Argentina fans in full battle cry

Los Pumas fans in Nelson don’t need much encouragement to make noise for their team.

A First XV of Argentinian rugby supporters living in Nelson were in tight formation outside Trafalgar Park on Tuesday ahead of tomorrow night’s historic test against the All Blacks in the city.

Led by Fermin Padilla Victorica, they burst into rousing Spanish songs with the chorus ‘‘Vamos (let’s go) Pumas’’.

Padilla Victorica, an Argentinian who grew up in Brazil and represented Brazil in rugby as a flanker, said passionate support was one area where Argentina would have the edge tomorrow.

He recalled the Kiwi crowd at the 2011 Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park being deathly quiet in the closing minutes as the All Blacks fought to hold their narrow lead against France.

‘‘I couldn’t believe it. These guys needed support. I stood up on my seat in my Pumas shirt and started to shout, ‘All Blacks, All Blacks’.’’

Padilla Victorica will not be repeating that chant tomorrow night, though. He is backing the Pumas to win 31-30 with a lastminute drop goal from star first five-eighth Nicholas Sanchez.

But he will have some competition from his Kiwi wife, Nicola, who said she was ‘‘definitely backing the All Blacks’’.

Their son, Sebastian, 8, was the diplomat of the family, declining to say who he would be cheering for because ‘‘Dad can’t know’’.

There is no division in the Shingleton family, however, with Angie, from Puerto Madryn in Patagonia, and husband John, who met his wife when he was working for Talley’s in Argentina, both backing the Pumas. ‘‘I have to cheer for the underdog,’’ John said.

Andres Durrando and Matias Iaria, who are on working holidays in Nelson, predicted a tight contest. A draw was Iaria’s pick, while Durrando said the Pumas would definitely win the first half.

Matias Cacciavillani, who runs the Viva la Vaca Argentinian food truck, said the local community would be at Nelson Airport yesterday to welcome the Pumas, and there would be a gathering at the Free House tonight from 5pm, open to everyone, with an Argentinian lamb dish cooked over an open fire.

His prediction was for an equally tasty feast of running rugby, with Argentina running out winners by 37-34.

‘‘I have to cheer for the underdog.’’

John Shingleton, Kiwi husband of Angie, from Argentina

MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF Nelson Pumas supporters outside Trafalgar Park, from left, Angie Shingleton with Greta, 3; John Shingleton and Enzo, 5; Nicola Padilla Victorica with Sebastian, 8; Fermin Padilla Victorica with Benjamin, 7, and Oliver, 3; Matias Cacciavillani with son Sebastien and partner Chelsea Hall; Diego Douglas, Matias Iaria and Andres Durando.