Loffreda used the cramped programme as his excuse for the 14 changes he made to the Pumas starting line-up for tonight’s encounter with Namibia in Gosford.

Italy and Tonga are in an even worse position, having to complete their fixtures in 14 and 15 days respectively and Italian coach John Kirwan has already backed up his discontent by fielding an understrength side in his team’s opening encounter with the All Blacks.

However, while O’Sullivan can see Loffreda’s point, he cannot understand why he has waited so long to make it.

“I remember talking to John Kirwan about this a few months back,” he said.

“The Italian schedule is lunacy and Tonga’s is not much better. But it is a bit late to start bellyaching about it now.

“The fixtures were released nine months ago. That was the time to start jumping up and down about it. If you let it bother you now, when nothing can be done, it is just a waste of time and energy.

“I guess everyone would like their games spread out and we have obviously done quite well, but the TV schedulers won’t allow matches just to be played on a Saturday and Sunday, so some had to be in midweek.”

O’Sullivan will send part of his coaching team to Central Coast Stadium tonight. While they will be checking up on Argentina, it will also give the Irish an opportunity to assess Sunday’s opponents Namibia, about whom not much is known.

“We have some information on them but I think their side has changed a bit since then,” he said.

“It gives us a good chance to have a look at them before Sunday, which is all we are thinking about at the moment.”

O’Sullivan expects to be picking from strength when he names his side tomorrow.

Hooker Keith Wood (dead leg) and winger Anthony Horgan (lower back) have been kept out of contact sessions since Saturday’s win over Romania, while lock Gary Longwell is taking longer to recover from a slight calf strain than was initially anticipated.

However, influential centre Brian O’Driscoll has recovered from the damage he sustained when he was hit by Petru Balan’s late tackle, while scans have shown number eight Anthony Foley is suffering from nothing more than bruising to his knee.

O’Sullivan is expected to keep changes to a minimum, although prop John Hayes is expected to play after returning from a torn calf which kept him on the sidelines throughout the warm-up programme.

“I intend to put out the best side I can on Sunday but that doesn’t mean there won’t be changes,” said O’Sullivan.

“Players pick up knocks and others come in and out of form. The team I select is a snap shot of what situation we are in on that particular day.

“Everyone is in contention and I expect to be picking from the full 30-man squad.”