Pumas legend Phelan returns to RWC

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan returns to the Rugby World Cup with high hopes and a simple objective: to build on the Pumas' third-place finish in 2007.

Phelan replaced Marcelo Loffreda after Argentina returned from France four years ago having overcome their RWC hoodoo by defeating France in the third-place play-off.

Phelan was already popular among the players, having been a key member of the Argentine back row that made it to the knockout phase for the first time in 1999 after beating Ireland 28-24 in a play-off to reach the quarter-finals. They eventually lost to France 47-26 in the last eight. Phelan also captained the Pumas in the victory over Romania in RWC 2003 in Australia.

Loffreda had announced before the 2007 tournament that he was to leave the Pumas job for Leicester and the Argentina Rugby Union knew they would have a tough job replacing him. The former San Isidro Club player and coach had guided the national team in RWC 2003 and RWC 2007.

Many names were linked with the vacancy but Phelan was the favourite of the media and supporters due to his success with his lifetime club CASI and the Argentina A team.

Having missed the Rugby World Cup in 2007, Phelan returns this year to a competition he knows well, aiming to confirm and extend the progress Argentina showed the world four years ago.