Felipe Contempomi on his work with Los Pumas: ‘I don’t use the word conformity because it leads to mediocrity’

-What is the work plan for the World Cup?

-It’s to improve what was done in 2022, which in terms of results I don’t know if it was so good; because we lost more than we gained. But there have been advances in style and in what we want to do as a philosophy of play. With the short time we have between now and the World Cup, we will have to accelerate to achieve what we had planned and arrive prepared for the culminating event.

How do you organize yourself for this?

-In the organization there will be a Camp – in March in France – and you have to follow the rules, because the players are in their clubs and rule 9 must be respected in which WR allows them to be available only during competitions are finished with their teams.

-In January, and after meeting Cheika in Europe, you met some of them, what did they tell you and how will the work continue month by month before the World Cup?

-We visited some players and we did it individually, we are still in contact but virtually with them. It will be like this until March, when we will hold the Camp in France, then there will surely be another visit by the end of April.

For the month of May we will depend on the clubs, because the regular tournaments in Europe end and then we will see what we will do according to who has or does not have matches and where each club arrives. What I assure you is that we will give everyone a break, because they basically haven’t stopped. And, after that, we will meet to start the preparation and already in the month of July we will be fully involved in the rugby championship, (from there the list for the World Cup will come).

– How would you rate the November window?

-In the game there were things that were useful, but there are also things that need to be improved. In scrum, maul and defense, for example; In the line we have to keep improving, as well as in the game with the foot and the charge, or as we call it at home.

Finally it will be the turn of the attack, this is what takes the most time and it must be given one more turn to improve it and beat the best teams. Among the backs, it happened more than anything that they had to understand the philosophy of what we wanted to do or change. In the loose game, it was understood. We haven’t had many breaks, and I don’t think we will because of the characteristics of our players, but we will have to anticipate and look for space. That’s where we create situations, but we don’t define them and that’s why when the opportunity arises, we should get more out of these games.

– Is that where you say you were dissatisfied with the November window?

-I don’t use the word compliance because that leads to mediocrity, but we have the potential for great improvements and that’s what we’re going to aim for.

– And what did Cheika say, about all that, in the meetings?

-With Cheika we discussed a lot of things and analyzed others, the team and each player in particular; This was partly discussed during these meetings that we held; also on what we wanted to improve and what we proposed in terms of the level of play for the World Cup. And we also talk about the specific actors, their monitoring, the methods to be used and the way in which we will evaluate them. What parameters are we going to use to measure them against the same yardstick, because this part is difficult when you play in different clubs. We were establishing all these things and also how we are going to analyze the rivals.

-Regarding this game today and the Argentinian franchises, how does it work? Could there be players who have a chance of reaching Los Pumas in this World Cup?

I don’t think all teams should play the same way. Yes, a player feeds from one staff to another and improves so that’s for sure. I think there are many ways to practice this sport and in the process we share ideas, without getting into their daily work. We can see Pampa more often because we are all at Casa Pumas, we see the training sessions and how they play, but with the Dogos we plan the visits, we will not always go, but we will go to see them.

Does this first match with France bear any resemblance to the previous World Cup, where they play almost all or nothing?

-Let’s see… For us, the most important game may be the first or maybe not, because nothing is defined until we are mathematically inside or outside. That’s why we have to understand and prepare to win the World Cup, which doesn’t mean we’re going to win it.

Everything within our reach and under our control is what we need to work on and we need to do it in the best way.

In that sense, for me, the experience of the football team let me learn. And I say it from the outside, listening to Messi’s messages, knowing that the results did not depend 100% on them, we realize that there are things that cannot be controlled. Yes the preparation, we prepare to be in the best way. In short, the controllable must be controlled.

-And in the analysis of rivals?

-In the analysis of the rival, we will have to see if he changes what he has done, but as with ours, what we have planned will not change at all. Our preparation is centered on us, then logically when a match arrives we will seek to attack the weaknesses of the adversary according to that which we face and the player in front; but the philosophy of Los Pumas will be the same and that’s what we’re working on.

-What do you think of Santiago Carreras as an opening?

-Carreras is multifunctional, he can also play in different positions, Nico Sánchez can be able to play 12 and 10. Benja (for Urdapilleta) is over 10 years old. But Carreras can play opener, full-back or winger. It’s a valid opportunity and it’s a very good ’10’ despite the fact that Nico, Benja or ‘Cepillo’ Albornoz are there as options.

Let’s see… I always say it’s easier if you play (as I did) all year as a 10, then keep playing as a 12; than the reverse. But I can’t find anything with it.

What they ask of this player from his team is different from what we expect of him. What we see in Santiago is that he can perfectly perform the functions we are looking for and we have full confidence like in the others who are fighting for the position of ’10’ of Los Pumas.

-Concerning the professionalism and the players of the amateur clubs, today is it very difficult for a club to play for Los Pumas?

-Professionalism has no single model. There are two that are the most notorious. That of the professional team, that of the clubs of France, of England who are looking for them now, that they want the now urgent; not player development. It is in the interest of the player who arrives at the club, who plays and gives his best. The result is sought.

The other system is in Ireland and New Zealand – not to mention Argentina – where teams competing in professional leagues aim to create players for their team.

If they are in the Academy, they develop him as a player so that he reaches his maximum potential and thus later plays in the national team of his country.

– What do you think of the English league and the rule change in the way of tackling for amateurs?

-Yes, it’s a fact that you have to reduce blows to the head, I don’t know if it’s like that, because I really don’t know and I don’t want to talk without getting so involved in the subject.

– What do you think of the Fernando Báez Sosa case and the resolution of the trial?

-My opinion will not add anything, the facts are totally reprehensible and I cannot add anything more to what Justice has condemned, which has already spoken for itself.

– What has changed or what is different in this team since your arrival?

-It’s that for me it’s not that I was coming and it was a slate and a new account. That’s why I point out that the team performed well last year, and that’s because we didn’t start from scratch. There was a very good previous work that helped us and a lot

– In your opinion, what was the most important part of this new process?

-I was impressed by the professionalism of many of them, the ability to carry out the training sessions with great intensity. This professionalism and these habits did not come out of a cabbage, but from what they worked with Mario, Nico and Manasa, they gave him this imprint from which we saw ourselves benefiting.

– And in reference to the players?

-And as for the players, I can’t say if there have been any changes, because I wasn’t there before. What I do, I thank them for the work they have done, the commitment and the work they have done in these five months. Also for making the effort to understand the philosophy of the game that we want to lead and I know they took risks doing it and I really appreciate that.

-I ask you one last message for the common fan of Argentine rugby, the one who wants to see Los Pumas rise as high as possible in the World Cup.

-We are going to do everything that is available and within our reach to prepare as well as possible and win the World Cup. Which doesn’t mean more than that, because they want to win it, they all want to win it; but being prepared to put in all the effort it takes is very important and there will be variables that we cannot control.

What I am saying to you is that you need to be assured that those we can control will be taken care of and we will make an effort to work on them one hundred percent and we will be ready to do so in order to reach our highest level. indicate.

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