KEY POINTS:
A place in the rugby World Cup final beckons for Argentina as they prepare this week to meet South Africa at the Stade de France on Sunday.
The Pumas had a second day's rest on Tuesday after reaching the semifinals for the first time last weekend with victory over Scotland.
Rest for minds as much as bodies will be the key before Marcelo Loffreda and his coaching staff work on preparing the team mentally once again to try and cross another new frontier.
The Pumas moved on Monday back to the hotel where they prepared for their upset wins over hosts France and Ireland in the pool stage, glad to recover the peace and quiet of suburban Enghien-les-Bains.
The build-up to the Scotland match, already tough trying to handle the rare tag of favourites, was made harder with the constant traffic of fans and admirers at last week's hotel in busy Neuilly-sur-Seine where the Pumas were put by the organisers for their quarter-final.
The Pumas are also basking in the nomination of two of their backs on a shortlist of five for the IRB Player of the Year award, Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martin Hernandez.
"It made us very happy because they are two good people and there is no doubt they are the best players in the world. They deserve it," said flanker Juan Fernandez Lobbe.
The pair are on the list with France centre Yannick Jauzion, Springboks wing Bryan Habana and New Zealand flanker Richie McCaw, the 2006 winner. The winner will be named on October 21, the day after the final.
"I have known Felipe for a long time and his progress in the past few years has been incredible," Argentina's English director of rugby Les Cusworth said.
"With Hernandez, what stands out is his abilities and his manner. He is turning into a great player and he's going to get even better," the former international back said.
"Physically he's a great player. You could say that he's a bit like (Australian) Stephen Larkham a few years ago but you can't really compare him with anyone. He's like a mixture of several good players. He's one of the best in the world."
Fernandez Lobbe and fellow flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon said Argentina could not afford again to let their concentration slip the way they did in the final quarter of an hour against the Scots.
"We can't let ourselves go out of the match like we did. In this World Cup, if you let yourself do things like that, you'll have points scored against you," Fernandez Lobbe said.
"This week we will focus a lot on recovery so as not to reach the semifinal wiped out. One's head is a fundamental aspect," said Leguizamon, who is recovering from a twisted elbow.
"South Africa's match against Fiji was very physical but the Springboks showed some vulnerability. Now we have to analyse their weak points and attack them there."
- REUTERS
