Patricio Noriega may be a strong contender to succeed Marcelo Loffreda as Argentina coach after Rugby World Cup 2007, but for now he has only one thing on his mind - helping Argentina A to defend their IRB Nations Cup title in Romania.

The former prop who represented both his native Pumas and the Wallabies on the international stage, is the team manager cum forwards coach with Argentina A for the six team tournament, which also includes Italy A, Romania, Georgia, Namibia and the Emerging Springboks.

Noriega is undoubtedly an inspiration to these players, particularly the forwards given his reputation as a scrummager to maintain the traditions of formidable Pumas' packs over the years and has already enjoyed domestic success as coach of his former club Hindú.

"I always like to think about the present, not about the future," Noriega told Total Rugby Radio after watching Argentina A kick off the defence of their IRB Nations Cup crown with a hard fought 27-20 defeat of Italy A on Tuesday.

Focusing on the present

"For me to help any team is an honour; it is very enjoyable and everything I can do will be a honour, but I am thinking only about the present at the moment and helping these guys. You never know what is going to happen in the future."

The forwards surprisingly lost three scrums on their own put in, which they will hope to put right against Namibia on Sunday, but Noriega was pleased with the way Argentina A stepped up a gear in the second half performance to overcome Italy A.

"In the first half they [Italy] were very dominant, they controlled the scrum and stole some lineouts from us, but in the second half we grabbed the ball, we penetrated with a very strong forward pack of ours," Noriega added.

"We scored two tries from mauling following lineouts and with a very good tactical kicking game from our No. 10 Santiago Fernandez, we dominated field position and were able to take some points from penalties and a drop goal.

World Cup dreams

Argentina A's tries came from centre Federico Amelong, second row Jaime Arocena and replacement prop Eduardo Rodriguez Planez - three players who will not be alone in hoping to force their way into Loffreda's squad for France.

"All of them are eligible at the moment," admitted Noriega, who coached Argentina to eighth at this year's IRB Under 19 World Championship in Belfast. "Loffreda made a list of 50 players and many of those players are here, so they have some possibilities.

"You never know what will happen. Obviously all the players know that and they take this competition very seriously. They all know that they have the opportunity to play in the World Cup, so this competition is very important."

The next chance for players to impress will be against Namibia, a side who lost 26-18 to their Rugby World Cup 2007 opponents Georgia on Tuesday at the new national stadium - the Arcul de Triumf - in Bucharest.

Tough challenges to come

Noriega knows the match will not be easy, but a bonus point victory is a must from the encounter to take into their final game of the IRB Nations Cup, against the Emerging Springboks on 16 June after they picked up five points for a 61-7 defeat of Romania.

"Well we don't know much about them [Namibia], we know it is going to be very physical, they have some big guys in the forward pack. It is a game, we want to play it and enjoy it, that is the main thing," Noriega said.

"On paper the Emerging Springboks are definitely the biggest test for us here. They have some Super 14 players in the squad and everyone knows how the Springboks are very tough, very fast in the backs and very clever.

"We will of course do our best to prepare for that game and get the victory, but it is going to be tough."