Pumas to pack a stronger punch
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:57
Ireland have an added incentive when they face the Pumas this weekend, needing a win or at least a draw against Argentina to avoid stewing outside the top eight when the 2001 World Cup draw takes place in London on December 1.
And while Argentina have incentive of their own to hang onto fourth position in the IRB World Rankings, Ireland coach Declan Kidney feels their opponents will be a more formidable force this week, irrespective.
"They [Argentina] play with a great work ethic. They are a great team in the way that they play for one another," Kidney told the Independent.
"They've played against France in Marseilles, which is an extremely hard place to go. That was decided by the odd kick and that could have gone in their favour.
"Now they have regrouped and in the Italy match they looked even stronger. Give them another week under their belt, they'll be stronger again."
While Ireland manager Paul McNaughton added: "I don't think they need any other incentive to beat Ireland as they have done before but they still have a chance of regaining that fourth spot in the rankings and therefore putting them in the top tier if other results went the right way for them, so they certainly have something to fight for."
Injury problems, namely the dead legs suffered by lock Paul O'Connell and hooker Rory Best, and a citing against Alan Quinlan, means Kidney will not be naming his side on Tuesday today as scheduled.
