Hernandez boosts dangerous Pumas

Juan Martin Hernandez is likely to return to the Argentina team to meet Ireland on Saturday, but according to sources within the Pumas camp, he will feature at 15 as opposed to 10.

The Racing Metro player tormented Ireland during their 2007 World Cup exit with three drop-goals, but was a doubt for the weekend after going off injured with a thigh strain in their victory over Wales and missing last weekend’s defeat to France.

His training was curtailed yesterday but he will undergo a fitness test tomorrow with members of the squad already positive about the outcome. However, regardless of the result of that test, Nicolas Sanchez looks set to retain his place at out-half.

But where once this was a fixture associated with heavy fists and boiling blood, this Argentina are bringing a more temperate attitude after experiencing top-class rugby all summer in the newly-named Rugby Championship.

“Ireland? A derby?” says back row Juan Manuel Leguizamón. “I’ve heard people say this is like a derby but I don’t think that. In the last few years, we played quite an amount of times, but I don’t feel that rivalry.”

Perhaps it’s because they’ve been so busy staring in the mirror in recent times that they can’t see beyond it. Indeed, the story that best stresses that point belongs to lock Manuel Carizza, who gave up a club career so he could focus on international duty.

He said: “I went to play in the Rugby Championship so, I knew when they announced it, I would have to leave Biarritz. I decided not to sign with any club until after the Rugby Championships. It was a risk to say no to them and to play, but fortunately it went okay and now I have signed with Racing Metro, so I am very happy with my decision.” Even Argentina’s five losses in that tournament haven’t taken away from the slow but steady opening steps of a new journey.

“The Rugby Championship, it was frustrating how we performed so well and were so close in Mendoza, in Rosario, in the Gold Coast against Australia, having started and played well against New Zealand for 66 minutes,” notes Leicester prop Marcos Ayerza. “But we are happy with those performances and beating Wales was a big boost for us. Now we are targeting on finishing on a high and that would be huge.We like the Irish, but we don’t like them,” he adds with a smile as broad as his shoulders. “We respect them a lot but we are two very similar nations, the way we play, the way we are passionate about the game. Both teams are very forward-orientated and we are also trying to become top-tier nations. So we are similar teams with similar ambitions and history.”

“But now we have a different philosophy to previous years,” concludes Leguizamón. “The attack is now as important as the defence. Things have been going well, we’ve been trying to play more rugby and we are happy with this system. Now we want to put it on the pitch. Playing against the three best teams, it’s natural that it helps a lot and will make you improve. It’s an exciting time to play for Argentina.”

And a daunting time to be playing against them.