playing against Argentina had provided some of the hardest physical challenges of his career.
In short they are a rough, tough and skilful bunch of rugby troubadours that no one wants to play.
The game is still amateur in Argentina so its country's top players are scattered around Europe earning their living - and the national side can't find a tournament to develop their potential in either hemisphere.
The Pumas have applied to join the Tri-Nations down under and recently the Six Nations - potentially from a base in the rugby-hot area of northern Spain - but no one it seems wants them.
The Tri-Nations is their more natural home, but wherever they go the Argentinians lack a vital ingredient if they want the welcome mats rolled out - money.
A lack of TV money to throw in the pot has stifled their ambitions. Put simply why should three wealthy, money generating rugby nations such as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa want to share their earnings with a fourth poorer relation?
Turkeys are still not voting for Christmas - and without IRB intervention and financial support they probably never will.
Revolution is what is needed - and let's not forget that Argentina's most famous son Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was a serious rugby player in his youth before asthma took its toll.
It has happened in other sports. Golf's 'European' tour now takes in events in four continents.
If rugby's leaders truly believe in making the sport global now is the time for action. Is the Seven Nations played over seven weeks with each side only having one weekend free such a mad idea?
Italy, the last team to enter the RBS Six Nations, ran the Australians close (18-25) last Saturday and continue to show the benefits that have come with year-on-year involvement at the highest level.
Their opponents this Saturday, Argentina, will arrive in Rome with a certain envy in their hearts. Can they make their point for a second week running? Don't bet against it.
Equally inevitably that has overshadowed the measure of Argentina's achievement in pulling off their first-ever win at Twickenham.
The current Argentina squad are fired, as their eloquent captain and scrum half, Agustin Pichot says, by a strong sense that they are the outsiders of world rugby.
The victory over England was only the latest in a string of good results against the world's top sides. They've beaten France and Wales on the last four occasions they've met and last summer only lost 25-19 to the All Blacks in Buenos Aires.
Last Saturday former Ireland captain Keith Wood said on our programme from Dublin that playing against Argentina had provided some of the hardest physical challenges of his career.
In short they are a rough, tough and skilful bunch of rugby troubadours that no one wants to play.
The game is still amateur in Argentina so its country's top players are scattered around Europe earning their living - and the national side can't find a tournament to develop their potential in either hemisphere.
The Pumas have applied to join the Tri-Nations down under and recently the Six Nations - potentially from a base in the rugby-hot area of northern Spain - but no one it seems wants them.
The Tri-Nations is their more natural home, but wherever they go the Argentinians lack a vital ingredient if they want the welcome mats rolled out - money.
A lack of TV money to throw in the pot has stifled their ambitions. Put simply why should three wealthy, money generating rugby nations such as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa want to share their earnings with a fourth poorer relation?
Turkeys are still not voting for Christmas - and without IRB intervention and financial support they probably never will.
Revolution is what is needed - and let's not forget that Argentina's most famous son Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was a serious rugby player in his youth before asthma took its toll.
It has happened in other sports. Golf's 'European' tour now takes in events in four continents.
If rugby's leaders truly believe in making the sport global now is the time for action. Is the Seven Nations played over seven weeks with each side only having one weekend free such a mad idea?
Italy, the last team to enter the RBS Six Nations, ran the Australians close (18-25) last Saturday and continue to show the benefits that have come with year-on-year involvement at the highest level.
Their opponents this Saturday, Argentina, will arrive in Rome with a certain envy in their hearts. Can they make their point for a second week running? Don't bet against it.
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