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Fly-half Juan Hernandez embodies the spirit of Argentine rugby which led to the Pumas being invited to join an expanded Tri-Nations, according to former captain Lisandro Arbizu.

Hernandez is playing in South Africa for the Natal Sharks and is expected to be joined by other Argentine players as the Pumas look to establish themselves in the southern hemisphere's leading tournament.

"It's positive that an Argentine should be there," Arbizu said. "That Juan Hernandez should now be there is very good, it's a window, and a mark of brotherhood (to show) that we Argentines are also of the southern hemisphere.

"It is good that it should be Juan Hernandez, who is a different player and they will see him as distinct and that difference is Argentina," added Arbizu, a pioneer himself when he turned professional and joined Brive in France in 1996.

Argentina's third place at the World Cup in France two years ago was the summit of a long climb for the Pumas following the retirement of great flyhalf Hugo Porta.

Arbizu, 37, was 19 when he made his international debut on a tour of Britain which included a 51-0 hammering by England.

The small but tough Belgrano Athletic fly-half or centre endured many defeats as the young Pumas side matured through the 1991 and 1995 World Cups without winning a match.

The breakthrough came at the 1999 World Cup under the guidance of former All Blacks coach Alex Wyllie.

Victories over Japan and Samoa sent the Pumas into a playoff against Ireland and Arbizu played in the brilliant 28-24 win and a creditable performance in their quarter-final defeat by France.

"When Alex Wyllie came to Argentina, it was a very important stage and that was a very important cup for the development of the Pumas," he said.

"He was totally outside Argentines' way of being, he put in more discipline, his experience as a person and a player."

He was succeeded by former Pumas centre Marcelo Loffreda who led the team until 2007, working closely with scrumhalf and captain Agustin Pichot.

"Argentine rugby has always had an incredible spiritual and mental strength," Arbizu said. "The pillars of Argentine rugby have always been a very good defence and scrum and to take advantage of the attacking opportunities we got.

"Then we gained in confidence to take more risks because we have the talent and potential. We got to third in the world because the Argentine game bothers our opponents a lot, it disorientates them."

Reuters