KEY POINTS:
PARIS - Juan Martin Hernandez will duel with rival first five-eighths Ronan O'Gara for strategtic control in Argentina's World Cup Pool D decider on Sunday.
The player dubbed the "Magician" was at the heart of Argentina's upset victory over France which propelled the Pumas to the top of the group.
O'Gara's Ireland, five points behind Argentina, need to win by scoring four tries and more than seven points to reach the quarter-finals.
"(The team) committing the least number of mistakes will win," Hernandez told reporters ahead of the match at the Parc des Princes.
"It could be that Ireland, at some point, have to come out and take risks due to the need to score four tries and I hope that in that desperation and under pressure from us, they start making mistakes.
"If we keep our minds on the game plan and strategy (we can win)," said Hernandez, usually a Pumas fullback who played only his second test match at first five-eighths in the 17-12 victory over France.
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "The move he's made to that position has made the Argentina team stronger."
Argentina see defensive frailities in O'Gara, a fine player with the ball in hand and with his tactical kicking, that they could exploit.
"It's a good spot to go for, athough he is always well protected. So, if at some moment he's a bit weak we'll attack through there," Hernandez said.
The French sporting daily L'Equipe one wrote of Hernandez: "He's a raw diamond, a real genius of the oval (ball), one of those rare players capable of inventing things on the pitch."
Hernandez hopes, with or without the need for a magic touch, to help Argentina reach the quarter-finals for the second time.
The 25-year-old was a junior international when Argentina upset Ireland in 1999 to reach the last eight and he is well aware what that victory meant for Argentine rugby.
"That match kicked off Pumamania and all of us began to dream of being Pumas one day," he said.
- REUTERS
