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PARIS - Captain Agustin Pichot signed off his Pumas career in Europe on Saturday after Argentina crushed France 34-10 to win the bronze medal.
"I couldn't think of a better way to end than this," Pichot told the post-match news conference at the Parc des Princes.
"I think it's the end of a great period, a great time playing with the Argentine jersey. I'll probably play one more time (with the Pumas) in Argentina to say goodbye but this is surely my last game in Europe.
"I've been part of great, special group that will always be remembered as the Argentine 2007 rugby team."
The Pumas' performance was a fantastic farewell for coach Marcelo Loffreda, who takes charge of Leicester Tigers next month, and the group of remarkable veterans who have inspired their country into the top echelons of the game.
"I feel a great happiness, we couldn't reach the first or second place, we had a difficult week but the team went slowly getting themselves together, creating a good mindset and today we had a formidable match in terms of confidence, technique and with a great defence," Loffreda said.
"I'm proud of the players and I'm grateful to them for these eight years together, especially the leading men and especially the captain."
Pichot said that after losing their semifinal to the Springboks the Pumas were depressed but the psychological work of the coaching staff with the players in the few days they had to prepare for another match was fantastic.
"In three days we prepared our best game at the World Cup, that's speak volumes for what this team is about" said Pichot.
"In the end we showed clearly, without any doubt that this is the third team in the world, which overcame the home team twice," said Loffreda.
"Apart from playing for third place, the team played for what has been talked about at a lot at press conferences, they played for how they feel the game, for that sentiment of romanticism."
Football chants were de rigeur as the Pumas celebrated their victory on the pitch long after the final whistle.
It was Argentina's sixth victory over France in seven meetings, the previous one being their 17-12 win in the tournament's opening match that turned the tough Pool D on its head.
Argentina had previously reached the last eight once, in 1999, going down to the French in a quarterfinal in Dublin.
The Pumas finished with six wins in seven matches, having lost their semifinal 37-13 to South Africa last Monday. The total equals the number of Argentine wins in the five previous tournaments put together.
- REUTERS
