TO DREAM IS TO BELIEVE!

Could this Argentina team win the World Cup? We will have a much better idea after the crucial Nations Championship

- WORDS FRANKIE DEGAS IMAGES GASPARETTI/SOPA MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES

A DREAM IS a succession of images and emotions that unfolds in the mind during sleep.

To visualise is to form a clear mental picture - often of a future we dare to chase.

In Argentine rugby right now, there is a dream taking shape, one that demands bold visualisation. Can Los Pumas go all the way and win the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia? Can they finally shatter the glass ceiling after three semifinal losses? There are plenty of dreamers out there hoping this will happen. Los Pumas are not the most decorated side in rugby history but their story is one of resilience, explosive growth and unforgettable highs. There have been lows too, but they have built a fiery personality. They are, from the day of opening their campaign on Monday 4 October 2027, seven games away from the title.

Their deeds at RWC 1999, in which they exited at the quarterfinals, launched Puma-mania, triggering a huge growth of the game. Pool-stage disappointment at Australia 2003 stung deeply and → forged new determination. Then came the breakthrough. In 2007, led by Agustin Pichot, Argentina announced themselves to the world. They stunned hosts France in the opener, topped their pool by annihilating Ireland, beat Scotland in the quarters, pushed eventual champions South Africa in the semis, and claimed bronze with a second victory over France. That podium finish is etched in Pumas lore, And a second tsunami-type Puma-mania engulfed the country.

Los Pumas reached the quarters again in 2011, losing to eventual champions New Zealand. In 2015, they dazzled but finished fourth. Japan 2019 is best forgotten. And, in 2023 in Paris, they fought their way to another semifinal after a dismal loss against a 14-man England and the imperious boot of George Ford in the opening game.