Wallabies skipper Nathan Sharpe believes Argentina's high-spirited approach and unorthodox methods make them dangerous underdogs at Skilled Park on Saturday night.
Captaining Australia in the first Test to be played in his Gold Coast home town, Sharpe is the only member of the Wallabies 22 to have experienced a brutal battle against the Pumas.
The Rugby Championship newcomers have surprised with their competitiveness against South Africa and New Zealand, and the Wallabies are braced for a rugged contest across the ground.
Taking the reins from the injured Will Genia in his 109th Test, Sharpe said the Pumas were a true team who unsettled opponents with their bruising and technically-different forward play.
"The main memory I do have (of playing the Pumas in 2003) is the unorthodox method in which they play," the 34-year-old said.
"They're a very passionate team and it's something that's been identified in the first three games of the Rugby Championship and one that you look at in every World Cup, they're always competitive due to that spirit.
"The thing about them as a team is they play well as a team. They don't generally have a consistent stand-out, they just perform well and put in for each other and that's what makes them a dangerous team.
"You talk about their defence and all the rest of it, it's not always the most structured but it's frenetic."
Argentina held the world champion All Blacks to 9-5 after 65 minutes in Wellington last weekend and drew 16-all with the Springboks in their previous match.
The tourists, advised by former New Zealand coach Graham Henry, are desperate to score an historic tournament win - which would also be their first triumph on Australian soil in 29 years - at Skilled Park.
Despite being $5 underdogs, the Pumas believe the injury-plagued Australia are vulnerable without half-back Genia (knee) but Sharpe expected replacement Nick Phipps and the rest of his team to respond.
"It's good for the team because people have to step up," he said.
"When you are faced with a situation generally that's when things come to the fore; when there's a need for it then people step up and I'm looking forward to seeing that happen on the weekend.
"It's not just about Phippsy coming in and playing well, it's about everyone else fulfilling an extra one or two per cent of a role that they may not naturally do when Will's there and the result could be surprising."
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, robina-4226, qld, australia, argentina First posted September 14, 2012 11:40:47
