Ayerza, a 28-year-old 113kg front rower who plays for the Leicester club in England, seems an amiable chap. He shook hands with New Zealand journalists as he made his way to the top table for his press conference today, but it was easy to believe him when he spoke of the "physical combat'' the Argentine players would bring to the Eden Park match on Sunday night.
"Argentina always play better when we are underdogs,'' he said. "The passion of this team and the courage and pride of wearing the shirt will hopefully come through during the game. We have a good chance of beating the All Blacks.
"We pride ourselves in the physical combat of the forwards.''
The All Blacks are expecting a physical battle against an Argentina team which pushed England to the wire in an intense and sometimes spiteful match in Dunedin last month.
Ayerza hoped his side would improve on that performance, saying Argentina had not reached any great heights in the tournament.
"I think we haven't performed yet so well. Maybe parts of the game against England was us at our best. We should keep that, rely on our defence and set piece and lower the game to our tempo in order for us to win the game.''
He was brutally honest about Argentina's response to the news they wouldn't have to face the injured Dan Carter.
"He's one of the world's best players and it's a big boost for us knowing that he won't be available for the All Blacks. The All Blacks rely on him and hopefully will miss him. But of course the All Blacks are a great side and the other one [Carter's replacement] will be as good as him.''
Another Argentina player displaying a refreshing honesty was lock Tomas Vallejos Cinelli, a 26-year-old who plays for the Harlequins club in London and who has never faced the All Blacks.
When asked if an Argentina win over the All Blacks would trump a triumph by his country in the football World Cup, he said: "No, I think it's going to be a revolution in the rugby world but I don't think it's going to be like winning a World Cup in football.
It's going to be so important and everyone's going to be so happy and so proud of us but nothing like football in Argentina. Football in Argentina is like rugby here, it's huge.''