‘Disrespected’: Argentina coach slams Rugby Championship photo shoot
Coach Mario Ledesma says Argentina felt ‘disrespected’ by a photo shoot that took place ahead of this weekend’s Rugby Championship games.
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Argentina coach Mario Ledesma says his side felt “disrespected” by a photo opportunity organised as part of this year’s Rugby Championship.
The Australian, New Zealand, South African and Argentine national teams played in Townsville on Saturday as part of the tournament but only three of the four sides’ captains appeared in a shoot promoting the fixtures.
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After the Pumas’ 27-8 loss to the Wallabies on Saturday night, Ledesma said “it hurt a lot” that skipper Julián Montoya was not included in the shoot.
“The boys and the staff, we felt really disrespected,” Ledesma said.
“We’re not asking for much. We are always travelling and we never complain, but we feel sometimes we are getting treated with disrespect. We just continue and cop it on the chin. It hurts, it hurts a lot.
“We have families and kids we haven't seen for ages now, the only thing we are asking is to get treated fairly or with respect.
“I think rugby has values, I am sure of it, and they weren’t respected here. It is just not on.”
A source close to the Wallabies explained to NCA NewsWire that the shoot had initially been scheduled to take place on the Gold Coast during the Rugby Championship fixtures held in South East Queensland.
However, the photo opportunity was postponed as Argentina and South Africa’s accommodation situations meant their captains would have needed to travel 45 minutes each way to attend.
Rugby Australia rescheduled the shoot for Townsville once it had ascertained that it would be convenient and practical for all captains to attend.
The Pumas then changed their flights such that they would arrive in north Queensland after the shoot had already taken place.
Argentina had plans to send a member of the squad up early so that the side would be represented in the photos, but they fell through.
The Pumas were informed that if a player was not sent up, the shoot could not be rescheduled.
Rugby Australia’s source told NCA NewsWire that taking photos of the four team captains together was not the only purpose of the shoot, either — photos of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper in the Indigenous jersey and of the New Zealand and South African captains ahead of their 100th Test clash were also captured.
The Argentine Rugby Union did not immediately return NCA NewsWire’s request for comment.
Ahead of Saturday evening’s game, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said his side could not afford to become complacent after its two wins against South Africa.
Rennie said he expected the Argentines would play a more expressive brand of rugby than the Springboks and emphasised that the side’s winless run through the Rugby Championship would make them hungry for victory.
On Saturday night, though, it was the Aussies who flexed their muscles in offence. Samu Kerevi was once again devastating with ball in hand, while Reece Hodge crossed the chalk in his first start at fullback for the tournament.
Despite the strong showing, Rennie said he believed the Wallabies had still not reached their potential.
“We’re always looking for perfection aren’t we?” he said.
“It’ll be pretty clear to the boys; we’re happy to win no doubt but against good sides like Argentina you’ve got to put them out to the contest when you get the chance.
“They dominated the third 20 minutes and if they scored again it was going to be an arm wrestle.”
The Pumas have the chance to even the ledger next Saturday on the Gold Coast.
Rennie has indicated that fan favourite Marika Koroibete will miss the clash, having been granted permission to return home and spend time with his newborn.
Originally published as ‘Disrespected’: Argentina coach slams Rugby Championship photo shoot
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