Rugby World Cup Pool A: A juicy game is how Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has described the World Cup opener between Australia and Argentina in Sydney today, and it certainly seems to have a nation salivating at the prospect. It has them worried as well, though.

Not alone are the hosts and World Cup holders looking distinctly uncertain and a little vulnerable right now, not alone are they up against probably the best side to ever emerge from outside the established elite of eight, but there's enough needle in advance of this meeting to fill a haystack.

The Pumas feel the world is against them. In what seems like another example of the eight founding fathers taking care of themselves, next Tuesday they must play Namibia in Gosford and they also play Romania in Sydney the following Wednesday before meeting Ireland in Melbourne four days later for what will be their concluding pool game. In effect, four games in 17 days.

By comparison, Australia and Ireland meet in their final pool game in Melbourne the following weekend, which translates into four games in 23 and 22 days.

"When we saw the schedule in the pool of death we knew it would be very difficult for us," commented hooker Mario Ledesma this week. "In the last World Cup we finished fifth, which was an incredible achievement. But it's like we were eighth. It is quite bizarre. But we don't want to talk about that any more. We want to stay focused."

Furthermore, they feel victimised by the constant sniping in what Ledesma calls the "awful" Australian media coverage, which has sought to highlight the Pumas' supposedly illegal scrummaging and spoiling at the breakdown (admittedly, the latter does have more than a grain of truth about it).

But it has served to further fuel the us-against-the-world mentality within their camp.

"We also knew that the media would take this course. A lot of things are against us in this World Cup but we have to overcome that and show the world what a good side we are," says Ledesma

Not that this game is all-consuming for the Pumas, and reviving the spirit of Lens four years ago against Ireland also remains in their focus, according to captain Agustin Pichot: "Whatever happens in this (opening) game, we know that we will have to beat Ireland to qualify for the quarter-finals. Our main goal is to have a big game. Whatever the result, we have to keep our confidence up for the rest of the competition."

The head-to-head duel between Pichot and his counterpart, George Gregan, will be worth watching. The pre-match utterings of both captains have given weight to the slightly stereotypical billing of this clash between the "tempestuous Argentinian Latins" and the "clinical, comfortable Wallabies".

Gregan has spoken of the virtues of "a strong work ethic, clever preparation and positive energy", while, true to his poetic type, Pichot observed "all things in life should be done with passion and with loving what you do. It comes from the heart, not technical skills. Without it Argentina wouldn't be anywhere."

Australia are bracing themselves for a repeat of the bruising encounter in Buenos Aires last year, when they won 17-6 after Felipe Contepomi missed seven kicks out of nine, many of them routine penalties at Test level.

"It's going to be a pretty tough, physical game," says Australia coach Eddie Jones. "Argentina obviously and traditionally play a very physical game in the forwards and we won't be shirking away from it. It's going to be a strong contest to the ball, it's going to be hard up front, so we imagine it's going to be not much different from the last time we played them."

On whether this encounter will be as spiteful as the last time the two sides met, though, Jones insisted: "Oh no, we have a very good referee in Paul Honiss and I am sure that he will officiate if there is any of that business going on."

Amid the feeling that destiny now calls this Australian team, it's been comparatively overlooked that this Pumas team has a sense of destiny about them.

"For the last five or six years this team has been together. We have been like a family. We have a lot of experience but for a lot of us this is our last chance to do something big," says Pichot

It would be a stunning start to the World Cup if the Pumas overturned the holders. Yet not a complete surprise. You look through the two teams and can't help but notice Argentina are even more experienced, have a stronger scrum than Australia's, a superior bench and as well as being just as gritty are possibly more inclined to fits of brilliant inspiration.

However, after four defeats in their last five games, Australia will surely have benefited from retreating to the trenches and be inspired when emerging for this occasion, and by the tidal wave of nationalistic fervour building up behind them.

Without wanting to indulge in stereotypes, there's valid reasons for believing the Wallabies will handle the occasion better and, with home advantage, will also be mentally stronger.

The Pumas will have few friends in the 83,500-seater Telstra Stadium. They'll probably concede more penalties and Australia will probably convert more three-pointers. They can be penalised heavily and you sense their scrummaging advantage will somehow be negated, and what breaks are going will somehow go Australia's way.

Previous meetings: Played 16. Australia 11 wins, Argentina 4 wins, 1 draw.

Biggest wins: Australia by 53-6 in Brisbane, July 2000. Argentina by 18-3 in Brisbane, July 1983.

Forecast: Australia to win.