First we take Twickenham, then the world

MARCOS AYERZA is not an obvious World Cup poster boy. He is a veteran prop forward, for a start. He is also a symbol of the old stickit-up-your-jumper Argentina, big on scar tissue, low on flair.

Times have changed. ‘‘This is the start of something,’’ he said.

The Leicester Tigers loosehead was speaking at Pennyhill Park, which was supposed to be England’s training base this week before they had to check out early. Now Argentina are plotting a route past Australia and into a first World Cup final. If it happens, Ayerza thinks it will not be the last.

‘‘We are playing good, expansive rugby, but we have many things to improve on and that’s the challenge,’’ he said. ‘‘We need to keep on learning by playing against the best and in these scenarios; so many of our squad are only 21 or 22. All of this will set up the standards for Argentinian rugby to stay at this level. Hopefully, we will continue to make steps towards becoming one of the strongest nations in the world.’’ equilibrium between Argentina’s ‘‘hard, strong, committed’’ traditions and ‘‘a more expansive, skilful, southernhemisphere’’ style. ‘‘That combination can be the best version of Argentina,’’ he said. ‘‘If we play that type of game, we trust ourselves to be very competitive against the best sides.’’ Or, put it another way, they feel they can win the World Cup.

One problem for Argentina may be a tendency to let the emotions flow. National anthems are tear-fests and the prospect of Diego Maradona jetting in for the semifinal adds to the occasion. ‘‘The passion will be there but hopefully that doesn’t work against us and leave us overdrained mentally,’’ Ayerza said.

Nevertheless, he could not get away from the acknowledgement that this is ‘‘the biggest week ever in the sport’’.

He knows that Argentina have beaten Australia only once since 1997, but the win came last year. History and stereotype are things of the past, and Ayerza is both prop and piano player. Their cover has been blown.