Felipe Contepomi, the head honcho of Los Pumas, is not just throwing down the gauntlet; he's practically slapping the Springboks across the face with it. "We want to give the Springboks a good run for their money," he declared, as Argentina gears up for a double-header that could shake the very foundations of the Rugby Championship standings. This Saturday, they're set to clash with the world champions at Kings Park, followed by a showdown at Twickenham on October 4. With only wisps of points separating them from the top dogs, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Contepomi, keeping his cards close to his chest, brushed off questions about potentially topping the tournament.
"You are thinking too far ahead,"
he said, emphasizing the immediate challenges ahead. "We have one more training session before Saturday’s game against the double world champions, and we are sharpening the knife so that it is ready for game day. That is my only focus." The strategy? Simple. Improve relentlessly. "Our main thing is to improve each training session, to be better than the previous one. We are happy with our progress, but there is still plenty we can work on."
The squad's vibe is something Contepomi is especially proud of. "The big thing for me is the attitude of the squad. The guys are unbelievable. Even those who haven’t played a single minute are totally committed. That is the unselfishness we are looking for." This year has already seen Los Pumas topple the British & Irish Lions, All Blacks, and Wallabies, proving they're not just here to participate but to pose a serious threat.
Contepomi also reflected on the blend of daily behavior and on-pitch performance that defines their philosophy.
"It is about how you behave every day, on and off the pitch. We respect the fact that South Africa are the No 1 team in the world at the moment. Having said that, we are here to compete. We like to face a big challenge; we are a high-performance team, and as such, you want to test yourself against the best."
Despite the triumphs, Contepomi admitted that perfection is a distant mirage. "It has been a good year so far, but that is in the past. We are trying to get better week in and week out. We believe in each other. We are chasing cohesion, and we compete against each other in training as much as we compete against the opposition." As the Rugby Championship heats up, Los Pumas are not just participants; they're formidable contenders, beefed up and ready for the Bok battle.
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Felipe Contepomi, the head honcho of Los Pumas, is not just throwing down the gauntlet; he's practically slapping the Springboks across the face with it. "We want to give the Springboks a good run for their money," he declared, as Argentina gears up for a double-header that could shake the very foundations of the Rugby Championship standings. This Saturday, they're set to clash with the world champions at Kings Park, followed by a showdown at Twickenham on October 4. With only wisps of points separating them from the top dogs, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Contepomi, keeping his cards close to his chest, brushed off questions about potentially topping the tournament.
"You are thinking too far ahead,"
he said, emphasizing the immediate challenges ahead. "We have one more training session before Saturday’s game against the double world champions, and we are sharpening the knife so that it is ready for game day. That is my only focus." The strategy? Simple. Improve relentlessly. "Our main thing is to improve each training session, to be better than the previous one. We are happy with our progress, but there is still plenty we can work on."The squad's vibe is something Contepomi is especially proud of. "The big thing for me is the attitude of the squad. The guys are unbelievable. Even those who haven’t played a single minute are totally committed. That is the unselfishness we are looking for." This year has already seen Los Pumas topple the British & Irish Lions, All Blacks, and Wallabies, proving they're not just here to participate but to pose a serious threat.
Contepomi also reflected on the blend of daily behavior and on-pitch performance that defines their philosophy.
"It is about how you behave every day, on and off the pitch. We respect the fact that South Africa are the No 1 team in the world at the moment. Having said that, we are here to compete. We like to face a big challenge; we are a high-performance team, and as such, you want to test yourself against the best."
Despite the triumphs, Contepomi admitted that perfection is a distant mirage. "It has been a good year so far, but that is in the past. We are trying to get better week in and week out. We believe in each other. We are chasing cohesion, and we compete against each other in training as much as we compete against the opposition." As the Rugby Championship heats up, Los Pumas are not just participants; they're formidable contenders, beefed up and ready for the Bok battle.