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John Carney

If a prize was to go to the team with the most distinctive approach to sevens rugby, Argentina would get it. Unlike the other top sides such as England, New Zealand and Fiji who rely hugely on pace and nothing but pace, they have taken a different tack over the years.

Power rugby is the name of the game for the Pumas. The Argentinians love contact and will build a number of rucks before finally giving the ball to their speedster.

By this stage there are bodies littered all over the field and the opposition are wondering what part of their body hurts the most.

Physicality is what it's all about. Argentina like to hold on to the ball and God help anyone who tries to take it off them.

That's not to say that it's boring rugby to watch. It's just hard rugby, filled with the big hits that Hong Kong fans love so much.

At So Kon Po yesterday the Pumas were training with the United States in a session that the Americans' manager Tristan Lewis wanted to make the most of.

'Argentina are a tough side and that's why we're down here scrimmaging against them today,' he said.

'To try and get a feel for what they're up to and what they're doing. If you can match them up front then you are doing well. They have their own style of sevens play, which works for them. They set the benchmark for this kind of sevens rugby and as our United States side are a second-tier team you have to compete with the best to learn and improve.'

The man who has been finishing off the Pumas' hard graft recently is winger Francisco Bosch, who has scored a total of 10 tries in the past two tournaments in Los Angeles and Wellington.

Bosch was convinced his side had what it took to win in Hong Kong - the only problem was having the self belief to make the breakthrough. 'I think we've shown over the past few years that we are as good as any team in the World Sevens Series. No one has had an easy game against us,' he said. 'Our one problem is that at times we don't believe enough in ourselves and in our ability. It's something that has also been the case for our international 15-a-side team. If we can overcome this we have no reason to be afraid of anyone. We've shown this year already what we are capable of and with a bit more confidence there is no reason why we can't win some major competitions.'

This season the Pumas have been knocking on the door and a narrow 21-19 Cup final loss to Fiji in the George Sevens in South Africa signalled their intent.

In 2004 the Argentines made the Cup final in Hong Kong where they lost 22-12 to England. Bosch was a member of that side and it's something he'd like another crack at.

'To stand there in the final and hear our national anthem being played was a very proud moment for me,' he said. 'We know that if we keep our focus and concentration over the weekend we are good enough to get to the final again.'

And if they do there's no reason to believe that they can't go one better.

Argentina squad: Horacio Agulla, Francisco Bosch, Nicolas Bruzzone, Gonzalo Camacho, Ramiro del Busto, Mariano Dobal, Nicolas Fernandez Lobbe, Santiago Gomez Cora, Lucio Lopez Fleming, Francisco Merello, Santiago Sanz, Federico Todeschini.



Tough Pumas love to get physical