Pichot calls on IRB to act

ARGENTINA captain Agustin Pichot has called for direct intervention from the International Rugby Board to prevent the World Cup turning into a predictable farce.

Pichot will lead his side into battle against hosts Australia in the opening match of this year's competition with hopes high the Pumas can launch the tournament with a stunning upset. While the former Bristol scrum-half is more circumspect about his team's chances, he feels Argentina are not being given enough help by the IRB.

Unlike the eight traditional superpowers, the South Americans do not have access to an annual competition and are forced to rely on a series of friendly games to test their improvement. As a result, Pichot feels Argentina may never fully develop their potential and become a serious threat to the established world order, a situation he believes is detrimental to the game as a whole.