Sport

Pumas can adapt to Sanzar challenge

TRI-NATIONS: ARGENTINA WILL take time to adapt to a Four Nations tournament but will then be able to beat the Sanzar teams, …

Wed Sept 16 2009 - 01:00

TRI-NATIONS:ARGENTINA WILL take time to adapt to a Four Nations tournament but will then be able to beat the Sanzar teams, Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi said yesterday.

The Pumas, third in the 2007 World Cup in France, have been invited by Tri-Nations body Sanzar to join Australia, New Zealand and world champions South Africa in an expanded southern hemisphere tournament from 2012.

“In the beginning, it’s going to be hard to get results, because we’ll have to adapt to the (Tri-Nations) game and speed,” Contepomi wrote in daily newspaper La Nacion yesterday.

But as matches go by, the Pumas are going to be able to beat the Springboks, the All Blacks and the Wallabies, said the former Leinster outhalf and centre who now plays for Toulon in France.

READ MORE

Contepomi, who has taken over as skipper from Agustin Pichot, said Sanzar’s invitation was a recognition of Argentina’s standing in the world game.

Argentina, ranked sixth, are the only Tier 1 side without a place in one of the top international tournaments, Europe’s Six Nations and the Tri-Nations.

The influential Pichot has been a key figure in changing that situation. “We fought hard, in the UAR (Argentinian Rugby Union) and with Agustins great contribution, to be heard and this is a very important achievement for the whole of Argentine rugby,” Contepomi said.

“I think that after the bronze medal in the France World Cup, more than a prize, this invitation is recognition.”

Waratahs team-mates Tatafu Polota-Nau and Lachie Turner have recovered from rib injuries and are set to play for Australia against New Zealand in the final Tri Nations match in Wellington on Saturday.

The Wallabies duo both suffered rib injuries during the 21-6 win over South Africa last Saturday week.

But following treatment both players are set to play in Wellington, allowing coach Robbie Deans to name an unchanged team.

AUSTRALIA(v New Zealand, Wellington, Saturday): J OConnor; L Turner, A Ashley-Cooper, B Barnes, D Mitchell; M Giteau, W Genia; B Robinson, T Polota-Nua, B Alexander, J Horwill, M Chisholm, R Elsom, D Pocock, G Smith (capt). Replacements: S Moore, P Cowan, D Mumm, W Palu, L Burgess, Q Cooper, P Hynes.