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Former Puma Mario Ledesma has admitted his surprise following his quick elevation to head coach of the Argentina national team.
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The 45-year-old was given a four-year deal to coach Argentina just six months after he took the helm of the Jaguares Super Rugby side, where he led the club to their first finals appearance.
“Being the captain of the ship fills me with pride. I’m not intimidated by the pressure,” Ledesma said.
The 84-Test hooker isn’t short on coaching experience, especially in the international arena, having worked for the Waratahs and Australia under Michael Cheika from 2015 to 2017.
“I went to Australia as a spy, just in case I would come back to coach in Argentina,” said Ledesma.
“I didn’t think I would come back so soon. I’d always dreamed of coaching the Pumas.”
When Ledesma was named Jaguares coach at the start of 2018, not many expected the franchise would play knock-out rugby in just their third season.
In their first campaign under Ledesma, the Jaguares scored impressive away victories in New Zealand – against the Chiefs and Blues – and Australia – at the Rebels and Brumbies – as part of an incredible seven-match winning streak.
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Unfortunately, their performance at the Super Rugby level failed to translate during the June international window. Argentina lost all three of their fixtures, losing twice at home to Wales before being thumped by Scotland. Ledesma’s predecessor Daniel Hourcade announced his resignation during the series.
“We need to improve as a team. It’s defence that wins you games,” said Ledesma.
“When we’re on top we’re dangerous and we score, but when we’re under the cosh we concede too many points.”
Argentina have failed to beat a tier one opponent for close to two years, and have fallen to 10th in the World Rugby rankings, a far cry from the form of Ledesma’s side that finished third at the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
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Ledesma will make his coaching debut with Argentina with a trip to South Africa. Los Pumas will take on South Africa on August 18, the opening fixture of their Rugby Championship campaign.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
I’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
137 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
137 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
137 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
137 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
137 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
137 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
137 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
137 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
137 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
137 Go to commentsHo hum.
137 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
137 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
137 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
137 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
137 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
137 Go to comments