Latest news with #Contepomi
The 42
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
'20 years later, it's incredible' - Contepomi revels in iconic Argentina victory over Lions
THE IMMEDIATE WAVE of emotion that pervaded Felipe Contepomi's Argentina players as the ball was hoofed into the East Stand of the Aviva Stadium told its own story. All 23 Pumas knew they had become legends in their nation's proud rugby lore, pulling off a win over the Lions that was 115 years in the making. The sides who had hosted primitive iterations of the Lions in 1910, 1927 and 1936 had been trounced on their own soil. The seventh meeting between the teams in 2005 had ended contentiously in a 25-25 draw, with Jonny Wilkinson slotting a last-gasp penalty after eight and a half minutes of stoppage time to break Argentinian hearts. But 20 years later, a 17-point underdog Puma outfit coached so superbly by Felipe Contepomi — who himself featured in that Cardiff warm-up, the only previous home Lions fixture — had sealed a generational victory. Advertisement And Contepomi's pride was palpable as he entered the media room of the Aviva Stadium. 'Well, you know, it's kind of a one-off,' said the former Leinster out-half. 'It's an invitational game and the last time was 20 years ago and we just couldn't beat them. We drew. Coming here 20 years later, I think it's incredible. 'We don't know if we'll ever again be invited or not to play a game like that, but definitely for everyone who has been involved in this week, it will be memorable.' Contepomi stressed that Los Pumas had enjoyed just two training sessions together in Dublin, adding that the warm weather on game-week had helped the visitors' efforts as it allowed them to drink mate — a caffeine-rich, South American herbal drink — on the terrace of the Radisson Blu St Helen's Hotel in Booterstown, including before they headed for Lansdowne Road on Friday. But the Argentina head coach didn't overstate his team's achievement, either, acknowledging that 'we took a bit of an opportunity, also, because I know they (the Lions) will be much better in one month's time when they'll play Australia. 'They'll be an awesome team because they have so much quality in there but they had [only] a few training sessions. There was a bit of a lack of cohesion and we took our chances.' Still, the victory is a springboard for the silky-looking Pumas ahead of their Rugby Championship campaign, which kicks off after the Lions tour in August. Contepomi, who spent so much of his adult life in Dublin and, as a consequence, understands exactly the significance of Lions rugby to players in Ireland and Britain, said that to recognise that very significance was key to Argentina's victory. 'It's special because sometimes you need to understand what motivates the other team, to understand how special it is,' he said. 'For me, that's being humble: understanding what motivates the other team and I know how special it is for an Irish, Scottish, Welsh or English player to be a Lion. And for us to play against the best of the best in these islands, it's nearly a dream. 'And I wouldn't say even having a win because we could have lost that game. We won it, putting in that performance after two days. For me, I take my hat off to the boys. Related Reads Laughs, tears and frustration as Farrell settles into unique demands of Lions job 'There are no excuses, we should have been better' Defeat doesn't detract from sense Lions should do this more often 'Yeah, we know there is a lot to improve but I'm so proud for the 23 but more so for the 32 that work here this week because how they behaved the whole week was unbelievable.'
