Argentina trim the 'fat'
Argentina stepped up their preparations for the next phase of their Rugby Championship campaign, a Test against New Zealand at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata in Buenos Aires.
The team started training on Monday minus the services of two players, as they look towards their encounter with the world's top-ranked team.
Injured flank Juan Manuel Leguizamon and hooker Santiago Iglesias Valdez are the players omitted from the 28-man tour group that played Tests in Australia and New Zealand earlier this month.
After this Saturday's encounter with the All Blacks, they conclude their third campaign in the Southern Hemisphere championship when they take on the Wallabies in Mendoza next week.
Argentina are still to win their first Rugby Championship Test since being admitted to the expanded four-nation competition in 2012, while New Zealand are still to lose a Test in that time.
The team trained at the Champagnat club in Pacheco on Monday - with a session in the gymnasium in the morning, followed by an on-field session in the afternoon - where they focused on individual skills and the game plan.
Flyhalf Federico Nicolás Sánchez said it was good to have a break last week and that there is renewed energy in the Pumas camp.
He described the third leg of the 2014 competition as the "hardest" of the season and said they have "high expectations" to finish it well.
"We had hoped to have two big wins under our belts by the end of this Rugby Championship," Sánchez said.
Loose forward Leonardo Senatore also spoke of the "renewed vigour" at training after last week's bye.
"We will have to lift our intensity for the next two games," Senatore said, adding: "Hopefully lots of people will come to encourage us and support the team."
Coach Daniel Hourcade said they will look to replicate the same intensity they showed in the first 60 minutes against South Africa in Salta last month.
Flyhalf Morné Steyn kicked a penalty three minutes from time to earn South Africa a very fortuitous 33-31 win over the Pumas at the 20,000-seater Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.
Trailing by 12 points with the final quarter approaching, a Springboks side - given a torrid time in the forward exchanges for much of the match - clawed back to snatch victory.
"We must take it to them as a collective unit and try to find spaces in their defence," Hourcade said.
"But above all, the great challenge for us will be able to face the All Blacks at home and try to win the game."
Argentina squad:
Backs: Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Tomas Cubelli, Jerónimo De la Fuente, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Martin Hernández, Juan Imhoff, Martin Landajo, Manuel Montero, Nicolas Sanchez, Joaquin Tuculet.
Forwards: Matias Alemanno, Marcos Ayerza, Rodrigo Baez, Santiago Cortese, Agustín Creevy, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Mariano Galarza, Ramiro Herrera, Benjamin Macome, Lucas Noguera Paz, Bruno Postiglioni, Leonardo Senatore, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Tomas Lavanini.
Date: Saturday, September 27
Venue: Estadio Único Ciudad de La Plata, Buenos Aires
Kick-off: 19.10 (22.10 GMT; 10.10, Sunday, September 28 NZ time)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)