Egg, Puppy and Fluff take World Cup challenge to the Wallabies

Australia may feel they don't have too much to worry about when they line up against an Argentina World Cup team containing the likes of "Fluff" and "Puppy," led by someone called "Egg".

There will also be "Chipi" and "El Mago" (The Magician). although there are also a few less cuddly names, including "Loco" (Mad), although apparently in a nice way, and "Toro" (Bull).

The Spanish language is famous for inventiveness in creating affectionate names, but Australia would be making a mistake if they took any of the softer names at face value.

At an Argentinian press conference this week one player responded to a question by saying "ask Egg."

"Who's Egg?" said a puzzled Australian journalist before Pumas coach, Daniel Hourcade, stepped in to reveal his alias.

The nickname comes from his childhood when his brother Luis decided his head looks like an egg.

"Sometimes people call me by my real name and I do not realise they are talking to me," said Hourcade. "I am the Egg."

Wing Nico Sanchez is the second highest points-scorer in this World Cup with 74. One of the most senior players in the Argentina squad, he is known as "Puppy", but only because his older brother was "Dog".

Santiago Cordero is known as "Corderito" because of his family name, which means lamb. He is also called "Fluff".

- Plump Puma -

"I am called this because I have a lot of hair everywhere," Cordero joked.

Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe is known as "Cork". His mother gave him the name because he was a plump child.

The "Rete" name for Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias is a play on the name for a baby's pacfier. "One of my first words was 'retete' to ask for a pacifier. Then it was shortened to Rete," the 87 kilo (182 pound) Gonzalez Iglesias told AFP.

And so the list goes on. Prop Juan Figallo is named after a children's cartoon dragon "Chipi" because his rugby player father had that name. Tomas Lavanini is known as "Tongue" because he does not talk much.

Juan Martin Hernandez has acquired the name "El Mago", or The Magician, because of his fantastic skills.

Only Juan Pablo Socino and Marcos Ayerza have more traditional rugby names. Fly-half Socino is called "Matmut" or Mammoth, because of his 110 kilo (242 pound0 physique. Leicester front row Ayerza is "Toro", or Bull, because he is good in the scrum.

Pablo Matera has the sobriquet, "Loco", or Mad, but everyone insists it is meant in a nice way.

The Australian team who take on the Pumas at Twickenham  insist they will not be taking the Pumas or their nicknames lightly.

Argentina have risen from 12th to fourth in the world rankings over the past year. They hammered Ireland 43-20 in their quarter-final last weekend.

"You can't underestimate them, you do so at your peril and we won't," said Wallaby centre Matt Giteau.

"Every World Cup, they're very good," Giteau added. "Argentina are playing with a lot of confidence. They are throwing the ball around, their back three are explosive and overall when this side is playing with confidence they are very dangerous."

There is no fluff in the Argentina threat.
Source: AFP