24 years in 140 characters: 24 years, six tournaments, 10 minutes not spent scrummaging. Pushed past France twice four years ago, finishing third. Made last eight in 99
Coach: Santiago Phelan
Captain: Felipe Contepomi
Record in 2011: P3 W2 L1
World Cup record:
1987: Pool Stage
1991: Pool Stage
1995: Pool Stage
1999: Quarter-finals
2003: Pool Stage
2007: Semi-finals (3rd)
So much hinges on their opening match against England. Four years ago they gatecrashed France's first-night party in Paris and went on to finish third in the tournament. They still have a scrum to be reckoned with but the loss of the injured Juan Martín Hernández will diminish their attacking potential. In a tight contest, even so, with the outstanding Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Leguizamon and Patricio Albacete all fit and firing, the Pumas will be tough hombres to overcome. They should not be underestimated.
Key player: Felipe Contepomi. The captain and fly-half did not have best game against Wales last month but will be at the heart of the Pumas' tactical plans. Will be expected to slot his goals.
Commentator's kit: Contepomi, Argentina's captain and fly-half, is a qualified doctor. His brother Bebe, more excitingly, is a leading Argentinian rock'n'roll journalist and radio presenter.
Squad
Marcos Ayerza, prop, age 28, caps 32
Maximiliano Bustos, prop, age 25, caps 0
Juan Figallo, prop, age 23, caps 4
Rodrigo Roncero, prop, age 34, caps 44
Martín Scelzo, prop, age 35, caps 54
Agustín Creevy, hooker, age 26, caps 11
Mario Ledesma Arocena, hooker, age 38, caps 78
Patricio Albacete, second-row, age 30, caps 41
Manuel Carizza, second-row, age 27, caps 19
Mariano Galarza, second-row, age 24, caps 6
Tomas Vallejos, second-row, age 26, caps 0
Alejandro Campos, flanker, age 28, caps 12
Julio Farías Cabello, flanker, age 32, caps 3
Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, No8, age 29, caps 40
Genaro Fessia, flanker, age 30, caps 9
Leonardo Senatore, No9, age 27, caps 2
Juan Martín Leguizamón, age 28, caps 34
Alfredo Lalanne, scrum-half, age 28, caps 7
Nicolás Vergallo, scrum-half, age 28, caps 19
Marcelo Bosch, centre, age 27, caps 5
Felipe Contepomi (c), fly-half, age 34, caps 71
Santiago Fernández, centre, age 25, caps 13
Martín Rodríguez, full-back, age 26, caps 10
Nicolás Sanchez, centre, age 22, caps 2
Gonzalo Tiesi, centre, age 26, caps 29
Horacio Agulla, wing, age 26, caps 29
Gonzalo Camacho, wing, age 20, caps 7
Agustin Gosio, centre, age 28, caps 0
Juan José Imhoff, wing, age 23, caps 4
Lucas González Amorosino, full-back, age 26, caps 10
Average age 27.6
Average caps 19.8
