News

Pumas up their defence

August 06 2008

The Argentina rugby side this week did a lot of work on their defence during training as they feel the Springboks, with the new approach by coach Peter de Villiers, will be a more difficult team to contain.

Speaking at a media briefing, experienced full-back Bernardo Stortoni said the side was really looking forward to the encounter with the Springboks in Saturday's Mandela Tribute Test at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.

The Pumas are immensely impressed by the Springboks, and feel the hosts as world champions now have more confidence than when they arrived in Paris last year.

It is the Boks' physicality in particular that impresses the tourists.

"We will have to run at the gaps and avoid confrontation," said Stortoni.

"You don't want to run into them (South Africa).

"We have huge respect for the Sprinboks."

Argentina are a little concerned with the new laws under which all their team members will play for the first time.

"The new laws (ELVs) will obviously give us a few headaches," the team's media manger Rafael Laria admitted.

"However, we have been training with them for some time now with a referee assisting us".

The organisation of their defence seemed to be a priority since their arrival.

According to the Pumas official website, they regard this as a key aspect of the Test as see the Springboks as a side that continually tries to create opportunities.

Lots of attention was also given to the Pumas' line-out during training.

Realising that in Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, South Africa have arguably the best line-out in world rugby. The Pumas forwards spent two sessions on Tuesday analysing South Africa's line-out on video.

Most of the players are returning from vacation, South Africa, on the other hand, ware in the middle of their season and in top shape.

"It's not the moment to compete against the Springboks," said hooker Mario Ledesma, one of the team's fifteen World Cup players.

"We're not going there in the best of condition and the majority are getting back from vacations.

"The pre-season games are usually played against a weaker team and we have to go up against the world champions!"

Centre Miguel Avramovic agreed.

"The South Africans are in full activity and playing in the Tri-Nations," Avramovic said.

"I hope we win, but the only thing I'm sure about is that when the game finishes I'm going to be completely out of gas."

The Argentina side for the Test will be announced on Thursday.