Pumas have no illusions about the task ahead

By RICHARD BOOCK

Manuel Contepomi is determined not to let his head overwhelm his heart as he prepares for tomorrow night's one-off test against the All Blacks.

At a time when all signs point to a relatively comfortable New Zealand win at Waikato Stadium, the experienced Argentina second five-eighth has thrown down the gauntlet to his team-mates, exhorting them to meet all challenges and live up to the Pumas' proud rugby history.

Argentina have never beaten the All Blacks, and are generally regarded as being less dangerous on the road than they are in hometown Buenos Aires or Tucuman, where they recently drew their series against the Welsh 1-1.

And just to tilt the odds a little more in New Zealand's favour, the Argentinian players were forced to board their Auckland-bound plane only two hours after the second test against Wales, not to mention enduring a 16-hour, long-haul flight, and then coping with freezing conditions when they arrived.

Such adversity might have deflated a more status-conscious nation, but Argentina have already shown a dramatically different approach to that of England, and are unlikely to be found hiding behind smoke-screens come Sunday morning.

"We haven't come here expecting to lose," Contepomi says. "If you were to feel that way you should surely stay at home. What would be the point?

"No, we have come all this way to play our best possible rugby against the All Blacks, and who knows what might happen ... "

Speaking in fluent English, the stockily-built three-quarter said his team-mates were not perturbed by the All Blacks' rampant favouritism, and that they were anxious to play to the best of their ability.

If they could do that, he said - there was nothing for his side to fear.

"We want to concentrate on the tasks ahead of us, try to improve as a team, and use this opportunity to play the best team in the world as a positive experience.

"There are so many things we can learn from being in New Zealand. So many people talk about the game over here, it's almost impossible not to pick up on new ideas, theories and approaches."

Contepomi is the twin brother of well-regarded Argentina first five-eighths Felipe - who elected to miss the New Zealand visit in order to sit some medical examinations - and a long-time fan of All Black rugby, including present skipper Tana Umaga.

"He's like a hero for me," he said. "Someone I've always watched on television and admired, a great player and well-regarded throughout the rugby world - especially in Argentina. I hope I can have a good game against him."


Contepomi was a fascinated observer of last weekend's televised test between England and New Zealand, and said the result only served to illustrate even more graphically the extent of the challenge facing his side.


"Since I was eight years old my impression has been that the All Blacks are the best rugby team in the world and last weekend did nothing to change that view," he said.

"They play a fantastic brand of rugby, they're very dynamic and strong as individual players, and they have a very professional approach. And you can see that, unlike our lapses against Wales, they tend to maintain their concentration for the full 80 minutes."

He said the ability to maintain such intensity levels translated into accuracy at lineout and scrum time for New Zealand.

"My impression is that I'm about to play a team that's just beaten the world champions on consecutive weekends by 25 points. Over a long period of time they have been the best team in the world, and in my view they still are."

As for the two tests against the Welsh, Contepomi said Argentina had shown glimpses of their genuine worth, but had let themselves down at times with their mental application.

Argentina won the first test 50-44 after storming out to a 24-nil lead, and lost the second 35-20 after trailing 25-nil at halftime.

"We played at a great level of intensity for 60 minutes in the first test then lost momentum, and the result was a lot closer than we would have liked.

"In the second test, we didn't get things together for most of the first half and, although the team responded strongly in the second, the damage had already been done.

"So the message was we must concentrate for the full 80 minutes."

Manuel Contepomi

Born: August 20, 1977, Buenos Aires

Height: 1.87m

Weight: 90kg

Position: Second five-eighth/centre

Caps: 21

International debut: August 15, 1998 v United States