The Star
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-'Nearly a dream', Argentina's Contepomi basks in unique Lions win
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Ireland v Argentina - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - November 15, 2024 Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi before the match REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo DUBLIN (Reuters) -Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi knew just how special and potentially unique Friday's victory over the British and Irish Lions was, having gone agonisingly close as a player two decades ago. Contepomi was captain when the sides last met before the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand, when the Pumas were a Johnny Wilkinson stoppage time penalty away from a first ever victory in the fixture. That game ended in a 25-25 draw, and Friday's contest was just Argentina's second shot at the Lions in almost a century. Their first six meetings were played during tours of Argentina when the Lions did not limit their itinerary to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Contepomi said they could not be sure when they would get the opportunity again. "It's kind of a one-off. It's an invitation game and the last time, it was 20 years ago, and we were just there and we couldn't beat them," Contepomi told a press conference. "Coming here 20 years later I think it's incredible. We don't know if we'll ever again be invited or not to play and definitely for everyone who's been involved this week it will be memorable." "It is special. I know how special it is for an Irish, a Scottish, a Welsh or an English player to be a Lion, and for us to play against the best of the best in these islands, it's nearly a dream." The former Argentina flyhalf, who knows British and Irish rugby well, having spent six seasons with Leinster and worked as a doctor during his time in Ireland, said he expected Australia to face a far more ferocious set of Lions next month. "We took a bit of an opportunity because I know they'll be much better in one month's time when they play Australia. They'll be an awesome team, because they have so much quality in there," he said. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by William Mallard)
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
'Nearly a dream', Argentina's Contepomi basks in unique Lions win
DUBLIN - Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi knew just how special and potentially unique Friday's victory over the British and Irish Lions was, having gone agonisingly close as a player two decades ago. Contepomi was captain when the sides last met before the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand, when the Pumas were a Johnny Wilkinson stoppage time penalty away from a first ever victory in the fixture. That game ended in a 25-25 draw, and Friday's contest was just Argentina's second shot at the Lions in almost a century. Their first six meetings were played during tours of Argentina when the Lions did not limit their itinerary to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Contepomi said they could not be sure when they would get the opportunity again. "It's kind of a one-off. It's an invitation game and the last time, it was 20 years ago, and we were just there and we couldn't beat them," Contepomi told a press conference. "Coming here 20 years later I think it's incredible. We don't know if we'll ever again be invited or not to play and definitely for everyone who's been involved this week it will be memorable." "It is special. I know how special it is for an Irish, a Scottish, a Welsh or an English player to be a Lion, and for us to play against the best of the best in these islands, it's nearly a dream." The former Argentina flyhalf, who knows British and Irish rugby well, having spent six seasons with Leinster and worked as a doctor during his time in Ireland, said he expected Australia to face a far more ferocious set of Lions next month. "We took a bit of an opportunity because I know they'll be much better in one month's time when they play Australia. They'll be an awesome team, because they have so much quality in there," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Felipe Contepomi and Pumas have their own focus as all eyes train on Lions
Felipe Contepomi has spent a decade of his 47 years here in Dublin with Leinster. There were six seasons as a talismanic No.10 and another four as a back coach with the province. His words always carry extra weight around the Irish capital. In town this week as head coach to an Argentina team that will face the British and Irish Lions in the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, he will know that the Pumas are little more than a bit-part player in a bigger picture that will be painted in Australia. But this is the start of something big for them too. Argentina won half of their six Rugby Championship games in 2024. They scored more points than anyone in history on Kiwi soil when beating the All Blacks. They hit the Aussies for 67. Of the major nations, Ireland are the only scalp to escape them lately. Ireland are also the only one of the four home nations not sitting behind them in the world rankings, so there is an air of expectancy around the South Americans as they embark on what will be a long 13-game schedule across four continents in 2025. They start off this week without a dozen players still involved in the Top 14, the likes of Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallia who are playing with Toulouse, and Guido Petti of Bordeaux-Begles. A handful of others are on duty with clubs in the USA. It all leaves them with eleven uncapped players this week, eight of them from the Super Rugby Americas league. Centre Justo Piccardo will make his debut in Ballsbridge and there are three potential debutants on the bench. Argentina haven't played in seven months but then this iteration of British and Irish Lions has never taken to the field together either and the suspicion is that Andy Farrell and his green-tinged operation will lean in on much of what we know from Ireland. 'Andy Farrell is a very experienced and very smart coach and I'm sure that he will analyse the sort of players he has and find the way to play how to beat Australia,' said Contepomi. 'So they will be doing everything for how to beat Australia. 'So it could look something like [playing similarly to Ireland], but when you see the way that Scotland plays, it's not that very different. The way that Wales plays, when they just go and are on the front foot, you know, it's not different. 'England might have differences, but in the last two games of the Six Nations it looked more like an Irish team than the first three games of England. So I think they'll go and play hard and they have very good players. Definitely they will be a very strong team.' Contepomi cut a relaxed and, as always, friendly figure at the team's hotel base on Wednesday. The sunshine is a welcome addition and his players have been thrilled and amazed by the fact that daytime stretches through to 10.30 at night. Being here now is very different to a visit in November and some of the players have already spoken excitedly of the one-off chance of facing the famous tourists. It's 20 years since their boss captained the Pumas last time, in a 25-25 draw in Cardiff. For Contepomi, there will be plenty of reunions during their stay, one of them being with Johnny Sexton who is on Farrell's Lions staff before assuming a similar role with Ireland come the start of next season. The pair were teammates at Leinster before Sexton served under the older man when the latter was attack coach and Contepomi spoke here about how Sexton 'needs' the full immersion in the coaching role to which he has now committed. There was a prediction too that Sam Prendergast may yet find himself getting a late call to join the party Down Under and he had a word too for Leo Cullen, who attended their training on Tuesday, and Leinster's URC title win after three disappointing seasons. 'Yeah, well, depending how you see the disappointment, you know? Playing finals every season is not… I don't see it as a disappointing season. Maybe it's a disappointing day when you lose a final, but the season, probably it's a good season. 'They were the best team throughout the season and they were the best team last year, but they didn't win it. So it's good always to have silverware. Some players who contributed a lot are leaving. It's very good for them to leave with a medal, for the academy players also. 'Yeah, I'm delighted for them.'
