Munster flanker Alan Quinlan was as surprised as anyone when he was named as the Irish number seven to play Argentina in Sunday's decisive Pool A match at the Adelaide Oval.
Quinlan won the spot ahead of regular opensider Keith Gleeson as part of a trio of loose forwards picked specifically to counter the Pumas' aggressive, physical approach.
"With the competition in the back row I was not sure what the team was going to be or what the back row was going to be," he said after learning of his selection.
"I have to admit I was a little bit surprised but I was really, really happy that I was starting," he said. Well known for the power and aggression in his own game, the 29-year-old is looking forward to pitting his skills and strength against Argentina.
However, his background as a blindside flanker, a position where defence is a more pressing concern than attack, means he has to prove himself in the more dynamic role.
"They are probably not going to go wide that often. They are going to hit quite close, so effectively we are going to be two number sixes," he said.
"I have no problem playing at seven, because I played a full season at seven last year for Munster, and the way the modern game has gone there is not much of a difference now so I don't see it as a problem," Quinlan said.
"I would regard it as one of the positive things of my game that I play the game quite physically. They said to us that they were picking the team just to play Argentina. It is great to get a boost of confidence off the selectors and the management that we have been picked as a trio for this game."
His selection, along with Simon Easterby at blindside and Victor Costello at number eight, means Gleeson does not even make the match-day 22, while Eric Miller is on the bench.