Rugby dark horse

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 32

Rugby dark horse

PA Auckland Argentina, under the captaincy of the charismatic - first five-eighths, Hugo Porta, remain one of the dark horse threats in the rugby World Cup. That was the chief message as the Piunas arrived in Auckland for the tournament on Wednesday night, the first of the incoming international sides. Porta and the team manager, Oscar Basante, made it plain they were quietly confident of their cup hopes. Asked about the Pumas’ chances, Basante said that always when a team left for an overseas tour it was with the idea of winning. The Pumas were no different, though Basante emphasised they had deep respect for the “big teams” Of world

rugby — Australia, New Zealand and France.

If Porta is anywhere near the kicking form he showed in Argentina in 1985 it will be hardly cheering news for the All Blacks, who meet the Pumas in a pool game at Wellington on June 1. Porta’s four penalties and three dropped goals enabled the Pumas to pull off an historic 21-21 draw against the All Blacks in the second test of 1985.

Porta emphasises that the All Blacks are not figuring too prominently in the Pumas’ plans. . They are more concerned With -Fiji, which they meet in their cup opener at Hamilton on Sunday. "We are taking things step by step,” Porta said. “Fiji at present is our main game and they’re going to be tough.”