Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe plays down Rugby Championship chances

Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe of Argentina makes a lineout call during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at McLean Park on September 6, 2014
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Argentina back-row Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe tells Sports Mole that his side still have a way to go before challenging for the Rugby Championship title.

Argentina back-row Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has urged his side not to get ahead of themselves despite their impressive showing at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The Pumas were lauded for their style of play on the way to a fourth-place finish, replacing the traditional scrumming stereotype with an attacking, expansive game that sees them trail only New Zealand in the points-scoring and try-scoring categories.

Their standout performance saw them blow away Six Nations champions Ireland in the quarter-finals but, having also lost to all three of their Rugby Championship rivals during the tournament, Lobbe believes that there is still a way to go before his side start challenging for honours.

When asked whether he could see the team pushing for trophies, Lobbe told Sports Mole: "Don't get ahead of ourselves. It's going to be very, very tough. We're going to give it our all, of course, but we lost the Rugby Championship for the World Cup.

"We lost against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, so it's going to stay very, very tough, but hopefully we can try to get used [to it] and win more games than we lose, especially in the Rugby Championship."

Argentina did beat South Africa for the first time in their history during this year's Rugby Championship, but they were defeated by the Springboks in the World Cup bronze-medal match on Friday evening.

Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe of Argentina makes a lineout call during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at McLean Park on September 6, 2014
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