Classic Pumas are capable of repeating their title-winning feat of 2011 at this year’s World Rugby Classic, says the team’s manager Rodolfo Ventura after his team’s comfortable victory over Canada.

Argentina were in determined mood against the Canadians who they defeated 33-20 in Saturday’s curtain raiser, with a performance that suggested the Pumas could again be genuine title contenders this time around.

The Pumas return to action on Wednesday for a mouthwatering semi-final against a formidable looking Classic Lions who also made a winning start on Saturday with a 21-0 triumph over Italy.

Ominously for the Lions, who lost to Argentina in the 2011 final, the Pumas include many of the same battle-hardened bodies that ensured it was a night to forget for the Brits two years ago.

“This is a similar squad to the one that won the title in 2011 and we don’t have too many changes,” said Ventura. “It all depends on how this week goes and, of course, we will need a little bit of luck.

“I think we have the same possibilities we had two years ago and we’re definitely going for the gold.”

It was Canada who took the lead against the Pumas through an early Derek Daypuck penalty but Pumas hit back with a try by Juan Campero which Federico Todeschini converted.

Daypuck kicked another penalty for Canada to pull his side within one point of the Pumas who then increased their lead when Campero scored his second try of the game to make it 12-6.

Juan Pablo Angelillo added another try for the Pumas, kicked home by Todeschini, before the impressive Campero made it a hat-trick of tries which left the score at 26-6 following Leandro Lobrauco’s conversion.

Canada scored their first try of the game following an interception in their half by Aaron Mittler who powered under the posts to hand the reliable Daypuck with an easy conversion.

The ‘little wizard’ Todeschini then a scored a try which he converted, an act repeated by Canada’s Dan Harlow in the final minutes of the game to leave the final score at 33-20.

Ventura believed his team’s somewhat sluggish start against Canada was down to nerves but insisted they would be no repeat of those jitters against the Lions.

“It’s always difficult to play the first match because sometimes there are nerves and anxiousness,” he said.

“Canada are always strong and I think we did well and did what we had to do. Fortunately we won and now we have a couple days of rest before we play again.

“Our next game should get a little bit easier because we will know each other a little bit better.”

Tries from Mark Blair and Gareth Wyatt (2), converted by Jon Petrie (2) and Ewan Dowes, helped Lions to a routine win over Italy.

Former Wales Skipper Colin Charvis, playing in his first Classic since 2011, believes there’s plenty more to come from the Lions.

“It’s a very long week and there’s a lot of rugby for a group of old fellas to play,” he said. “To open our account with a win was our goal and we achieved that, and we scored a few tries as well.

“We still have a bit of polishing to do but for an opening run out we’re feeling pretty good considering we only arrived yesterday.”

While bullish on Lions chances of success, Charvis has tipped last year’s beaten finalists, the Classic Springboks, as the team to beat.

South Africa have travelled with a star-studded squad which includes their most capped player Victor Matfield and top scorer Percy Montgomery.

“I was chatting to some of the Springboks in the hotel and they have some big guys in there,” said Charvis.

“They have a lot of big timber in their team and they will prove very difficult to stop.”