Old hands join World Cup legends

Chris Paterson and Mario Ledesma will join an illustrious band of rugby players tomorrow.

Paterson, the 33-year-old Scottish back, and Ledesma, at 38 one of the oldest men at the tournament and the Argentine hooker, would have played at their fourth Rugby World Cup by lunchtime tomorrow.

They will join three veterans who have now retired. Samoan legend Brian Lima played at five World Cups, while Australia's George Gregan and England's Michael Catt went to four tournaments.

Ledesma, who played at the World Cups of 1999, 2003 and 2007, plays for the French club Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 competition. He previously played for another French club, Castres Olympique, and the Buenos Aires club in Argentina. Tomorrow he will be part of a vaunted Argentine front row who will go up against England, who themselves have a formidable pack, in Dunedin.

Argentina's pack is much the same as the one which helped take the team to the semifinals of the 2007 World Cup, when they upset France in the group stage.

Ledesma will be packing between veteran loosehead prop Rodrigo Roncero and 23-year-old Juan Figallo. Figallo has ousted the experienced Martin Scelzo, who played in three World Cups.

Paterson is a 105-test veteran and Scotland's record points scorer and cap-holder. He is usually only the wing, but against Romania at Carisbrook will be at fullback.

Paterson and Ledesma will be the first players in their team to have played at four World Cups.

Paterson made his World Cup debut in 1999 with an appearance against Spain, but went on to star in the 2003 and 2007 tournaments.