O'Sullivan Fearful of the Pumas' Back Hand
25 October: The Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan says he doesn't know what to expect from Argentina.
The Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan admits he does not know what to expect from Argentina tomorrow. The Pumas may possess the meanest set of forwards in the World Cup but so far have appeared reluctant to use the pace and penetration they have behind.
"Argentina have the most dangerous back three in the World Cup and I do not care if I offend New Zealanders by saying that," said O'Sullivan. "They have scored six tries from 80 metres or more this year and we are not going to be suckered into believing they play only one way."
Argentina have not shown their full hand so far. Though they were disappointing in the tour nament's opening match against Australia when the referee Paul Honiss blew them up time and again at the scrum and lineout, the feeling persists that this is the match they have been waiting for.
"It is our passport into the quarter-finals," said the Argentina captain and former Bristol scrum-half Agustin Pichot, though Ireland would have the chance of redemption by defeating Australia in Melbourne a week today.
Under O'Sullivan the Irish have pulled away from Wales and Scotland to challenge England and France in Europe. If their position of fourth in the International Rugby Board's official world rankings annoys the South Africans and French, it fairly reflects the progress they have made. No longer do they revel in the role of the underdog and they are learning how to cope with expectation.
The scrum is being seen as decisive tomorrow but it is more likely to be the lineout. Argentina's forward reputation precedes them but their scrummaging does not have the power of yore and they are far more capable a side than they are being given credit for.
Ireland: Dempsey; S Horgan, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie; Humphreys, Stringer; Corrigan, Wood (capt), Hayes, O'Kelly, O'Connell, Easterby, Quinlan, Costello. Replacements: Byrne, Horan, O'Callaghan, Miller, G Easterby, O'Gara, Kelly.
Argentina: Corleto, Nunez Piossek, Orengo, F Contepomi, Albanese; Quesada, Pichot (capt); Grau, Mendez, Reggiardo; Fernandez Lobbe; Alvarez, Ostiglia, Martin, Longo. Replacements: Ledesma, Scelzo, Albacete, Phelan, Fernandez Miranda, Gaitan, Hernandez.
TV: ITV1, ko 7.30am tomorrow
"Argentina have the most dangerous back three in the World Cup and I do not care if I offend New Zealanders by saying that," said O'Sullivan. "They have scored six tries from 80 metres or more this year and we are not going to be suckered into believing they play only one way."
Argentina have not shown their full hand so far. Though they were disappointing in the tour nament's opening match against Australia when the referee Paul Honiss blew them up time and again at the scrum and lineout, the feeling persists that this is the match they have been waiting for.
"It is our passport into the quarter-finals," said the Argentina captain and former Bristol scrum-half Agustin Pichot, though Ireland would have the chance of redemption by defeating Australia in Melbourne a week today.
Under O'Sullivan the Irish have pulled away from Wales and Scotland to challenge England and France in Europe. If their position of fourth in the International Rugby Board's official world rankings annoys the South Africans and French, it fairly reflects the progress they have made. No longer do they revel in the role of the underdog and they are learning how to cope with expectation.
The scrum is being seen as decisive tomorrow but it is more likely to be the lineout. Argentina's forward reputation precedes them but their scrummaging does not have the power of yore and they are far more capable a side than they are being given credit for.
Ireland: Dempsey; S Horgan, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie; Humphreys, Stringer; Corrigan, Wood (capt), Hayes, O'Kelly, O'Connell, Easterby, Quinlan, Costello. Replacements: Byrne, Horan, O'Callaghan, Miller, G Easterby, O'Gara, Kelly.
Argentina: Corleto, Nunez Piossek, Orengo, F Contepomi, Albanese; Quesada, Pichot (capt); Grau, Mendez, Reggiardo; Fernandez Lobbe; Alvarez, Ostiglia, Martin, Longo. Replacements: Ledesma, Scelzo, Albacete, Phelan, Fernandez Miranda, Gaitan, Hernandez.
TV: ITV1, ko 7.30am tomorrow
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