Argentina show no ill effects after Romania tie

ARGENTINA, Ireland's opponents in the crunch World Cup tie at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, finally arrived in the South Australia capital at 6pm local time yesterday.

They did so with no ill effects of their heavy defeat of Romania on Wednesday, a result achieved largely by a second strength selection.

Even so, that didn't prevent their captain, the gifted scrum-half Augustin Pichot, from again complaining about the draw which saw them forced to play four matches in 17 days as against the 22 allowed to Ireland.

"That gave us no alternative but to get through the games against Namibia and Romania and save our best players for the crack at the Irish," said Pichot, who will play his club rugby this season with mighty Stade Francais.

Pichot himself came in for the last 20 minutes of a game that saw the Pumas perform well below their best even if they did score seven tries and joined Ireland top of Pool A with ten points.

"The draw is responsible for the average performance we put in," said Pichot. However, the only real problems Argentina have after the game is whether to stay with a tried and trusted back division or to give a chance to Juan Fernandez in place of Ignacio Corleto at full-back and Martin Gaitan in the centre for Jose Orengo.

Both were outstanding against the Romanians and gave the lie to the notion that Argentine rugby is about forward play to the exclusion of all else.

Gaitan scored two tries for the second time in the tournament and looks a very skilled performer. However, it is likely that he will have to settle for a place on the bench when the side is announced today.

Yesterday was a rest day for the Irish with anything strenuous (even a game of golf) ruled out for the 15 players and seven replacements.

Nevertheless, place kickers David Humphreys and Ronan O'Gara went to the Adelaide Oval to get a feel of the stadium and Niall O'Donovan took a brief outdoors line-out session, while Declan Kidney worked with the backs.