Dubai: Rugby minnows Argentina, who finished third at the 2007 World Cup, could have yet more surprises up their sleeve in New Zealand, according to former Springbok scrum half Joost van der Westhuizen.
"I wouldn't say I back them to win but I back them for a solid performance. That's what happened last time out when they suddenly went through top ten and top six - based on their brilliant World Cup in 2007 I'd like to see what they are capable of doing this time around," said 1995 Rainbow Nation World Cup winning Westhuizen, aged 40, who is in Dubai as a panelist on OSN Showtime's World Cup coverage.
Eventual winners at the last World Cup, South Africa, were the only side able to hold back the South American amateurs, who were Pool Stage knock-outs in all but one previous World Cup.
Los Pumas
In 1999 Los Pumas as they are better known made the quarter-finals losing to France 47-26, after having beaten Ireland in a play-off and seeing off Samoa and Japan in their group, they lost to Wales.
However 2007 saw Argentina top their pool after wins over France, Ireland, Georgia and Namibia, they beat Scotland in the quarter before falling foul of South Africa 37-13. A third place play-off with France ended 34-10 in the Latinos favour - the result shocked the world of rugby seeing as Argentina's players didn't hold pro contracts.
In an unprecendented move The El Superclassico derby between River Plate and Boca Juniors was re-arranged so fans could watch the rugby instead.
Video: Radio 1’s interview with Joost van der Westhuizen
The Rugby World Cup is a day way and Radio 1’s Ross MacDonald speaks to South African World Cup winner with Joost van der Westhuizen about the tournament.
Written off
But former England centre, Jeremy Guscott, Westhuizen's co-panelist for all 48 games on OSN Showtime between September 9-October 23, writes Argentina off: "I don't think they have the same emotion or passion as they did four years ago as amateurs. It was that momentum that pulled them through. Now they are professional, 26 of the 30 play in England or France and these guys hardly ever get together. They've only had two warm-up games."
Guscott added: "I'm not sure they are a young enough side with the experience to go ‘right lets get our heads together and remember what happened four years ago'. But hey they are Latino's maybe they might be able to raise that emotion and passion but I just think that their preparation has not been great for them."
Video: Interview with former England International Jeremy Guscott
Radio 1’s Ross MacDonald speaks to England legend Jeremy Guscott on his thoughts on the tournament.
Southern hemisphere team
But Westhuizen countered that claim: "They are a Southern Hemisphere team that doesn't perform too badly in New Zealand and you tend to think they could do it again. The World Cup is not about the past, it's about what's happening now. It's easy to say they've only been together three weeks but what's happened in those three weeks. With all that Northern Hemisphere league experience you tend to think the coach will get the best out of them."
Scott Gibbs, former Wales centre, also paneling on OSN Showtime for the Rugby World Cup, admitted: "Argentina starve the opposition of the ball, playing territorial one dimensional rugby, but they couldn't upset or slip up South Africa, nevertheless to finish third was a huge feat."