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Felipe Contepomi: Sam Prendergast 'probably unlucky' to miss out on Lions selection
Felipe Contepomi has expressed his delight at Johnny Sexton's decision to throw himself into coaching with the British and Irish Lions and Ireland, and predicted that Sam Prendergast may yet feature on Andy Farrell's touring roster in Australia. In Dublin as head coach of an Argentina side that will face the Lions at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening, Contepomi goes back a long way with Sexton who was an up-and-coming out-half at Leinster when the South American was the province's talismanic No.10. It was an injury to Contepomi in the Heineken Cup semi-final defeat of Munster at Croke Park in 2009 that really opened the door for Sexton who shone at GAA HQ and again when Leinster won their first star against Leicester Tigers in the final. The pair have also worked together more recently, when Contepomi spent four years as backs coach with his old provincial team towards the back end of Sexton's playing career. And now they are masterminds in opposing camps. 'I don't know if surprised, I'm delighted,' said the Argentinian about Sexton's decision to quit a full-time corporate role and give his all to a coaching gig that he had already dipped into with the national team on a part-time basis. 'I think he needs to go into rugby. He has a good rugby brain, very good rugby brain and I'm sure that he will have very good mentors there, you know. He knows [Andy] Farrell, he knows a lot of the staff, and I'm sure that he will get the most out of that experience.' As for Prendergast, Contepomi's successor in the famous No.10 jersey was walking in to the province's academy just as he was exiting the building to take on the role of an assistant coach with his native country. That was in 2022. Prendergast, still only 22, will be joining Jack Crowley on the Ireland squad that is due to play Georgia and Portugal next month on the back of a breakthrough year with club and country that was not without its difficult moments. 'Sam was lurking around in in the academy before I left. I could see his talent coming through, I didn't have to be a rugby brain to detect that he was a talented player. He is very talented, he's very good and it's probably debatable and probably unlucky to have to missed out the Lions. 'But he's a very young player and he will have a lot of opportunities. You never know what happens. The Lions, from what I recall, they never finished with the same [number of players] whatever, say, 40 something players they have. 'They never finished the tour with the same [number] who started. So, you need to be ready and, I'm sure he's on the fringe of that. So, I don't know, I'm just assuming, right? I don't have inside information.' Contepomi is working with a squad that is missing a dozen men still involved in the Top 14 playoffs, including the likes of Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallia of Toulouse and Guido Petti from European champions Bordeaux-Begles. Centre Justo Piccardo will make his debut and there are three potential debutants off the bench for Argentina who have eleven uncapped players in all in their squad, eight of them from the fledgling Super Rugby Americas scene. ARGENTINA: S Carreras; R Isgró, L Cinti, J Piccardo, I Mendy; T Albornoz, G García; M Vivas, J Montoya (capt), J Sclavi; F Molina, P Rubiolo; P Matera, JM Gonzalez, J Oviedo. Replacements: B Bernasconi, B Wenger, F Coria Marchetti, S Grondona, J Moro, S Benitez Cruz, M Moroni, S Cordero.
