Argentina made another statement for inclusion in a top annual competition with their win over France but their treatment as second class citizens is manifest in having to play their second World Cup match four days later.
The Pumas, who upset the hosts 17-12 in the tournament’s opening match at the Stade de France, meet Georgia in the next Pool D game at the Gerland stadium on Tuesday before some teams have even begun their campaigns.
”None of the [other] top eight teams in the world will play two games in such a short time,” coach Marcelo Loffreda told reporters after announcing his team on Sunday.
Loffreda, however, did not make wholesale changes for the match against one of the weaker teams in the competition, aware of the need for bonus points in a tight group.
Unlike in the 2003 World Cup, when Loffreda made 14 changes from the side beaten by hosts Australia in the tournament’s opening match, there are only six changes, and most of those to rest players who received knocks against France.
Loffreda said it was important for continuity to stick to a core first team, adding they could take nothing for granted.
”We must try to win and then we’ll see if we get something extra with the bonus point,” he said.
”We can’t afford to get on the triumphant bandwagon.”
French exiles
”Georgia play good rugby and they will play the game that suits them best. We’re going to meet a lot of opposition … We must try to surprise them.”
Georgia, known as the Lelos, named 10 veterans of the 2003 World Cup, the country’s first, to play Argentina.
Like most of the Pumas, the Georgians are exiles with almost all of their squad playing club rugby in France, but a majority are in the lower divisions whereas Argentina’s French-based players, half the squad, are in the elite Top 14 championship.
Georgia are looking for their first win at their second tournament with their most realistic chance against Namibia when the two weakest sides in the pool meet in Lens on Sept. 26.
Scrum half Irakli Abuseridze said: ”Going to Australia in 2003 was like going to another planet. It was something completely bizarre for me and we had no idea what to expect.
”But that experience has brought us forward so much and we’re sure we’ll have a better result here,” he said. – Reuters