News from the tour of Argentina
Cold snap sets in
Later arrivals are not best pleased with this diary for mentioning the un-seasonally warm first few days of the tour, when shorts and a dip in the pool was by no means out of the question. Good for the nearby shops given one "had packed for Ibiza" and a cold snap has set in over the last four days, making Wednesday, officially, the coldest day during the month of May in Buenos Aires for 45 years.
Rather more seriously, the government was obliged to restrict energy services, briefly suspending gas exports to Chile and the shortage of gas meant one third of the city's 40,000 taxis were unable to take to the roads as they cannot afford the higher prices for fuel and diesel. Emergency equipment was being installed in the 44 schools in the city which don't have heating. The forecast is for the temperatures to increase slightly in the next few days.
Loffreda makes changes
Marcelo Loffreda has made six changes for the second Test against Ireland. As expected Nicolas Fernandez Miranda and Federico Todeschini form a new French-based half-back partnership, while Manuel Contepomi returns at inside centre and Federico Serra comes in at fullback. Up front, the alterations are kept to the predictable recall of the Perpignan lock Rimas Alvarez Karelis and Pablo Gamarini at hooker. There are also five changes to the bench.
The match kicks off at 4.10pm local time (8.10pm Irish) and will be refereed by Lyndon Bray.
ARGENTINA: F Serra (San Isidro); T de Vedia (Saracens), H Senillosa (Hindu), M Contepomi (Rovigo), F Leonelli (Glasgow Warriors); F Todeschini (Montpellier), N Fernandez Miranda (Bayonne); M Ayerza (Leicester Tigers), P Gambarini (CASI), S Gonzalez Bonorino (Capitolina), E Lozada (CASI), R Alvarez Kareilis (Perpignan), M Durand (Montpellier, capt), J Ml Leguizamon (London Irish), J Fernandez Lobbe (Sale). Replacements: E Guinazu (Agen), P Henn (Montauban), P Bouza (Leeds Tykes), M Schusterman (Leeds Tykes), N Vergallo (Jockey Club Rosario), H Agulla, J Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), H Agulla (Hindu).
Familiarity breeds . . .
Likened to a derby by both camps such has been the frequency of their meetings - the clash in Parc des Princes 100 days from today will be the ninth in eight years and the third successive pivotal meeting at World Cups - it's no wonder that the rivalry has at times become embittered.
Ironically, it is the Puma camp who are still bearing a grudge over the impression generated by the nine- and six-week suspensions of Roberto Grau and Mauricio Reggiardo for gouging after the World Cup meeting in Adelaide and further accusations by Ireland of gouging following their 21-19 defeat Lansdowne Road three years ago.
Hence they were quite agitated about Ireland's performance in the first Test, believing Bryan Young should have been cited for dropping his knee onto Marcos Ayerza. Irish assistant coach Niall O'Donovan responded: "I've been through the tape and it's very easy for an Argentinian supporter picking out bits and pieces, and just trying to get even maybe for something that happened four years ago. We've moved on from there and are concentrating on what we need to do now. I've gone through the tape and there was very little. There's the two incidents that were pulled by the referee, the citing commissioner looked at them and said there was no case to answer, and we move on. I really don't want to get involved in that kind of tit for tat."
Media pack beaten
For the record, a first football match in eight years between representatives of the travelling Irish media and the Irish management was held on Wednesday, and despite taking an early lead, the press pack were soundly beaten 5-1. We could cite them having an extra man for much of the first half, that they wore boots, but basically they were, eh, fitter.
