VIDEO: The man behind Argentina's surgence
VIDEO: Felipe Contepomi, World Rugby Hall of Famer #133, was a cult hero when he played for Argentina and now he is making heroes of his Los Pumas players in the Rugby Championship.
Argentina has been a breath of fresh air in the Championship this season with victories over Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
On Saturday they face the Springboks in the final round of the competition and they could potentially win the title for the first time ever.
The man in charge is the 47-year-old Contepomi and he has already managed to mold his side into a match-winning team.
In 2023 Argentina appointed the former flyhalf to replace Michael Cheika as their head coach.
Contepomi earned 87 caps for the Pumas and was previously assistant to Cheika.
The qualified doctor has a resumé which places him among the all-time great Pumas. He played in four Rugby World Cups and is in the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
In his playing days, he formed a world-class half-back partnership with Agustín Pichot but Contepomi was the chief conductor of Argentina’s attack during his 15-year test career as well as being a top-level kicker.
In June 2012, he overtook Hugo Porta’s all-time record for points scored and went on to notch 651 in 87 tests for Argentina, playing many of them alongside his twin brother Manuel.
In his fourth appearance at the World Cup in 2007 he was an ever-present in the side that beat the host nation France not once but twice to claim a historic bronze medal.
During that World Cup, he shared the field with his brother Manuel.
He played at the 2001 Sevens World Cup which took place at Mar del Plata in Argentina.
His professional career also began in 2001. He played for Bristol in England from 2001-2003 before moving to Ireland. He played there for Leinster from 2003-2009. Finally, he played in France for Toulon and Stade Français for two seasons each from 2009-2013.
Contepomi left a mark at World Cup 1999 by providing the assist for Diego Albanese’s try in the win over Ireland. This saw Argentina reach the quarterfinals for the first time.
He turned to coaching following his final test cap which was against Australia in Rosario in the 2013 Rugby Championship. He joined Ricardo Le Fort in coaching the Argentina XV in the 2015 Nations Cup in Romania.
This week Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus paid tribute to Contepomi for the way in which he has guided the side to a best-ever season in the Rugby Championship.
(Article continues below…)
Erasmus, a former Bok flank, and Contepomi, the former flyhalf, played many a game against each other and know each other well.
“Felipe is a guy that traveled all over the world. I played against him a lot, he coached at Leinster for years.
“So he’s got all the experience of different cultures and playing styles but he has managed to bring that into the Argentinian team,” Erasmus said this week of his counterpart at the Argentinian team.
“Their discipline was always a bit of an issue but we were the team that got a yellow card on Saturday.
“Their discipline is much better and there is a lot of speed in that team and he is utilising that very well.
“Their team consists of a host of Sevens players, and all of them are quick and agile and we didn’t get into a grind with the scrums and mauls, it didn’t really happen for us.
“I think it is nice to have countries that make it. Sometimes you put them down and they don’t get opportunities but they find a way to climb up again.
“We were also in that boat and we also managed to get ou,” Erasmus commented.
