Argentina might never have beaten Ireland in Dublin, but for their head coach Felipe Contepomi it is a place he holds close to his heart and where “many milestones” in his life happened.
The 47-year-old former fly-half and center’s priority is to overcome the Irish at Lansdowne Road today, but even defeat would not lessen his evident love for the country.
Not only did he star for powerhouse province Leinster from 2003 to 2009, but he also passed his medical degrees at the Royal College of Surgeons and went on to work at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Photo: Reuters
He came back for a second stint in Dublin as Leinster’s assistant coach from 2018 to 2022, leaving when his country called hiring him as assistant coach to Michael Cheika.
Speaking on Wednesday the affable Contepomi said his spells in Ireland had had a lot of influence on his life in general. “I’ve got one son and a daughter who were born in Ireland as well,” he said.
“Unluckily they are not Irish because of the rules or whatever, but many milestones in my life happened here in Ireland, definitely,” he added.
“I spent 10 years here. It’s a lot of my adulthood,” he said.
Contepomi, who missed Leinster’s 2009 Heineken Cup final due to being seriously injured in the semi-final, said he had made many friends during his time in Ireland inside and outside rugby.
He had already met up with Leinster coach Leo Cullen and he was going to use the “day off” on Wednesday to see some more friends.
However, those with relatively long memories would know Contepomi is capable of putting sentiment aside as he showed in the 2007 Rugby World Cup pool match against Ireland.
He contributed 11 points in the 30-15 whipping which sent the Irish home and the Pumas were to go on to finish third.
At least with him in charge, the edge that has existed between the two sides down the years might be missing and a convivial drink would be taken post-match.
However, friendship aside he said that knowing so much about a lot of the players who would line-up today is a double-edged sword.
“I don’t know if it’s an advantage,” he said. “It’s the same way as those players know how I think as well.”
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