INTERVIEW Past triumphs over Argentina keep Ross Ford optimistic about Scotland's chances, writes Kevin Ferrie

Certainly after 1994, when a two-match Test series was lost 2-0, there was a 14-year gap before the next one, during which time Argentina visited Scotland three times for autumn Tests, winning every time, before knocking the Scots out of the last World Cup in the quarter-finals.

Ross Ford had just established himself as a Scotland regular when the sides met in France in 2007, but he has also been a key figure as they have turned things around, winning the second Test in Argentina to square the series in 2008, before last year’s historic Test series win there.

Consequently, he believes that there is no longer that fear factor that may or may not have had past Scotland managements renegotiating schedules.

“[It has changed] a little bit because we have beaten them in the past,” he said yesterday. “We scrummaged well the last time, but we know we can do it, so there’s not so much of a mystique about it. We just know that we have to be switched on in the right mindset to take them on and do the job. It’s not an easy day.”

What seems to have been demonstrated is that greater exposure to Argentina’s methods has actually been in Scotland’s interests, which has a parallel with improved performances against French club sides over the years in European competition.

“France and Argentina are pretty similar in the way they scrummage and I’ve not come across many others who scrummage that way, but it’s a different challenge and we’ve got ways around it and ways of dealing with it,” Ford added. “Their props have different ways of manipulating against our tightheads and looseheads.”

Which is not to suggest for a moment that the Scottish front row in particular have anything less than the highest regard for their opponents and Ford has particular reason to admire the man he will confront on Sunday.

At the age of 38, Mario Ledesma was older than both head coaches when Argentina met Romania last weekend and he is playing at his fourth World Cup.

“It’s some feat and I’ve got great respect for Mario Ledesma,” said Ford.

“He’s done a phenomenal amount in world rugby. He’s been with the Argentina team for a very long time and he’s a quality player. I respect the man and I think it will be a great match up on Sunday.”

Ledesma’s longevity seems all the more remarkable given the demands on modern professional players and the brutal nature of the position he plays, yet perhaps slightly surprisingly, Ford reasons that others will follow suit.

“The game is getting quicker and players are getting bigger, but I also think they’re getting looked after a lot better and being managed in the right way, so I think there will be other players who are able to play for their country just as long,” he said.

Since he is still only 27, it would seem a good idea, then, to get your money on Ross Ford to be in the Scotland squad at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, then, but whether he is involved in the knockout stages this time around might be seen in some quarters as a riskier bet.

Not that Scotland are thinking that far ahead since they could still qualify even if they lost on Sunday, so are completely focused on that age old cliche of taking each match as it comes.

There are as many as three matches that could still affect qualification with the Scots still to play pool leaders England, while Argentina could face a dangerous closing match against Richie Dixon’s Georgians, but Ford closed down any such discussion in typically straight-talking terms. “We don’t worry about permutations,” said the 2009 British & Irish Lions tourist.

“We’re in control of how our pool goes with regards to us winning games so we just worry about that really.”