Scrum-half Pichot to lead Argentina in Arbizu’s absence

ARGENTINA coach Marcelo Loffreda has made scrum-half Agustin Pichot captain for the Rugby World Cup after Lisandro Arbizu ruptured knee ligaments in training.

Pichot, who moved to French champions Stade Francais in the summer, was the vice-captain and he said: "It's a huge responsibility but it's great to know that everyone in this squad has the ability to make good decisions themselves."

Pichot, who led Argentina to a 1999 World Cup win over Ireland which put the Pumas into the quarter-finals, Pichot made his comeback to Test rugby after a nine-month injury-enforced break in last month's PanAmerican Cup which Argentina won at a canter against the USA, Canada and Uruguay.

Pichot injured his ankle in May as Bristol's season ended in relegation, prompting a move to Stade Francais. Martin Gaitan, who plays for Biarritz, replaced Arbizu in the squad.

Argentina open the World Cup against defending champions Australia on October 10. Their other first round pool opponents are Namibia, Romania and Ireland. Meanwhile, Australia's first World Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones has backed England to avenge their 1991 final defeat to the Wallabies and become the first northern hemisphere side to capture the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Farr-Jones, who skippered Australia to that 12-6 win at Twickenham 12 years ago, ranked England as even-money favourites. He forecast that the strength and experience in Clive Woodward's side would set them apart from the All Blacks and Australia but also predicted the Wallabies would spring a surprise and reach the final.

"England are the stand-out favourite for me," Farr-Jones said. "One thing past World Cups have shown us is defence wins and without doubt in my opinion England are the best organised team defensively.

"They've also got a great captain, a great number 10 and a very, very experienced team. That's where I think New Zealand will fall down, they don't have that experience."

The All Blacks, after their blistering form during the Tri-Nations, are generally regarded as the biggest danger to England's World Cup aspirations. But Farr-Jones thinks they will crumble when the pressure is on, as they did against France in the 1999 semi-final, and that Australia will defy the form guide to reach a third consecutive final. He said: "I've actually got a very good feeling, the more we progress toward the World Cup the more I think we'll beat New Zealand in the semi-final.

"We're not nearly as good as New Zealand at the moment but they'll have enormous pressure on them and I just think that damn-the-torpedoes, full-speed-ahead attitude that the Wallabies will have will hold us in really good stead."