Lens memories make first Test crucial

Ideally, the match against Argentina on Saturday should have come at the end of the tour, since it's the make-or-break game of this summer's three Tests as well as the toughest. It's also a chance to avenge the most painful night of Ireland's season, the World Cup defeat by Argentina in Lens.

As match-day looms, therefore, the touring Irish are making little attempt to hide the obvious from themselves or their hosts: the tour opener against Argentina is the big one.

The 50-strong turnout of local journalists at yesterday's two-team press conference underlined the heightened interest here in the long-awaited, official homecoming test for the Pumas. Warren Gatland's admission that "we would see this as the biggest and most important match of the tour", added to the sense of anticipation.

Memories of the night in Lens were never far away. Gatland and Irish captain Keith Wood were even specifically asked about Ireland's panic-stricken attempts to salvage their World Cup during those painful eight minutes of injury time. "We changed an awful lot after that match," said Wood "and I think if the situation were to arise again we would have many more options."

Even after a largely-restorative Six Nations Championship, Ireland are likely to encounter some other haunting reminders of the season's nadir when they play Argentina. The Pumas, who have not played since the World Cup, will probably have 11 of the starting line-up which evicted Ireland from the tournament that chilly October night.

After some speculation, it seems that Gonzalo Quesada (who kicked 23 points in the Pumas' 28-24 win) will be eyeing up the Irish posts in his distinctive but less than speedy style. The outhalf has been released by Narbonne for this game, but not for the Argentinians' subsequent tour to Australia. Castres prop Mauricio Reggiardo will also miss Australia but will play this Saturday.

However Agen tight-head Omar Hasan will miss Saturday's game and probably be replaced by his substitute in Lens Martin Scelzo in the continued absence of Roberto Grau. Experienced captain and centre Lisandro Arbizu has also not been released due to Brive's presence in the French cup final. Both will be in the 30-man squad for Australia.

Winger Gonzalo Camardon has not been released by Roma and is likely to be replaced by the tall Octavio Bartolucci, who played against Ireland in Dublin last August.

Arbizu is likely to be replaced by the substitute outhalf that night in Lens, Felipe Contepomi, or possibly Jose Orengo, who may yet be suspended after an incident in a club game. There was a disciplinary meeting on Tuesday night, but no finding has been released.

Argentina's new coach Daniel Lofreda, the successor to Alex Wyllie, has said that as a tribute to the Argentinian World Cup team which lifted the game to new heights in the country, all its players will be retained if fit this Saturday. Hence, the only other likely change from Lens sees Northampton hooker Federico Mendez renew European Cup final hostilities with Keith Wood. He will replace the suspended Mario Ledesma.

However, Lofreda is believed to have a preference for Ledesma at hooker, and also for Diego Giannantonio rather than Quesada at outhalf. He also has a number of injury worries in advance of this game, with lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe and Martin unable to train fully this week.

"If players don't train on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, then they won't be picked," maintained Lofreda, "because against Ireland on Saturday it will be a terrible war and I want all my players 100 per cent physically."

Lofreda is a former Argentinian captain and their most-capped centre. He has built up a big reputation in his mere three years as a coach with Argentina's leading club, San Isidoro.

Many curious first-time fans are expected to be among the crowd in the Ferro Carril Oeste stadium. It has a capacity of 25,000, but an additional 10,000 or so might have attended. The television audience is expected to be between 1.5 and two million.

A typically partisan Latin atmosphere can be expected on match day, though the tourists have been struck by the hosts' hospitality and friendliness. Officials at Club San Cirano, where yesterday's press conference was held, implored the travelling party to "treat the club as if it is your home".

The San Cirano club is named after its feeder Catholic school in the centre of the city, which in turn was named after the Irish saint Ciaran. Ireland's extensive scrummaging practice underlined the scrum's importance - scrummaging is a Puma talent. Though he chewed them out a couple of times, Irish coach Warren Gatland was happy with the injury-free run-out. Only Eric Miller and Jeremy Davidson were exempted from the pick-and-go drills.

By contrast to the Pumas, Ireland have been through five Tests and a lot more rugby besides since the World Cup. They may have as little as five of the starting team which played that night - even though only three have been ruled out through injury.

Ireland (probable): McKenna; Horgan, Henderson, Maggs, Bishop; O'Gara, Stringer; Clohessy, Wood, Hayes, Galwey, O'Kelly, S Easterby, Foley, Ward.

Argentina (probable): Corleto; Bartolucci, Simone, Contepomi, Albanese; Quesada, Pichot; Reggiardo, Mendez, Scelzo, Allub, Fernandez Lobbe, Phelan, Longo, Martin.