A 'derby' with an extra bite

REPORTS: "IS FITZGERALD a good player?" asks the Argentina media man. We helpfully explain the background of the Blackrock prodigy ahead of tomorrow's match. If ever the phrase familiarity breeds contempt can be used it is when explaining the long-standing grudge battles between these proud rugby nations.

"We have been playing a lot in the last few years," explains Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, the Sale flanker who replaces the injured Felipe Contepomi as captain tomorrow.

"Very important games against each other. You start to know each other a little bit more. You know the tricks that other players have. It is like a little derby we have been doing with Ireland but this is high level rugby and it is going to be really tough. They want to beat us. We want to beat them. It's going to be a hard game."

And so it begins. On the outside the Argentina camp appears disorganised. This press briefing took place at 7pm last night. But on closer inspection, a controlled chaos becomes apparent; like what they bring to every Test match, frustrating opponents to the point of error. Only the Springboks' were more crafty at the World Cup.

They wear the tag of fourth-ranked team in the world well, remaining determined to deny Wales, England or France this position and as a result a top seeding ahead of the 2011 World Cup draw on December 1st. All they must do is beat Ireland; hardly an intimidating task considering it is a feat they have achieved in six of the previous nine meetings.

Concern within the camp this week naturally focused around the loss of Dr Contepomi to an infected cut (his brother is over and would be an obvious replacement, only Manuel retired last season). Gonzalo Tiesi is also out so a largely unknown midfield pairing will be charged will stymieing the influence of Brian O'Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald - two players to come out of the All Blacks defeat in credit.

Arguably, the world's finest rugby player, Juan Martin Hernandez takes over the place-kicking duties in Contepomi's absence. Probably like every other journalist in France and then Italy, we duly requested an interview.

"Do you speak French or Spanish?" No, not really.

"Sorry, he doesn't speak English anymore." Moments later the Argentinian number 10 strolls across the Burlington lobby.

"Is anyone sitting here?" No, work away (visions of a scoop!).

He picks up the chair and joins his team-mates on the next table.

"Not having Felipe for this game is very important because he is not only a very good player," began coach Santiago Phelan, "he is our captain. The representative for our players. But, you know, when this thing happens in a team someone thinks it would be very bad for a team but in Argentina the team closes ranks and tries to make it better for having a good game. Yes, Felipe is very important for us but the players are working well to cover for him."

Contepomi stayed close to the squad all week and surely provided plenty of information on the less established names, especially his Leinster team-mates, Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney.

"A lot of our other players have played many times against the Irish," Phelan continued. "We know them. We know they are a very good team, very good players. We also know them as our players play against them in the Heineken Cup over the years. We expect a difficult game, a very tough game."

The match really does take on a derby feel when one considers the result will resonate all the way to New Zealand in 2011. If Ireland lose they will be dropped into a nightmare pool with two of the best teams in the world. Argentina, too, after scrapping into the top tier have no intention of sliding back down.

"We try not to think about the ranking and the World Cup because if you do you start to forget about what you have to do in the game. That is the focus. That must be a consequence of what we do in the field. If we have a good game perhaps we will have a better ranking."

They are seeking an additional fixture in February, despite it becoming increasingly apparent that neither the Six Nations nor Tri Nations are willing to share television revenue with the South Americans. Their players are held to ransom by French and English clubs who are not obliged to release them outside strict IRB fixture windows. It is surely used as a motivation but Phelan refused to be drawn on this constant issue.

Changes to the starting XV from last weekend's victory in Italy sees Miguel Avramovic replace Contepomi at inside centre, Federico Martin Aramburu comes off the wing to mark O'Driscoll, while Franciso Leonelli and Horacio Agulla are named in the back three with Bernardo Stortoni of the Glasgow Warriors dropping to the bench. In the pack, Lobbe is moved to the openside flank as former London Irish man Juan Manuel Leguizamon comes back at number eight, with Rimas Alvarez Kairelis named at lock.

We couldn't leave without asking about the origins of the Phelan name. "My surname is from Waterford. My grandfather (Mike Phelan) was born here in Ireland. I came here to Ireland a lot of times, not only to play rugby but with my father to travel because I like very much this country. Argentinian people who have an Irish name are very proud. I like that I have an Irish name but I am Argentinian."