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Argentina’s Pumas, another animal under Ledesma’s leadership
BUENOS AIRES, Sept 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – With a year to go ahead of the
2019 World Cup in Japan, Argentina’s Pumas are on the prowl, rejuvenated by
their rugged former hooker, Mario Ledesma.
Argentina had been little short of awful since the last World Cup, where
they reached the semi-finals for the second time.
They had managed just one single victory against a tier one nation, Italy,
in almost two years before the start of the Rugby Championship.
But the South Americans have developed a knack of saving their best for the
biggest stage and their current form suggests they’re building up towards a
major tilt in Japan.
With two matches left of the Rugby Championship, they’ve already broken new
ground this season, winning two matches for the first time.
In six previous editions they had finished bottom of the pile five times,
and in two of those they lost every match, including last year.
Argentina suffered a dire June campaign where they lost twice at home to
Wales before being drubbed by visiting Scotland, conceding 10 tries and
almost 100 points in total, after which Daniel Hourcade was replaced by
Ledesma.
The team has bounced back in style.
“It’s a positive return, very positive. Something’s happening in this team,
you can sense it,” said Ledesma 10 days ago, following a first victory in
Australia in 35 years, and first such in the tournament.
“There’s a positive fever, and it’s contagious!”
Having also beaten South Africa 31-19 at home earlier in the tournament,
Argentine spirits are high going into Saturday’s reception of mighty New
Zealand in Buenos Aires.
A first ever victory over the All Blacks is no longer a fanciful dream.
– ‘Great future’ –
Ledesma honed his tough playing style in France, where he began his
coaching career before developing it in Australia.
MORE/MR/ 1225 hrs
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“He was fed on French and then Australian rugby. With him, Argentine rugby
has a great future,” said Andres Courreges, a hooker for the Pumas in the
1980s.
Those coaching positions on foreign shores were as part of the backroom
staff, but Ledesma cut his teeth as the head man in a hugely successful six-
month stint in charge of the Jaguares, Argentina’s sole Super Rugby
participant.
The Jaguares recorded a winning campaign and reached the knock-out stages
for the first time, at only their third attempt.
It was their ability to come away from tough trips to New Zealand —
against the Chiefs and Blues — and Australia — facing the Rebels and
Brumbies — with victories that impressed most.
According to the Argentine coach of French club Agen, Mauricio Reggiardo,
Ledesma’s 84 caps gained as a Pumas player is what gives him a coaching edge
with the national team.
The whole backroom coaching staff are also internationals, “capable of
transmitting their values to the players and of being very demanding, and
very tough.”
“That’s the advantage of Mario Ledesma, he’s got the Pumas values, but with
the experience of having worked in France and Australia.”
Reggiardo says Ledesma has instilled some pragmatism in the Argentine game,
often full of flair but fragile under pressure.
– ‘Honor’ –
“They don’t play for the sake of playing. They don’t play for fun. They
play to go forwards,” he said.
“That’s the way it is. We can score a try from 80 meters out, just as well
as we can spend 10 minutes kicking it if that’s what the game demands.”
Ledesma has helped players tap into the spirit of the last line of the
Argentine national anthem, sung before the start of every international
match: “we vow to die with glory.”
“Whereas once the players were happy just to be wearing the jersey, now
they put it on and honor it,” added Reggiardo.
When it comes to the World Cup in Japan, a resurgent Argentina will be a
worry for their pool rivals, England, and in particular, France.
In the 2007 World Cup in France, Argentina beat the hosts twice on route to
their best ever finish of third place.
Only two of the three can qualify from the pool in Japan, and the other two
won’t be relishing playing a Pumas side on fire.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1225 hrs