Loffreda angered by Australia's dummy run

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has backed Clive Woodward’s claim that Australia are bending the rules in their use of decoy runners.

Woodward has clashed with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones on more than one occasion over his use of the tactic and voiced his displeasure again yesterday when he stated Australia’s second try in their opening night win over the Pumas should not have been allowed.

The England coach claimed an Argentine tackler was prevented from getting to try-scorer Joe Roff by a decoy runner and instead of a touchdown, the Pumas should have been given a penalty.

Loffreda has gone through the tapes and he agreed, pointing to another example of Australian blockers stopping his players which also went unpunished.

“Our centre kicked the ball in the air and as he went to chase down the full-back, one of their wingers came across to stand in front of his own player to stop our man getting to him,” said Loffreda.

“Maybe it is down to interpretation but in our game that is obstruction and I thought I knew the rules.

“I totally agree with Clive about Australia’s second try. Our tackler was blocked by one of their decoy runners.

“It’s funny how the referee doesn’t see those incidents but he seemed to pick up all our offences. Maybe it is because we are still regarded as a second-rate rugby country.”

Loffreda is also annoyed with the International Rugby Board for presenting the Pumas with a World Cup schedule which he does not believe has taken any account of their seeding.

After opening the tournament on Friday, Argentina will be in action again on Tuesday, while Australia are not due to play again until Saturday. Group rivals Ireland also have an eight-day break between their first two games.

“I understand slightly with Australia because they are the hosts and holders but as the other seeded team in the group, I don’t understand why we have four games in 16 days while Ireland play theirs in 21,” he complained.

“I am not very happy about this situation at all. We are supposed to be in the top eight, so our schedule should have been looked at more favourably than Ireland’s.”

As a consequence of the quick turnaround, Loffreda has made a massive 14 changes for Tuesday’s encounter with Namibia in Gosford, with Leeds winger Diego Albanese the only player to keep his starting spot.

After edging through their two-legged qualification play-off with Tunisia on tries scored, Namibia are not expected to cause Argentina too many problems.

However, they will seal a place in the history books when fly-half Rudi van Vuuren takes the field.

The 31-year-old will complete the unique feat of appearing in two World Cups in the same year following his five-wicket haul against England in the cricket version of the event.