Pichot plays down favourites tag

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot has played down the in-form Pumas' favourites tag for their World Cup quarter-final with Scotland.

The Pumas are ranked fourth in the world - four places ahead of the Scots.

But Pichot said: "I never take statistics or rankings. I don't like them and don't think they are true.

"We can't afford to think we are better than anyone. We have to play at a very high level for 80 minutes, especially against a team like Scotland."

Argentina have justified their world ranking by topping a pool that included hosts France and Ireland.

Scotland, who just edged out Italy to qualify from a group won comfortably by New Zealand, have lost their last five meetings with the Pumas.

Indeed, Argentina have lost just once in six meetings - and that was 17 years ago, when Tony Stanger and Kenny Milne scored twice each in a 49-3 win at Murrayfield.

"Even though we may come in ranked higher than Scotland, Scotland proved they are in the best eight teams," stressed Pichot ahead of Sunday's clash at the Stade de France.

"When the competition started, they were written off and so were we. They are in the same position as us."

Source: BBC Sport