Argentina coach Mario Ledesma believes his team was treated disrespectfully after they weren’t included in a Rugby Championship photoshoot in Townsville.
Ledesma delivered a post-game press conference tirade with a twist, labelling treatment of his team in the lead-up to Saturday’s Wallabies clash in Townsville disrespectful.
Ledesma, a former assistant coach with the Wallabies, took aim at the decision to press on with a Rugby Championship captain’s photoshoot in Townsville on Friday despite the fact they were not yet in town.
Instead, Australian captain Michael Hooper, New Zealand’s Ardie Savea and Springboks leader Siya Kolisi were left to front cameras for the shoot ahead of Townsville’s historic double-header.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
It’s understood previous efforts to stage the shoot while the teams were based in south-east Queensland fell through and that plans to reschedule on Friday with all four teams were thwarted when Argentina’s flight was pushed back from its original time.
Winless in all five games during the tournament, including a 27-8 loss to the Wallabies on Saturday, Ledesma was clearly unimpressed when he discovered the shoot went ahead anyway.
“The boys and staff felt really disrespected,” the coach, who is being assisted by former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, volunteered.
“We’re not asking for much; last year when South Africa pulled out, we came over here, went through strict lockdown.
“We were away from home three or four months and we’re the only team that haven’t played at home for more than two years.”
Los Pumas drew and won against Wales before losing two Tests away to South Africa en route to Australia, where they have since lost twice to New Zealand and once to Australia.
The stage is set for a spicy conclusion to their Rugby Championship, with a rematch against the hosts on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
“We’re always travelling, we never complain but we feel sometimes we’re getting treated with disrespect and we just continue, cop it on the chin,” Ledesma said.
“We spent three weeks in a one-hour radius to get to the picture and all of a sudden we’re 1400km away, cannot get here and they take the freaking picture.
“They made a video, everyone is joking, having a good time and our captain is not there…and nobody said anything.”
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
I’d be very difficult to him too.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Resent is a fact? My knowledge is fading. Please explain.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
So, Muttley, please tell me how well you know Argies. I’m waiting.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Poco loco, we are complicated and can be difficult. Just like most nations. Especially if you try to impose your thought process and ignore ours. Just saying.
pm
Roar Rookie
It's the person who makes claims that should back them up, surely.
Wally James
Roar Guru
My thoughts exactly, Charlie. Cheika is renowned for finding something to bleat about when his team is not going well. Inside Wallaby sources told me he did it so attention would be taken away from the players’ ineptness and placed firmly on Cheika. His rationale was to protect the players that way. Argentina has always been renowned for sucking things up and getting on with it. Cheika appears, that stops and the complaining starts. Coincidence you say? I think not.
Zulu
Guest
Another poor effort for RA. When will they ever become a professional organization ?. Even my partner who is not a big rugby fan noticed it and said "Where is the Argentina captain ? "
Spew_81
Roar Rookie
It wouldn't have been difficult to, symbolically, include the Los Pumas somehow. It's terrible optics not to do so. Even if it was just a web cam with Pablo Matera. I'm sure they even could've made some sort of joke about the situation e.g. get a 'stand in' which resembles Matera and put a screen over his face showing Matera's face.
Soap Dodger
Roar Rookie
I also agree with Charlie Turner's point. Cheika is having a toxic effect and the Pumas should get him out of their environment immediately.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Something is cooking!! This Pumas players are not really playing their potencial. Whatever is a domestic issue or something must be going on in the organization. Is is all I am going to say on this matter.
Aldo
Roar Rookie
Rubbish. The Argies have been like a breath of fresh air and they are much respected by all three other sides.T*hat opinion is elitist crap and has no place in rugby. Hooper, Kolisi and Savea are humble men and I am sure had nothing to do with Argentina being left out. They most likely had to get the shots before the start of the round and the Argies were unavoidably delayed in arriving.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
You say "... Bledisloe Cup should not be played anymore and the cup ran over by a steamroller, like Allan Bond threatened to do with the America’s Cup (you are probably too young to know that)." As you suggested to another poster up the page, at 9:28 am, "Do your homework". At the time you were praising your expertise as a journalist for 30 years. "Ben Lexcen, the designer of Australia II, had joked in the past that perhaps the cup should be run over with a steam roller and called the America's Plate. He was given a silver plate to ward off any such temptation." New York Times, September 28, 1983, Section B, Page 13. I remembered - I was in my hotel room preparing for a days work when the triumphant cheers echoed across Sandy Bay from the all nighters at Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. You also need to remember Alan Bond used but one "l". A journalist eh?
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Or A. Non-Ymous........
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Muttley post under your by-line and I'll google you to determine the veracity of your claims. Usually anyone who says "I've been blah, blah, blah" is talking half truths.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Awesome country, great people, like Spanish speaking Aussies.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Muttley, lay off the angry pills mate, they make you look like a dick.
PeterK
Roar Guru
thanks
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"Do your homework" to PeterK? You must be new to The Roar. :stoked: The man is well known for invariably substantiating his positions; he displays a sound knowledge founded on active involvement on several fronts over a long period (which has emerged in small bites over the long time I have been here, without fanfare); and he certainly deserves better than you offer. I read his pieces because they are informed and considered, whether I agree or disagree. You've not learned a lot in those claimed 30 years.
Vman2
Roar Rookie
I agree with him in a sence. I'd go one further and say it was a pointless photo. Sounds like a stuff on top of a stuff up to me rather than any disrespect. We are left guessing why they didn't get a photo in SE Queensland but without one team in Townsville it was just further incompetence to proceed with one team missing in the photo. That said no doubt the coach is milking this to get his team worked up.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
The only thing that makes any sense is inclement weather, but even that makes little sense as everyone was around the Gold Coast area for TWO weeks. Perhaps it was the media company also. Maybe SAANZA hired "JoenBobs Cheapo Promotions? As I said above, I don't know the details but this has all the hallmarks of a right royal stuff up. And I disagree that disrespect of Argentina or its players had anything to do with it.