Pucciariello’s warning to his Irish friends

Former Munster prop Freddy Pucciariello has warned Joe Schmidt’s men to expect a hostile welcome in the outposts where their two Tests take place this month.

The former Heineken Cup winner, who made 85 appearances in his four seasons with Munster, said Argentina was still struggling to keep pace with developments in other countries.

“Ireland can expect a great fight with plenty of heart but the boys here do not play a consistentlevel,” said the former prop who returned to live in Rosario when he retired and who runs a bio-energy business where a few of his former Munster team-mates invested.

“Argentina is not working well in my opinion to follow the rest of the world in the structure of the game,” he added.

He still keeps in touch with many of his former Munster colleagues and keeps an eye out for their results.

“I’m really missing everything regarding my old life, especially the company.

“I keep in touch with many of them, but especially with the boys who are following me in the adventure of making bio-energy. It is doing very well and I’m really thankful for their support and I’m looking forward to seeing some of them on this tour,” said Pucciariello, who was capped eight times by Italy.

He has never played in Resistencia, the northern venue close to Paraguay where Saturday’s first Test will be played, but he has played in Tucuman and said Ireland will get a fiery welcome there on Saturday week.

“I never played in Resistencia, and as far as I know it is the first time a Test mach will take place there.

“It is a province at the north of the country which is growing up very fast in the past 10 years thanks to the extension of farming land and a political support from the national government.

“Tucuman is the Holy Grail of rugby in Argentina with some very famous victories there by the provincial side over national teams, a bit like Thomond Park.

“It will be special,” added Pucciariello, who will be 39 later this month.