Hundreds of Argentinian fans are expected to descend on Rugby Park for the game today against Romania, with their passion and vigour already being felt around Invercargill.

Invercargill Top 10 Holiday Parks owners Philip and Diane Todd said they were almost afraid to meet the fans.

"We have a few fans here already. They certainly take passion to the next level," Mrs Todd said.

Mr Todd said the fans were completely different to the Scottish fans who had stayed at the park last week. The Scots were very quiet but the Argentinians were very full on, in a nice way, he said.

Argentinians Daniel Carro and his son Santiago are staying at the holiday park and planned to chant at the game.

The "jump" chant was the most popular among Los Puma fans.

Sung in Spanish, it translated into "He who does not jump is English", but at tomorrow's game it would apply to the Romanians, Mr Carro said.

Argentinian supporters Federico, 8, and Lucas Rolotti, 10, were also enjoying their time at the holiday park, throwing a rugby ball around and proudly dressed in their Argentinian supporters' gear.

Los Pumas fan Sergio Fernando Kanela said Argentina was excited about the Rugby World Cup, with many fans rising early or staying up all night to watch the games.

"We started to take this game seriously after the last world cup. The whole country watched the players crying as the fans sang our national anthem," he said.

Mr Kanela said fans gather before the game: "We replace the words in pop songs with team lyrics and when the team show up in the field, the fans get crazy.

"We sing louder, we throw pieces of paper in the air, some play the drums and horns, and there are fireworks," he said.

Mr Kanela said Argentinians away from home were more extreme: "When we see the flag and the jersey, we go crazy".

He said Invercargill should brace itself for blue and white passion.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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