Perry Freshwater, pictured during an England training session
© AFP/File Adrian Dennis

BISHAM, England (AFP) - The 33-year-old New Zealand-born prop, who is set to make his starting debut against Argentina at Twickenham this weekend after three appearances off the bench, plays for Perpignan in the south of France.

His home is surrounded by an orchard and a vineyard while his hobbies include walking in the Pyreneees and visiting nearby Barcelona.

Given that front-row forwards are traditionally not renowned for their cultural pursuits, Freshwater stands out.

But he had a thoroughly traditional grounding in the basics of forward play at Leicester where he under-studied the famed 'ABC Club' of Graham Rowntree, Richard Cockerill and Darren Garforth.

Freshwater's skills will certainly be out to the test by an Argentina pack who love nothing more than scrummaging.

Add in the fact that defeat at the weekend will see England facing up to a 34-year-low of seven straight losses and it is easy to conclude that the world champions' newest recruit to the 1st XV could have picked an easier game for his full debut.

"We are expecting a big, heavy pack and all guns blazing from Argentina. They are a very big side and they are a very skilled side, so it is going to be a tough old match," Freshwater told reporters at Bisham Abbey, the home of England's National Sports Centre and the squad's training base here Wednesday.

"They look to hit very hard in the scrum and keep going. For us, perhaps, it will be about pushing bloody hard and make sure we get that hit. There is no secret to it, we need to make sure everyone is tight together."

Freshwater, whose Londoner father Tony's career in the Merchant Navy took him to New Zealand, where he stayed, knows better than most of his team-mates what he will be up against this Saturday.

Half of the Pumas' 30-man European tour squad also play in France, including props Omar Hasan, Martin Scelzo and Rodrigo Roncero.

"I know a few of their players and I have got experience on what they do, but it won't be just me out there pushing. I have to work with the team, and we've got to go well in the scrummage," Freshwater said.

"Technically, Argentina are superb, it doesn't matter who plays for them. In the scrum in England, you have a lot of calls and you talk all the way through it, but you have none of that in France - you literally push as hard as you can. There is no secret formula.

"You look at world rugby now, and I think the All Blacks are one of the best scrummagers at the moment. Argentina are certainly up there, it is a macho point for them - a matter of honour - and it will be a huge challenge for us."

Freshwater, thr only change to England's starting side after last weekend's 41-20 defeat by New Zealand, has spent much of his career in a supporting role rather than as a leading man.

He made 71 appearances off the bench for Leicester, while his previous three England caps were all as a replacement against Samoa, Scotland and Ireland last season.

But a fine performance against Argentina's mighty calibre should give him a way into England's 2007 World Cup squad.

"I always thought I would get a start for England, that is why I am here," he said. "I am very loyal to my club, and I look at it very simply in that I try to play well for my club. I signed to play for Perpignan at a time when a number of high-profile players were joining.

"I wasn't one of those high-profile players, so I just got on with my business and I am now in my fourth season there.

"I was a young guy with a backpack when professionalism started in rugby union, and it was good for me to be offered a professional contract at Perpignan, so I took it.

"Yes, I get a lot of grief from my friends when they see me playing for England but, for me, it is a dream."

©AFP