The other Cameron Smith comes second … and so does Origin

It’s another bumper week of sport and after Cameron Smith’s mighty effort at the US Masters, the next headline act is a surprise. Rugby.

Cameron Smith tees off on the 17th hole as he became the first golfer in Masters history to shoot four sub-70 scores Picture: Getty Images

It was about 2.30am when Cameron Smith threatened to win the US Masters. He was two piffling strokes behind Dustin Johnson and scrambling like an Argentinian rugby prop to make more ground. Ultimately Smith became the first man in Masters history to shoot four rounds in the 60s, the sort of accomplishment you might tell your whiskey bottle a few years down the track. Never won the Masters, you’d say, but I’m the only bloke who’s ever had four rounds in the 60s at Augusta.

It’s unlikely to come to that, Smith being so likely to win a big one sooner or later. His 15-under for the tournament was good enough to win 76 of the last 83 Masters tournaments, but not this one. He would have knocked over Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods and Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd and silly old Nick Faldo and the even sillier old Larry Mize, but he was well behind Johnson, the American who won with a record score of 20-under and had a bit of a weep. He hasn’t been this famous since he partnered up with Wayne Gretzky’s daughter.

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Cameron Smith is now free to flog his book and have a crack at Wayne Bennett and David Gallop. Sorry, wrong Cameron Smith. It can get confusing. To have two elite Australian sportsmen getting around with the same name … it’d be like the Wallabies having a captain called Tim Paine. Or the Olympic swimming team being led by a Dustin Martin. Have league’s Cameron Smith and golf’s Cameron Smith ever been seen in the same room? Funnily enough, yes.

The golfing Cameron Smith once went to get a Queensland State of Origin jersey signed by league’s Cameron Smith at Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall. This was when he was young and unknown. League’s Cameron Smith asked golf’s Cameron Smith to whom he should sign it. Golf’s Cameron Smith said to league’s Cameron Smith, “Cameron Smith.” League’s Cameron Smith looked at him like he’d just blown a penalty for slowing down the ruck. League’s Cameron Smith said golf’s Cameron Smith had to be joking. Golf’s Cameron Smith said he was not. League’s Cameron Smith told the rest of the Queensland team, you won’t believe this, fellas, his name’s Cameron Smith! Everyone laughed except the props, who needed the joke explained to them. It was funny because they were both called Cameron Smith. Oh, they said. Which reminded me of a guy called Tom Watson trying to book a tee time as a visitor to a golf club. Sure, said the club pro. What name should I put it under? “Tom Watson,” said the guy. The pro said oh piss off, mate! Stop wasting my time! And hung up.

Cameron Smith at the launch of his book at Suncorp Stadium Picture: Peter Wallis

Anyway. The Masters is over but the big wheels keep on turning in sport. Are we not spoiled rotten right now? Every week has a knack of producing one event that dwarfs the others for interest, and this week’s main event comes from an unlikely source. Rugby!

Argentina’s triumph over the All Blacks in Sydney just may be the most beautiful sports story of the year. The tears of the players and the coaching staff. The singing in the stands. Argentina has been ripped apart by COVID-19. It’s one of only 10 countries with more than a million cases. Players have had to train in their apartments or houses for most of the year, trying to stay fit by running up and down the corridors of their homes. As ESPN wrote, “After 402 days of waiting, months of lockdown and weeks of quarantine, Argentina returned to the Test arena and made history, defeating the All Blacks 25-15 in a game that will be remembered for years to come.” It was legendary stuff. Incredibly powerful stuff. Michael Cheika couldn‘t have been more pleased if the Pumas had given it to the Wallabies.

Captain Pablo Matera gave an early indication of the size of the fight. He glared at referee Angus Gardner after an early scuffle and said: “I am playing for my country. There is no respect.” Argentinians can think the rest of the world turns their noses up at them, and it is no different in the rugby world. A big burly bloke like coach Mario Ledesma, the former Test prop, cried the most sincere cry you’d ever wish to see. There might not be a tougher athlete on Earth than an Argentinian rugby prop. While flash outside backs are celebrated in Australia, props are the rock stars in Argentina. The Pumas came out of a 13-month hiatus, played a full-strength All Blacks team and beat them for the first time in 35 years of battles. “We have been through hell,” Ledesma said.

Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma celebrates with Santiago Carreras after the Pumas’ historic victory over the All Blacks Picture: Getty Images

Somebody’s gotta make a documentary on that win. Somebody’s gotta write a book. There’s shades of the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Now the Pumas are heading to Newcastle to play Australia on Saturday night and it is without doubt the highlight of the week. Go the Wallabies, of course, but who among us doesn’t also have a tiny voice saying, go the Pumas. They have shown us their hearts, and so now they have a healthy chunk of ours. After umpteen years of trying to work out how to save Australian rugby, the answer has become obvious. Argentinian rugby.

The off-season State of Origin series again falls short of top billing. It couldn’t match the Melbourne Cup for interest. And now it can’t match the silly old rugby. The Origin decider itself may be a cracker but until kick-off, it’s lacking something or everything. I’m more interested in the day-to-day fluctuations and grand entertainment of the WBBL. That’s a riveting tournament. I’m hanging out for the summer of cricket more than Origin III. Still trying to get my head around the most harrowing comment of the year: Justin Langer’s suggestion that Joe Burns might play the first Test ahead of Will Pucovski. What a horrifying thought. But unless Cameron Smith makes a surprise appearance in Origin III, after nearly winning the Masters and ruing the 76 that got away, or in between his book promotions, whatever the case may be, it’s well down the pecking order. Full-time at Suncorp Stadium will come as sweet relief in more ways than one.