Ayerza looks to usurp Ireland

As a part-Irishman and an accomplished polo player Argentinaian prop Marcos Ayerza is itching to take down the land of his ancestors with the Pumas secret scrummaging weapon.

Ayerza, long a stable of the Leicester Tigers’ scrum in the Premiership named a horse Welford Road at his family's famous Haras Agua Rensa stud, but however ungainly the 18 stone front-rower may appear in the saddle, the 32-year-old is among the most devastating scrummagers in the world. 

The World Cup's premier loosehead has formed a frightening tandem with hooker Agustin Creevy in this year’s tournament - and all because Argentina have restored their fabled "Bajada" set-piece system.

Ayerza revealed his great great grandfather hailed from Ireland, but then quickly set about pinpointing Argentina's route to victory in Sunday's World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff. 

"Horses and horse racing, it's huge in my family, it started from my grandfather," said Ayerza. 

"My father and myself have some horses back in Argentina in our farm over there, the stud and yes I do have a horse called Welford Road. 

"Of course I'm one-sixteenth Irish as well: my great great grandfather was David O'Connor, who came from Ireland.

"There's a big tradition of Irish people in Argentina. Horses are part of that too, and plenty of horses from Coolmore come over to Argentina for the season over there. 

"Our links with Ireland are always very strong. We have similar ways of thinking and doing things.

"Playing against Ireland has great pride for my family. My grandmother, she passed away, but she was proud of me playing against Ireland - her grandfather was Irish and she loved the country.

"When I have time in the off-season I try to ride still and play polo for fun - I know I'm bigger than the average jockey!" 

The "Bajada" method was pioneered by Francisco Ocampo in the 1960s, and sees locks binding round props' hips and pinning the scrum shape inwards on the hooker. 

The San Isidro club had such immense success with this unorthodox stratagem that the Pumas carried the idea through the ranks, excelling with their scrum at Test level. 

And although most modern-day locks would sneer at binding round props' hips as opposed to through the legs, somehow the Pumas have pulled off a scrummaging masterstroke.

Ayerza admitted Argentina's restoration of that sixties trick still has the ability to catch opponents on the hop. 

Argentina have added serious counter-attacking zeal and an extra dimension of flair to their playing style in recent years, but Ayerza vowed the Pumas are not about to overlook traditional pack power.

"A long time ago that scrum originated in the San Isidro club; they used to have one of the best sides and they were the first to use the coordinated push. 

"That was a way of attack and it was taken to the Pumas. 

"Since then it became this Bajada, which means to go locked - low and then forward. 

"That was the first move of putting us as a name in the world.

"Argentina have always tried to be a force there and we love the scrum. 

"We love to test ourselves and we don't like to have to be putting the ball in and straight out for the backs to attack. 

"We want to really compete and test ourselves that we have a proper contest.

"I like to dominate the scrum if possible. Ireland have been very clinical, very good and tidy there. We're planning to really take it to them.

"It's an area we have respect for, they have an experienced front-row and forward pack. 

"Having said that, we still want to have a battle up front."