This could be year of the Pumas

By DAVID LEGGAT

If there is one team who could throw a spanner in the heavy hitters well-ordered scheme of things, look no further than Argentina.

Several factors suggest the men from South America will be a handful this time around, even though they are grouped in the most awkward of the five pools.

Regulars at the finals, they made their biggest impact in 1999 when, under former All Black coach Alex Wyllie, they reached the last eight, tipping out the feisty Samoans and the Irish before falling to the French.

This year they went to South Africa and gave their hosts a fierce shake, and should have won but for Louis Koen's last-minute penalty.

Then the French came calling and were twice beaten. France may not have had all their stellar names in attendance but they were still worthy results for Argentina.

Watch for the power and aggression of the pack as they employ their "bajada" - or eight-man drive - which is a vital part of the macho South American style. Clever runners, accurate kickers are all very well, but muscle and strength are still their most prized qualities.

Halfback Agustin Pichot, at 29 and with 47 test caps, is a lively attacker and among the best No 9s in the game.

The gifted Felipe Contepomi will offer a greater offensive threat than the ponderous, but more reliable goalkicker, in Gonzalo Quesada at first five-eighths, while fullback Ignacio Corleto has real speed befitting a player who made his first mark in the sevens game.

Argentina have suffered a significant blow with the withdrawal of their popular, long-serving captain Lisandro Arbizu.

The seasoned centre, with 84 caps to his name, has been ruled out by injury. Even at 31 he retained a good eye for a gap and will be missed.

The captain's armband has gone to the perky Pichot. He will certainly pep up the pack, not that they need much of that.

Martin Durand is the firebrand in a forward division which includes hard men Roberto Grau, Federico Mendez, Rolando Martin and Pedro Sporleder.

Friday night's opener against the Pumas would not have been the Wallabies' first choice and it has all the hallmarks of an awkward start for the defending champions.

Coach Marcelo Loffreda has probably marked down October 26 in his diary as Q Day - Q for quarter-final that is, as a win over the Irish in Adelaide that night will most likely do the trick for the Pumas.

That would likely mean a quarter-final against France. And given the three wins from the last three meetings with les Bleus, that is not a prospect which would terrify the men from the pampas. This could be their year to make a real dent.

Full World Cup coverage