Argentina most improved in world, says O'Sullivan

Argentina were paid a handsome compliment by Eddie O’Sullivan today after the Ireland coach named his team for Sunday’s Pool A qualifying showdown at the Adelaide Oval.

"Argentina are arguably the most improved team in the World at this level," O ’Sullivan told a 60-strong media conference.

He also said he found it "strange we are still dealing with Lens" (when Argentina put Ireland out of the World Cup in 1999).

"The thing to remember is that things have changed dramatically in four years for both teams. We are a better rugby team as well."

"What I look to is November last when we all said the game at Lansdowne Road would be a great test and a marker for Rugby World Cup.

"We performed well in conditions that did not necessarily suit us and won the game (16-7). That is what I am looking back on. Another performance like that and a little bit extra and we could get a similar result - that is our focal point.

In what he describes as the prospect of a game "not for the faint-hearted", O’Sullivan explained the rationale for the make up of the new look back row (Simon Easterby at No 6, Alan Quinlan No 7 and Victor Costello No 8).

He declared: "I think the kind of game we are playing against Argentina will be physical at close quarters so we have gone for some physicality and bulk to match up to them. It’s a reflection of the type of team we are playing and the type of game we intend to play."

O’Sullivan admitted: "The guy who feels hard done by - and rightly so - is Eric Miller, who had a super match last week."

As to the rare absence of open side flanker Keith Gleeson, the coach said: "It’s more to do with the type of game than Keith Gleeson - and he knows that."

It also took a "huge debate" to settle the juicy No 10 spot in favour of David Humphreys.

"It's like broken record here. I say the same thing everytime. At the moment it’s David Humphreys in the driving seat just by the skin of his teeth. It could have gone either way. I don’t ever remember David and Ronan playing so well at the same time - and what a time to do it, it's great."

Was it an option to play both Humphreys and O’Gara in the same team?

"There were cases before of playing first and second five-eighths", said the coach, "but it does not apply to this game or the type of patterns we run in attack or defence. It’s really not an option."