All Blacks centurion Owen Franks is on a mission to destabilise the Argentinian scrum, which he believes still has the potential to the best in the world.
Franks will pack down for his 102nd test cap when New Zealand take on the Pumas in Buenos Aires on Sunday (NZ time).
The powerful tighthead prop's refusing to listen to recent talk that the Pumas are no longer the force they were up front, having learned from his own past mistakes.
"I'll never disrespect it because there's times where they've looked not so dominant, but then the next game they can be world-beaters," said Franks." That happened to me".
"I'll always treat them with the same amount of respect. As far as I'm concerned, going into this week they’ve got the best scrum in the world because that's the ability they have to be able to turn it on."
Argentina are fresh off their historic 23-19 upset win over Australia, while the All Blacks will be looking to bounce back after their 36-34 defeat to South Africa in Wellington.
Lock Scott Barrett says the team have learned plenty from that loss, and realise they now have another considerable challenge awaiting them in South America.
The All Blacks were pushed hard by the Pumas when they met in Nelson earlier this month, where the visitors traded blows with the world champions for the majority of the contest before being overwhelmed in the dying stages.
"They're a different beast at home," said Barrett. "They'll be fired up and they're a skilful team with a good forward pack."
"Our kick-chase wasn't where it should've been last time and we've got to work really hard on defense," added Franks.
"They've got the ability to make things come off with great offloads and really good support play. So we have to be really switched on there."
The wait for the opportunity to erase the sour after-taste of that Springboks loss has been a long one, says Barrett.
"You stew on it a wee bit," said Barrett. "I guess there's an extra bit of a knot in the gut to get back on track with a win.
"You can use that, but at the same time you have to put it behind you and focus on what's ahead."
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