Argentina

8:40 am on 9 September 2011

Argentina first appeared in international rugby in 1910 and has built a strong following of passionate supporters over the years.

Nicknamed The Pumas, Argentina has competed in every tournament with their best finish in 2007 - overcoming France in the play-off for third. Improving on that will be tough in New Zealand.

Argentina has achieved several upset victories, are tough contenders when playing in Buenos Aires and are fully capable of regularly defeating Six Nations sides.

However, it's difficult to see them going any further than the quarter-finals this time.

They will be without one of their stars from 2007, Juan Martín Hernández, who has failed to recover from injury.

However, coach Santiago Phelan does have 10 members of the squad from four years ago to call on including Felipe Contepomi and Rodrigo Roncero.

Argentina will face England, Scotland, Georgia and Romania in Pool B with their opening match a tricky one against 2003 winners England in Dunedin.

After their bronze medal in France four years ago, they reached an all-time high of four in the world rankings but have since slipped to eighth.

Joining the expanded Tri-Nations next year will certainly help them in the future.

Although Argentina are nicknamed the Pumas, it is a Jaguar that is on their jersey crest.