KEY POINTS:
PARIS - Manuel Contepomi, the lower profile twin of Felipe, is thrilled to have been picked for Argentina's decisive World Cup Pool D match against Ireland on Sunday.
Contepomi was in the team announced on Friday by coach Marcelo Loffreda, almost the same line-up that upset France 17-12 in the opening match of the tournament three weeks ago.
Loffreda opted for the experience of the 30-year-old over the youth of Gonzalo Tiesi. He is good at running on to first five-eighths Juan Martin Hernandez's up-and-unders.
Contepomi was on the outside looking in when Argentina upset Ireland in a 1999 quarter-final playoff in the French city of Lens but then lost 16-15 in a pool match at the 2003 tournament in Australia. His brother played in both matches.
"The '99 match, I remember it perfectly because with each minute that passed we reserves got closer to the touchline, it was crazy the way the match ended with the team tackling (Irish players) for seven minutes," Contepomi said.
"The other one (I was) in a suit and tie in the stands, suffering," he told reporters.
"Now I'm happy, keen to go and I know the importance this match has for Argentine rugby and this team.
"The match in 2003, because we lost, was significant. It didn't mean Argentina rugby went backwards, but it meant we are in this (tough) zone for not having qualified for the quarter-finals in the previous World Cup.
"In this case, it would be very positive to win it so that it becomes a trampoline for the growth of Argentine rugby."
Contepomi said Argentina would try to pin Ireland in their own half from the start. To stay in the tournament, Ireland need to win scoring four tries and by more than seven points.
"We always talk about the first 20 minutes of the match being very important.
"In fact, for me that was the key to the match against France ... In the first 20 minutes France hardly passed the halfway line and that's obviously what we're thinking about for this match.
"Without giving away penalties, which is an objective we always set ourselves. Against Namibia, we only gave five penalties, that's a very good number and the idea is to keep trying to get the number down."
- REUTERS
