Pumas could play dirty, says Larkham

World Cup countdown: Argentina will use "dirty" tactics if necessary to try to beat the Wallabies in the opening match of the World Cup on October 10th, Australia outhalf Stephen Larkham said in Melbourne yesterday.

Larkham said he recalled Australia winning 17-6 in Buenos Aires on November 2nd last year in a bad-tempered encounter.

"I think they're very competitive so they'll do whatever it takes to win," Larkham said."If that means playing dirty then I'm sure they'll resort to those tactics.

"Typically Argentina are a very physical side. They like to dominate through the forwards and do whatever they can do to psychologically get over their opposition so we're expecting another fiery game but we're certainly not going to take a backward step."

Wallabies forwards Jeremy Paul, Matt Cockbain and Toutai Kefu made accusations of unfair play, including eye-gouging, against the Pumas last year. Argentine scrumhalf Agustin Pichot responded by accusing the Wallabies of unfair tactics.

Australia and Argentina are drawn in World Cup Pool A with Ireland, Romania and Namibia.

World Cup winner Larkham said Australia were expecting a tough match at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

"They're a very dangerous side. They're very unpredictable.They're much like the French," the 29-year-old said.

"They take their opportunities in counter-attack and turn-over ball so we certainly have to be on (top of) our game. You can easily see Argentina getting to the final so it's a very tough game for us first up."

Larkham starred in Australia's 1999 World Cup success, kicking a 50-metre drop goal to break the deadlock in extra-time of the semi-final with South Africa.

"Last time I was just happy to be there but this time I'm focused on having a really good tournament," said Larkham, who has 59 caps.

Meanwhile, the former Fiji captain Simon Raiwalui has turned down a request to come out of international retirement for the World Cup as a replacement for injured lock Ifereimi Rawaqa.

Rawaqa damaged his back during training and withdrew from the squad at the weekend so Fiji asked Raiwalui to come to the rescue.

However, the 29-year-old made it clear in a statement issued by his club Saracens that he would not be available due to family commitments.

"His decision was based on family reasons as he and his wife have two young children and after serving his country on 39 occasions decided that he didn't want to be apart from his family for the period that the World Cup and its preparations would take up," Saracens said.

"Despite mounting pressure over recent weeks Simon has asked the club to confirm that his situation has not changed in that he is still retired from international rugby, and thus will not be attending the World Cup."

Fiji are in Pool B with France, Scotland, Japan and the United States.

Meanwhile, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has hit back at accusations of a devalued World Cup, saying it had done all it could to secure the best teams for the tournament.

South Pacific nations Fiji, Tonga and Samoa have lost key players from their World Cup squads, many of them choosing to stay with wealthy clubs in Britain or New Zealand. Canada, Namibia and European minnows Georgia have also been hit.

IRB chief executive and secretary general Michael Miller attended the launch of the tournament's media centre yesterday but refused to answer questions about the plight of Pacific players.

IRB spokesman Chris Rea later said it was up to individual clubs to decide whether they would release players.

"The board has done as much as it can to secure the release of the best players. We all are very deeply concerned that there is a problem with the release of the best players," he said.

Samoa have lost up to five players including London-based hooker Trevor Leota, who said he had been forced to pull out after his club Wasps refused to pay him while he was away.