Home pride to see Aussies cage Pumas

THE motivation that comes from playing the World Cup opener at home should be sufficient for Australia to make a winning start when they play Argentina in Sydney tomorrow.

The form of both teams and the manner in which the game is played will be of extreme interest to Ireland.

For Argentina, playing Australia the obvious pool favourite in the first match, may, however, be a bonus. The opening matches of previous World Cups have been stop-start affairs as officials and players alike come to terms with the way the IRB has decreed the games should be refereed.