Schedule from hell for Pumas

By CHRIS RATTUE

Argentina are putting on a brave face, despite the major hurdles they face against the All Blacks.

Coach Marcelo Loffreda names his test side tomorrow afternoon and at least there will be no bitterly disappointed players, since the Pumas have only brought the bare minimum of 22 for this one-off test.

Under those circumstances, it will be comforting for their supporters that they have no injuries, although there could be some nervous moments at their training sessions.

About a dozen test contenders are missing from this side for a variety of reasons, including commitments to French clubs, exams, and injuries. And they have had the travel schedule from hell.

"There are no excuses, that is the reality," a smiling Loffreda said at the team's Hamilton hotel.

The Pumas' travel programme is one of the worst endured by a team coming to this country.

They caught a plane out of Buenos Aires just two hours after playing Wales - the worst possible way of dealing with tired players.

"It was a race," Loffreda said.

There was 18 hours of flying time, and they are dealing with the 15-hour time difference and jet lag.

The home side lost 35-20 to Wales after trailing 25-0 at halftime.

The Pumas' long-time prop Omar Hasan-Jalil, who played for Wellington in the late 1990s, said he was delighted to hear that his former team-mate, Tana Umaga, had been made the All Black captain.

The Pumas watched a replay of the second test against England and Hasan-Jalil was surprised that English lock Simon Shaw had been sent off.