Agustín Creevy

The first centurion for Argentina, the hooker still has a few more shots in his locker as he heads to his fourth World Cup

- FRANKIE DEGES

IT WAS fitting that hooker Agustín Creevy was the first Puma to reach 100 caps when facing the Springboks in Buenos Aires. The rousing ovation he received in his final home match was a deserved accolade for this magnificent servant to Argentine rugby.

First capped in 2005, the fact it took Creevy 18 years to reach the milestone speaks of his resilience, hunger and deep love for the game, his team-mates, fans and family. When London Irish folded, he was snapped up by Sale Sharks, for whom he will play after his fourth World Cup in France. He’s still hungry for success. He wants to win the Webb Ellis Cup and the Premiership.

“A hundred caps, yes. I was chasing that for some time and these last games have been very hard,” he told Rugby World on the eve of reaching that special landmark. “I’ve been wanting it with enthusiasm, joy and, more than anything, not making it about me as the team is always first. I remain humble. I want it for me and for all those who have supported me over my whole career.”

If this was a TV documentary, now is when we go to pixelated home movies. He is 38 now and it was a different game that he came to in San Luis, one of the top clubs in La Plata, a satellite city one hour south of Buenos Aires and a big rugby town.

As a flanker or No 8, his low centre of gravity and enormous strength soon made him a player to watch. When the Pumas played Japan in May 2005, Creevy made his debut from the bench.

Soon after, he was a standout in the U21 World Championship in Mendoza. The class of 2005 included Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Dylan Hartley, Maxime Médard, Johnny Sexton, Kieran Read and Morné Steyn, to name just a few.