Pumas show their claws as Romania wilt

Argentina 50 Romania 3

Seven tries to nil is a cakewalk in anyone's language and Argentinian coach Marcelo Loffreda even had the luxury of continuing his policy to chop and change his team in an effort to negate the effects of playing all four of their pool games in just 16 days.

Ireland didn't learn much they didn't already know, if the truth be told. This was more of a refresher course for Eddie O'Sullivan and his team. The Pumas' strength up front has long been put down to their technique, but its sheer size should not be underplayed. Romania's front row gave away 25 kilos to their opponents last night.

"We had a good performance, especially the scrum," Loffreda said.

The only negative for the Argentineans up front was hooker Mario Ledesma. Labelled the 'pie thrower' after his shocking throws at the line-out against Australia, the Castres player managed to lose another eight of his darts to the Romanians.

Alas for Ireland, veteran Federico Mendez rested yesterday will take his place for the Irish clash.

Romania may have taken a beating but coach Bernard Charreyre is backing Ireland to win the Group A crunch. "Argentina didn't field their best players against us whereas Ireland did," he said. "Yet, I think Ireland will win because Argentina have very competitive and good players, but Ireland's players are more rigorous."

ARGENTINA: J Hernandez, JM Nunez Piossek, M Gaitan, M Contepomi, H Senillosa, JF Miranda, NF Miranda; R Roncero, M Ledesma, M Scelzo, P Sporleder, P Albacaete, S Phelan, M Durand, P Bouza. Subs: A Pichot for NF Miranda 61, G Quesada for J Piossek 61, R Martin for S Phelan 61, O Hasan for M Scelzo 72.

ROMANIA: G Brezoianu, M Vioreanu, V Maftei, R Gontineac, I Teoderescu, I Tofan, L Sirbu; P Toderasc, R Mavrodin, S Florea, S Socol, C Petre, M Tudori, O Tonita, G Chiriac. Subs: C Popescu for S Florea 41, I Aandrei for L Sirbu 43, A Petrichei for G Chiriac 43, P Ion for C Popescu 56, C Sauan for V Maftei 56, F Tatu for M Tudori 70, V Ghioc for M Vioreanu 76.

Referee: C White (Eng).