Ant on the Argy experience

In his thirst to experience real Argentinian life, Anton Oliver has let his hair grow into a shaggy mess. His grand plan is to get it cut this week in Buenos Aires, that way he will be forced to interact with the locals and test out his rudimentary Spanish.

"I don't care what it ends up looking like," he said shortly before boarding the plane to the Argentinian capital with the 15 All Blacks who were excused duty against the Irish.

"I think Argentina is a bit like Italy in that the people there view life through a very different lens. Personally I find it very exciting, more exciting than visiting the home nations."

That's probably why Oliver has landed the reputation of being the thinking woman's crumpet. He's never really fitted the rugby stereotype.

While most of his team-mates will be happy to climb on the team bus at Buenos Aires airport, slip on their i-Pod, close their eyes and wait to be safely deposited at the Sheraton, Oliver will be taking it all in.

Memories of the All Black trip to Argentina in 2001 are fresh in his mind. He loved the city and the country, but not the result, or the way the team was being coached at the time.

In his autobiography he recalled his disgust at how sloppily turned out the All Blacks were when they arrived in Argentina after tests in Ireland and Scotland.

Oliver says in his book that when the team assembled at Edinburgh airport after a heavy session on the booze the night before, he was horrified that Ben Blair had debris sticking to the dried beer on his shoes.

Oliver's mood was hardly brightened by an indifferent performance that saw the Pumas go mighty close to clinching a famous and deserved win.

It took a very late Scott Robertson try to push the All Blacks out to an assailable 24-20 lead.

There is little prospect of the All Blacks failing to treat Argentina with the respect they deserve this time round.

"I think the performance last time was the result of all sorts of factors and circumstances of that particular tour," said Oliver. "This time the guys playing have only been focused on this game. They have not been involved in the games against Ireland and I think the two-team policy will show Argentina the respect they deserve.

"We could take 22 guys who played against Ireland. But Argentina are very good and we need to be fully prepared."

Argentina are, indeed, very good, as they showed last week when they defeated Wales. The majority of their players hold down places at top clubs in Europe and they present a significant challenge up front where the pack is limited but organised and aggressive.

They have decent performers in the backs, too. Felipe Contepomi is an outstanding first-five having spent four seasons working alongside Brian O'Driscoll in the Leinster backline, while Juan Martin Fernandez has real gas and vision at fullback.

All Black coach Graham Henry has spoken of his wariness about playing a side that like to slow the tempo and make very few mistakes.

Argentina's game plan will be to build pressure on the All Blacks and it will be a real test of character for both Isaia Toeava and Scott Hamilton, who can only boast one cap between them.

The pressure will also come from the terraces. "We can't be sure what sort of turnout there is going to be in the stadium because the World Cup might be a factor," said Oliver. "If there is a clash with football then that might have an impact on the crowd.

"But they will make themselves heard. Latin-based crowds tend to be more effusive and it's a real circus. There will be wild hollering and things flying about.

"That doesn't intimidate but it can cause confusion on the pitch. Things can get really loud and you can't find any space to think. But that's all good experience and the only way to get it, is to be out there playing."

All Blacks XV: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Isaia Toeava, Sam Tuitupou, Scott Hamilton, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Mose Tuiali'i, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins (captain), Ali Williams, Jason Eaton, Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver, Tony Woodcock.