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Georgia fear Puma backlash

Victory should nail down their aspirations of at least finishing in second place in Pool C.

 

The Pumas pushed champions New Zealand all the way before falling short 16-26 in their opening match.

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The All Blacks are expected to run away as winners of the pool, which also features Tonga and Namibia.

 

However, Georgia kicked off their campaign with an impressive 17-10 win over Tonga.

Now the pressure is on the South Americans to confirm their status as the pool's 'second favourites' behind the All Blacks.

 

Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade made three changes from the side that lost to the champions.

 

Matias Alemanno replaces injured lock Guido Petti, who suffered a head knock in scoring a try against the All Blacks.

Loose forwards Facundo Isa and Juan Manuel Leguizamon have come in for Leonardo Senatore and Pablo Matera respectively.

 

Georgia coach Milton Haig, whose last encounter, in 2013, with Argentina ended in a 29-18 defeat, agreed that his team were the underdog against the Pumas, just as they were against Tonga.

 

"The difference between the Tonga and Argentine side is that Tonga were ranked 12th in the world whereas Argentina are ranked eighth,"said Haig.

"Argentina plays in the Rugby Championship every year and have got some very good quality players.

 

"I'm not saying that Tonga don't, but Argentina will be a different kettle of fish.

 

"It's a nice opportunity for us this time because there's no pressure on Georgia, all the pressure is on Argentina.

 

"I think that's how we'll look to play, we'll just go out and play our game with no pressure on us."

 

Haig said it would be a battle royale up front, something the Gloucester supporters in Kingsholm will surely cherish.

 

"It's going to be a battle of the forward packs there's no doubt about that, because they are both big and strong, both scrums and lineouts are very good," Haig said.

 

"But I think it's going to be the other parts of the game that will determine who wins – who attacks the best and certainly who is able to create opportunities for themselves.

 

"We're probably the underdogs in that respect but if we can defend like we did against Tonga and create a few more opportunities, who knows?"

 

Source: Agence France-Presse

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