After a historic season for the Jaguares in Super Rugby, the All Blacks are expecting the same from Argentina's Pumas, assistant coach Ian Foster says.
In a season that almost defied belief, the Jaguares finished top of the South African conference, before securing a spot in the Super Rugby final for the first time in their short history.
And although that final would end in a 19-3 heartbreaking defeat to the Crusaders, Foster says that Argentina have proved they're no longer in the Rugby Championship just to make up the numbers.
"For those that've actually gone over to Argentina and stood in the middle of a park and listened to their crowd get behind their players, then it's another world," Foster said.
"I would say that they're pretty excited over there at the moment, and they should be very proud of the way that their team's performed.
"I'm guessing that they'll take a lot of that passion, we all saw their faces after the final - they were bitterly disappointed, there was tears and a lot of emotion.
"I'm guessing that - knowing them - they're proud men, great rugby players, and they'll try to turn that into a positive. That's the Argentina team we're preparing to play."
The All Blacks travel to Buenos Aires to face the Pumas next week.
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