Wyllie's legacy drives Pumas

By WYNNE GRAY

Spotting Crusaders coach Robbie Deans at training upset Argentina yesterday - but they intend bringing some of their own Canterbury rugby intelligence to tomorrow's test against the All Blacks in Christchurch.

Former All Black and Canterbury legend Alex Wyllie has not been part of their coaching regime since the World Cup, but Argentina have carried his strong messages forward after their success in that tournament.

"He was a very important person for Argentine rugby," said coach Marcelo Loffreda.

"The players respect him a lot. He gave them a lot of discipline, knowledge about contact and New Zealand rugby, and we are taking the baton from him."

They were keen to see Wyllie, but had not caught up with him yesterday, although they were ruffled to see Deans in the crowd at training.

With a limited build-up to this international, Argentina wanted to be away from any prying inspection other than the media and pupils of Christ's College when they trained at the famous school yesterday.

While they did not complain formally or ask Deans to leave, sources said they were upset that such a close ally of All Blacks coach Wayne Smith should %have been there.

%As a result, today's final training is off-limits to all.

Argentina named an unchanged XV from that which trounced Counties-Manukau. There is one change in the reserves, with utility back Jose Nunez Piossek replacing Facundo Soler.

Loffreda said preparation for the test had not been ideal because the side played last Sunday, then travelled to Paeroa to watch Tuesday's game, then flew to Christchurch on Wednesday.

Yesterday was their solitary chance for a serious workout.

"The team is all right. It is fine," he said.

"We know our strengths and our weaknesses and who we are playing against.

"We are trying to plan for the game, to put over the desk our strengths, not our weaknesses."

It is the strongest touring side to come out of Argentina in perhaps the last 20 years.

Since the disastrous trip to New Zealand in 1997 when they were whipped in two tests, they have made huge advances and worked on a plan mixing their increasing knowledge and their Latin style.

Wyllie was a catalyst for the changes, although it took time.

"I remember I could not understand him at the start," perky halfback Agustin Pichot recalled.

"He was always 'bloody, bloody everything.' We were very Latin, he was the opposite, but we came to know each other and he gave us the hardness we needed at the World Cup. He made us realise what we could do, and was receptive to us. Then he stepped aside when it was time for younger people to take it forward, such as our current coach."

The new rugby identity and style are still emerging. Grafting Argentine flair to Wyllie's hard-work mantra was difficult, but is now happening.

Argentina were not yet ready to be involved in something like Tri-Nations tests, but they needed to be involved in regular competition to push through in the next few years.

A relaxation of rules which allowed the coach to pick their overseas professionals had helped.

There are nine in tomorrow's starting XV.

Argentina: Bernardo Stortoni, Gonzalo Camardon, Jose Orengo, Lisandro Arbizu (capt), Diego Albanese, Felipe Contepomi, Agustin Pichot, Gonzalo Longo, Rolando Martin, Santiago Phelan, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Alejandro Allub, Omar Hasan, Federico Mendez, Roberto Grau. Reserves: Mario Ledesma, Mauricio Reggiardo, Lucas Ostiglia, Martin Durand, Nicholas Fernandez Miranda, Gonzalo Quesada, Jose Nunez Piossek.