There’s no secret Michael Cheika has myrtle green blood flowing through his veins.
His years as Randwick captain and later coach brought the side to Shute Shield premierships. These years were spent with running rugby that rightfully earned the side the tag of the ‘Galloping Greens’.
The other half of the story is Mario Ledesma, who earned 84 caps for the Pumas between 1996 and 2011, and in his heyday was rated one of the world’s best hookers.
The Cheika-Ledesma coaching combination started at Stade Francais, continued with the Waratahs, and when Cheika took over as Wallaby coach, Ledesma became his forwards coach for the last three years.
Recently from left field, Ledesma called halt when he was offered the Jaguares Super Rugby coaching job.
“It was the hardest decision of my life, I’ve enjoyed my stint with the Wallabies, and I can’t thank Michael Cheika enough for his support, and for giving me the opportunity to develop as a coach,” were Ledesma’s parting words.
“I wish him well, he’s a good man,” was Cheika’s reply.
Obviously, Ledesma had been well and truly drilled about Randwick running rugby during his stay with Cheika.
Yesterday morning, the Jaguares played Randwick rugby against the Waratahs in Buenos Aires, scoring from the Waratah kick-off in just 16 seconds, scoring again in the 11th, 16th, and the 19th minute to lead 26-0 over the shell-shocked Waratahs.
It was virtually game, set, and match.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
The final score was 38-28, but only because the Waratahs scored two converted tries in the last 90 seconds to put some respectability into the scoreline.
For those who can remember the Randwick backlines of the past, it was like watching Ken Catchpole, Phil Hawthorne, Michael Cleary, John Brass, Russell Fairfax, Ken Wright, the three Ellas, and David Campese in action, just to name a few.
But the likes of winger Emiliano Boffelli, who scored the first two tries in 11 minutes, fullback Joaquin Tuculet, fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, centres Marias Orlando and Santiago Iglesias, and halfback Gonzalo Bertranou could well have been wearing myrtle green jerseys yesterday – they were electric.
The Waratahs enjoyed 53 per cent possession and 54 per cent territory, yet seemed to be starved of the ball with the Jaguares defence right up in their face with constant devastating defence – and running rugby.
It was the reason why the Waratahs managed 18 turnovers to 14, and missed 28 tackles to 23.
But in all honesty, the Jaguares’ six tries to four flattered the Waratahs.
Jaguares hooker Augustine Creevy wasn’t the side’s captain, but he was like watching former All Black hooker-captain Sean Fitzpatrick in action keeping full pressure on referee Mike Fraser by questioning just about every decision.
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Michael Hooper went missing in that department for most of the game.
The Jaguares scrum was dominant, nothing new in that with the Waratahs losing three tight-heads, but hooker Damien Fitzpatrick held his own feeding the Waratah lineout.
To give the Waratahs the credit they deserve, they fought hard for 80 minutes, but were simply out-gunned.
The usual Waratah suspects stood out with Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau by far the most dangerous in attack, and safe in defence.
Curtis Rona and halfback Jake Gordon were two constant goers, and with better ball from the forwards, all four will be even more dangerous.
But yesterday the Waratahs were rolled by a runaway train.
Which translates to Michael Cheika teaching Mario Ledesma far too well about Randwick rugby.
Don
Roar Rookie
When did Randwick beat the All Blacks?
Fox
Roar Guru
I lived in Bondi then moved to nearby Randwick back then and no they never played the game at the pace the game is played at now. The modern laws have made the game much quicker and modern fitness of players faster for longer. So we have to agree to disagree.
In Brief
Guest
"Randwick back in its glory days never played the game at that tempo and pace" what absolute rubbish. I remember Simon Poidovin winning the battle of the footy codes at the time which was basically a fitness contest between league, union and AFL. The guy was an amateur and yet fitter than the professionals of the day. I am pretty sure Randwick did play with tempo and pace. Of course players today are bigger and stronger, but many teams do not play with tempo or pace - just look at French rugby. The French teams of the Randwick era ironically also played with tempo and pace! Now they play a glacial power game. So professionalism means different things to different teams.
In Brief
Guest
Not really, having played Randwick at a junior level each and every team in the club played the same way. It felt like you were played 20 guys not 15. Yes a lot of that is about support play, staying alive and running lines. But it was a playing philosophy across the club that was incredibly successful. Randwick even beat the All Blacks on one memorable day. Running rugby is not a myth, the NZ teams demonstrate what it means each weekend. It is a philosophy of how the game should be played which requires the discipline, skill and belief to execute under pressure.
