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Pumas unlikely to cover the handicap after Friday night's exertions

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Betfair's rugby union expert Tony Calvin previews tonight's clash as Argentina face a different proposition in Georgia

PUNTERS betting on tonight's Pool D clash between Argentina and Georgia are partially gambling on the "letdown" element after the Pumas opening 17-12 defeat of the French - and the early signs are that they are expecting it to be a major factor.

Georgia have been backed down from 1.91 to 1.56 to make the most of their +48.5 start on Betfair, and they have also been backed into 1.75 on the +44.5 line, too.

So it is clear to the Betfair punters that Argentina will find it hard to pick themselves up again just four days after that emotion-charged victory, and put the Georgians to the sword.

And they could well be right, although a lot of the value has already disappeared about Georgia.

On the face of it, Georgia are clearly a very limited side and recently lost twice to French Division Two side Agen, 17-6 and 31-3, and to Auch 29-20, in their warm-up matches. And among their 2007 international results is a 32-17 loss to Spain. On that kind of form a peak-form Argentina would win by 60+.

But this tournament has already shown us not to read too much into those kind of "practice" games, because when the real action starts, amid the glare of the TV cameras and in the electric stadium atmospheres, then the lesser teams are standing up to be counted. And then some.

And Georgia could prove to be a very tricky outfit, indeed.

Their main weapon is a heavyweight pack, and the other plus in their favour is that many of the players ply their trade in French club rugby, albeit in the second division tier.

But if they do play to their potential, the signs are that a 40+ handicap could prove too much for Argentina to cover.

The reasons for thinking that are their performances in the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in June.

They beat Italy A 22-10, Namibia 26-18 and only lost 24-7 to a pretty strong Emerging Springboks side.

I actually think Argentina are an enormous price of 55 to win the tournament on Betfair, but their strengths are more attritional than flair, more grinding than glitzy, and I wouldn't fancy them to cover these types of handicap against teams with big hearts but limited talent. They are at their best against the better sides, but often not so clinical against lesser nations.

Up front, Georgia could negate much of the Pumas strengths and I can easily see this game becoming very stop and start, and quite niggly too.

Argentina have signaled how seriously they are taking this match by only making six changes from the France side, and won't be underestimating Georgia. And the players they have brought in don't weaken the side.

They need a big win - points difference could be crucial in this group - but I suspect they will be happy if this match nets them a four-try bonus point, and no injuries.