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Confident Pumas put troubles to one side
Confident Pumas put troubles to one side
Monday September 03, 2007
Argentina, the lethal joker in the World Cup pack, insisted on Sunday that they can shake off their injury worries and recent indifferent form to put the skids under group rivals France and Ireland.
The Pumas are in Group D with their northern hemisphere rivals, as well as makeweights Georgia and Namibia, but only two sides will make it through to the quarter-finals.
"The atmosphere in the squad is positive. We have had a lot of injuries but that's in the past," said skipper Agustin Pichot who is about to start his fourth World Cup.
The Pumas will open the tournament on Friday against France at the Stade de France under a cloud after losing winger Martin Gaitan because of heart trouble and full-back Jose Maria Nunez Piossek due to a thigh injury.
They have been replaced by Hernan Senillosa and Federico Martin Aramburu in the 30-man squad while Gonzalo Longo, with a thigh problem, is ruled out of the opener.
Adding to Argentina's problems are two recent unconvincing warm-up matches which resulted in a 27-20 defeat to Wales and a 36-8 win against a scratch Belgian international side.
"They were just preparation games," said prop Rodrigo Roncero.
"We didn't play well against Wales and Belgium but the coach was able to look at the players and see how the team was going. But the most important thing was that we were very good physically."
Hooker Mario Ledesma said the team have prepared well for the opener.
"We have worked differently. We had two weeks physical preparation in Florida in July. We said we would explode on September 7. I hope we will be proved right."
Roncero has no doubt.
"We are ready for Friday. Everything that has been done in the last two months has been especially for the match against France."
AFP
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