Losing just isn't an option

The theory at one point might have been that the vagaries of the World Cup format would grant Ireland a play-off in Lens against arguably the worst of the third-placed teams. Alas, the reality is that Argentina were indeed the best of the third-placed sides and maybe even better than a few of the second-placed countries as well.

So no holding back then from Ireland, whose management have pretty much selected the strongest side they could have under the circumstances, as have Argentina. Come 8.30 local time in Lens tonight (7.30 Irish time) and both side's World Cup campaigns are on the line. Losing is not an option.

At least Ireland's greater emphasis on rotating their selections ensures a fair degree of freshness, in marked contrast to the over-worked nucleus of the Pumas's squad. Whereas all 30 of Ireland's squad will have been used at some stage come kick-off, and 24 of them have been rotated in the starting line-ups, Argentina have used only 23 players in total and just 20 in their four starting line-ups. Similarly, whereas 10 of the Pumas will be starting their fourth game in a row, only five of Ireland's side will be.

True, this is a stronger Argentina side than the one comfortably eclipsed by Ireland in their warm-up game seven weeks ago. Eleven of the side which helped Argentina win the last quarter by 21-0 will start tonight. The difference live-wire scrum-half Agustin Pichot (kept idle for 49 minutes that day) alone makes is inestimable.

Coming a week after their handsome 32-21 win in Scotland, they've since given Wales a fright in Cardiff, before seeing off Samoa and Japan, so their form guide is pretty decent.

They're also assuredly better off for having Alex Wyllie in total charge now, and rarely if ever able to go into serious training camp, they'll undoubtedly have benefited from spending the last month together. Furthermore, of course, this isn't Lansdowne Road.

The Stade Felix Bollart, rebuilt three years ago in readiness for the football World Cup, is a tightly-knit home to the French football champions of two years ago, Racing Club de Lens. Its 41,378 all-seated capacity is unusual in that outnumbers the entire Lens population.

Lens suffered more than most from German invasions during the two World Wars, but for tonight's protagonists, this is neutral territory, and it will be interesting to see how the neutrals in the estimated 30,000 view proceedings.

On top of all this, the pressure is off Argentina. A paltry one win from nine games has already been doubled, taking them into the knock-out stages for the first time. Anything from here on in is a bonus. Their World Cup already runneth over.

Not so Ireland. The quarter-finals is the established threshold from three previous RWC sorties, and with Lansdowne already a sell-out for Sunday's anticipated quarterfinal with France, Ireland have still to deliver. The pressure is therefore on Dion and the boys.

They and the management seem generally happier to be meeting the Pumas rather than the more unpredictable Samoans. Granted, Argentina have a stronger scrum, maul and line-outs, where their percentage return is the fourth best in the competition thus far. Then again, you have to balance that statistic against their opposition so far. Wales hardly contest opposition throws, neither do Samoa that much, and as for the famed Japanese lineout. . .

Perhaps Argentina had more to learn about Ireland from that warm-up game in August, given, after all, Ireland's well-done homework assuredly contributed to their handsome first hour.

Wyllie yesterday maintained he was more interested in how his own team prepared and performed than the opposition, and reckoned that Ireland would have a similar attitude. Whether he was pulling wool over Irish eyes is open to doubt. Even so, you'd imagine that Ireland's dossier of information from the pool games will be even more extensive this time around.

Argentina don't seem the most difficult team in the tournament to second-guess anyhow. Pichot, surprisingly keeping his own sniping breaks under wraps thus far, is generally content to pop it to the target runners or move it out to Gonzalo Quesada, who so far has kicked two-thirds of the ball which has come his way. The Puma wingers have only had the ball passed to them 11 times in three games.

By and large, the Pumas have been content to play to a set pattern, playing to their pack and for territory and then relying on the metronomic Quesada to chalk up the three-pointers - 21 of them to date. However, it's worth noting that his strike-rate of 21 from 25 is no better than David Humphreys's (seven out of eight) and Eric Elwood (nine out of 10).

Furthermore, his moniker of "Speedy" Gonzalez, in reference to the way he addresses his place-kicks for about 45 seconds, might, ironically, just as easily be applied to his kicking from the hand. An abiding memory of his slow wind-up against Wales in the tournament opener was the host of half-charge-downs.

The Pumas, while conceding only three tries, have scored only three, and Ireland (with a dozen scored and just four conceded) believe that a well-organised and aggressive defence can cage these Pumas better than was the case in the last quarter at Lansdowne Road.

The opening 10 or 15 minutes would seem crucial. Good starts laid the foundations for the recent wins over Argentina, America and Romania. This Irish side, while good enough front-runners, are not good at coming back into a game from a bad start.

Slightly fitter, slightly fresher, slightly better organised, and with slightly better variety to their game, Ireland should win. Then again, the pressure is on them. This could be the end of the road, which with Thursday's homeward journey and Sunday in mind is unthinkable. Losing just isn't an option.