Pumas will provide litmus test

The All Blacks chances of extending their unbeaten test rugby record against the Pumas could, ironically, be assisted by Argentinian football today.

The World Cup sudden-death match between Argentina and Mexico takes pride of place in this soccer-mad country, with the Pumas given special dispensation to watch their round ball compatriots, even though it is only five hours ahead of this morning's rugby test.

Argentine coach Marcello Loffreda admitted the occasion could adversely affect preparation for a much-coveted maiden victory over the All Blacks in the one-off test in Buenos Aires.

"We are a passionate people and one of the challenges for this team is to change our minds after the football," he told NZPA. "We need to keep our emotions in check, we need to be very strong with our minds and not be swept up with whatever happens in the football. The challenge for us is to be very focused to watch what we are going to do in the rugby game."

"For two hours we will be consumed by every minute of the game," veteran midfielder Felipe Contemponi said. "For that time nothing else matters for Argentina."

Despite the distraction, All Blacks head coach Graham Henry believes Argentina will provide a litmus test for New Zealand's ability to counter an unfamiliar style of play. "We'll be confronting a style the guys don't experience a lot of in the Super 14, it won't be a walk in the park," Henry said. "Argentina is probably the best scrummaging side in the world, believe that, and they're a big driving side. They use a style these guys are not used to playing week in week out in the Super 14.

"They're also a good kicking side and very confrontational. This is an ideal opportunity to gauge ourselves against a style of play we could encounter at the World Cup."

With the Pumas likely to deviate little from charging one off the ruck, premier pivot Dan Carter, who makes his first test appearance of the season, is also prepared for heavy traffic. "I'll be expecting to have my shoulders on, they're going to keep it pretty tight and they've got some pretty bigforwards," he said.

Carter will also have to shoulder the responsibility of guiding Sam Tuitupou and Isaia Toeava through their test as a new midfield combination. Backs coach Wayne Smith was confident Carter was the ideal troubleshooter if the midfield started to struggle against a flat defensive line.

Meanwhile, Herald on Sunday rugby writer Gregor Paul says that midfield will be a key area of vulnerability and opportunity for the All Blacks this morning. The hope is that Toeava will fare better as a distributor. He is unquestionably a better exponent at the simple art of transferring the ball than either Ma'a Nonu or Casey Laulala.

The selectors need to find out whether he knows when to pass and whether he can maintain his accuracy when operating in the thick of the traffic. The Argentinians will rush Toeava when he is in possession to unsettle him. They will also provide him with a test of courage by loading his channel with their own runners to find out how much he enjoys tackling.

It will be an enormous challenge for the 20-year-old given that he has never played a first-class game at centre. Even if he comes through with decent pass marks, most rugby followers in New Zealand will still be wondering when Conrad Smith will return from injury.

The Wellingtonian uses the ball intelligently and has that rare quality of being able to read the game and sense the right option. When he plays, the back three become a real threat and the width they generate allows the loose forwards to use their superior speed to control the breakdown.

Smith is due to see a specialist this week but Wellington officials say they're still working to the original timeframe of an August comeback.

- NZPA