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Fighting Back: Contepomi is fit and ready for Scotland
Argentina star Felipe Contepomi can see similarities between the progress of Scotland and his own side heading into the World Cup quarter-final between the two countries in Paris on Sunday.
The Scots look a more solid outfit under Frank Hadden's stewardship and they have performed well in the World Cup warm-up matches and in the tournament proper.
They have also trumped fellow home nations Ireland and Wales by making it through to the tournament's knock-out stages.
Argentina are up to fourth in the IRB World Rankings and are improving at a rate of knots, so much so that many are tipping them as outsiders for the title.
"I think Scotland are a similar team to Argentina," said Leinster utility back Contepomi.
"They are the team that have shown the most improvement in the last four months.
"If you look at how they played in the Six Nations and how they did after that and during the World Cup, you can see two very different teams.
"And they have got to the quarter-finals with a lot of confidence."
Contepomi has recovered from a dose of the 'flu and will line up at inside-centre on Sunday night.
The 30-year-old missed training on Wednesday and Thursday because of the virus but is back fit.
That will be a relief to the Pumas, with Contepomi their goalkicker and midfield general.
"I'm fine now," he said.
"I've been resting for the last 48 hours, recovering from the 'flu, but I was able to train normally today [Friday] and I felt very good.
"It's normal to feel some tiredness after being in bed for two days, but it's natural.
"I was able to finish the training session, which is what I wanted to do.
"I've just had to take it easy and not spread the 'flu around."
Contepomi's selection was one of two noteworthy aspects of Friday's team announcement by coach Marcelo Loffreda.
The other was the recalling of back-row forward Juan Manuel Leguizamón, but the London Irish workhorse could only make the bench.
Loffreda therefore keeps faith with Gonzalo Longo or Lucas Ostiglia in a strong-looking back row.
Loffreda said of Ostiglia's retention: "Lucas is a player who gives us a lot of plus points, especially in defence when we don't have the ball."
On the prospect of facing the Scots, Loffreda added: "Scotland have a great defence - it is very similar to that of the French. Those two teams have coaches with similar origins and it'll be difficult to find gaps.
"We will have to improve our line-out. And we will have to improve our discipline in our forward confrontations to avoid conceding penalties."