In Brief
Guest
No offence but Argentina during Ledesma's era played 10 man rugby, not running rugby.
Harry
Guest
Shute Shield? Sounds like a big fish in a small pond?
JP
Guest
You are too fair on Foley.He is pathetic, and has been for 3 years.Your own words condemn him. " He does not figure when people talk about the best in the world and would not be a first pick at some premiership clubs."
Handles
Roar Guru
His goal kicking is excellent David. And kudos to you for answering!
Tomasb
Guest
Well, you have something right. The game system actually does copy Ranwick running rugby. But not due to Ledesma or Cheika. It's due to Hourcade, Head Coach of Pumas, who is an admitted fan of Aus backline play. He brought a scicilanting attacking rugby to Arg when we used to play the most boring, 10 men rugby. But too much focus on that, left the set piece and the defence in a shamefull place. Props were being drafted by their passing abilities rather than their scrumagging. Leading to a decay in Pumas/Jaguares performance. Mario Ledesma was brought to make the set piece and the defence great again. And last match we saw a really good balance between them both. Waratahs weren't bad. I was on the pitch both matches (against the canes and the tahs), and i think they played on par with the canes. Its just that the Jaguares were astonishingly clinical in the 1st half vs the Tahs, while they were constantly butchering tries vs the Canes. Rest of the match went more or less the same.
JesuitGeneralBlackPope
Guest
Super rugby is a physical tournament you have to have a hard and wide neck like Mike Tyson
JesuitGeneralBlackPope
Guest
I do not know, I saw a team of tired Waratahs, the Reds are a more physical team, the jaguars will strip their irregularities
Fox
Roar Guru
Bakkies from 1999 -2007 - totally agree. I was referring to more recent years when I talked about mobility but they have always had a focus on a strong pack.
Dan in Devon
Guest
You sound like an old man frothing at the mouth and waving his finger in the air - but...but...in my day...
Bfc
Guest
Didn't see any Mark Ella like flyhalf wrap-around nor the Cyril Towers flat line.. Not sure Ledesma needed Cheika to teach him about scrummaging...like some noted...84 Test Caps vs none. Despite a loss by the TAHs...good to see the enthusiasm of the Jaguares.
Bakkies
Guest
'John O’Neill made a major blunder allowing club rugby to become professional to semi-professional, That decision has cost all the major clubs their licensed clubs, the hub of the sport.' You are right about that. Robbie Deans was shocked at the money floating around clubs when he first arrived in Sydney and Jeremy Paul said recently it still goes on. It has become an arms race and clubs in vital development areas have fallen by the wayside.
Bakkies
Guest
The Argentine pack from 1999 to 2007 weren't mobile as a unit. There were some exceptions in terms of individuals like Abacete, Leguizamon and Fernandez Lobbe. Eddie Jones and David Nucifora's Brumbies teams had mobile forwards that ran, offloaded and had ball skills however it didn't translate to test Rugby at the time as the Wallabies and for that matter the ABs were struggling to deal with the English and French packs in the tight and at scrum time.
Bakkies
Guest
The Argentine pack from 1999 to 2007 weren't mobile as a unit. There were some exceptions in terms of individuals like Abacete, Leguizamon and Fernandez Lobbe. Eddie Jones and David Nucifora's Brumbies teams had mobile forwards that ran, offloaded and had ball skills however it didn't translate to test Rugby at the time as the Wallabies and for that matter the ABs were struggling to deal with the English and French packs in the tight and at scrum time.
Don
Roar Rookie
Any clubs playing running rugby since have copied Randwick FACT? Ease up David. That is your opinion not fact. So when Brothers and Uni were winning 59 Hospitals Cups in Brisbane are they to also be recognised as influencing all teams who have played a forwards focused game since? Or did the Aus Rugby influences cease to exist beyond Randwick and the North Shore? See how ludicrous the premise is? Aus Rugby and the Wallabies is a dynamic body. Ever changing, evolving or regressing. Whilst Randwick coaches and players have had periods of influence on how Rugby has been played by many sides so have Brisbane Brothers, Souths, Uni etc
Armchair Sportsfan
Guest
yes indeed I am. Because my post was clearly not meant in jest at all. But anyway, its nice that's so few people are commenting on your articles these days David, so that we can each get a personalised response....
David Lord
Expert
You are another rocket scientist Armchair.