The Argentina scrum-half saunters into the middle of a small huddle of journalists and immediately sets the tone after introducing himself.
“Any Irish? Careful with your questions!”
The first of a many cheeky grins.
Landajo and his teammates have had a lot of fun at this World Cup. Rui Vieira
Rui Vieira
Landajo featured in all four of Argentina’s Pool C games in this World Cup, starting the wins over Tonga and Namibia. Himself and Tomás Cubelli have been fighting for the nine shirt for some time now.
Both have signed for the new Argentinian team that will take part in Super Rugby in 2016, both of them part of the latest important step for a rugby nation that continues to make swift improvement.
Landajo has thoughts only for the World Cup at present and says there is far more pressure on Argentina this week than was on them at any stage in the pool stages or even in the Rugby Championship since they joined in 2012.
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Not that you would guess as much.
Asked about Conor Murray, the 27-year-old jokes in deadpan fashion that he hasn’t heard of the Ireland scrum-half, before laughing it off and laying on the usual superlatives.
A question about Johnny Sexton sees him pick up a dictaphone and turn interviewer.
You think he will play? He is fit? What do you think?
Landajo has 50 caps for Argentina at the age of 27. Rui Vieira
Rui Vieira
Amidst the fun are a number of replies that show the serious edge that allowed Landajo to win his 50th Test cap last weekend against Namibia. The Buenos Aires man was educated in St. Andrew’s Scots School in his native city, the bilingual school explaining his proficiency in English.
Landajo believes that the last four years of competing in the Rugby Championship have been important to Argentina’s clear improvement, but stresses that a World Cup quarter-final against one of the best teams is very different.
“It’s the first time that we will play a World Cup after four years of playing against the best teams in the world,” says Landajo.
It’s still different, it’s the quarter-final and lots of us haven’t played in a quarter-final. I’ve played against New Zealand eight times already but I still think this is different, it’s much more pressure.”
Argentina are in good shape for this clash, with only the suspended lock Mariano Galarza and centre Marcelo Bosch unavailable in their 31-man World Cup squad, according to assistant coach Pablo Bouza.
Ireland, meanwhile, have lost key men to injury. However, Landajo says Joe Schmidt’s back-up options have proved themselves and says that even the possible absence of Johnny Sexton could be compensated for.
Argentina fans celebrate with Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe. PA Wire / PA Images
PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images
“It was a tough game against France,” says Landajo. “Ireland had some injuries and some important players out, but I think they kept on playing well and even played better. They’ve got the lineout, got the scrum, so I think we are against one of the best in the world.
“I think Ian Madigan plays similar rugby to Sexton, but we know that Sexton is one of the best players in the world. He kicks well, he plays well, he’s very important for Ireland. He’s the first-choice, so it would make a difference but Madigan would do a great job.”
Surely you can say that Paul O’Connell is a massive loss?
I think it’s a great loss for them, a bad loss,” says Landajo. “He’s one of the best players, the captain, the leader, but we don’t think about that. The guy that came in for him did great, Ireland played even better so it will be tough even without him.”
‘The guy’ is Iain Henderson, a genuine beast in this World Cup and surely a player that the Pumas won’t be looking forward to attempting to tie down. That said, they have their own young bucks in the likes of Pablo Matera and Tomás Lavanini, both freaks too.
Along with the youthful energy those men bring, the Pumas have wizened leaders such as Agustín Creevy and Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe. Then there’s the creative influence of ‘El Mago’, Juan Martín Hernández.
Landajo says he’s a joy to play with.
“It’s very easy, very easy. I just give him the ball. Easy. You don’t like him, no? Because of 2007?”
Landajo started Argentina's last two games. Rui Vieira
Rui Vieira
Let’s not go there. Time is nearly up so we ask about the incredible sense of spirit around Argentina’s squad, the clear joy we have seen in their celebrations of tries and victories in recent weeks, the happiness in that changing room with Diego Maradona.
The Argentinians, we are like that. We’re Latin, we like to be happy all the time, our roots. You are very cold, Irish people!”
'We're Latin, we like to be happy all the time. You are very cold, Irish people!'
Murray Kinsella reports from the Vale Resort
MARTÍN LANDAJO IS one lively individual.
The Argentina scrum-half saunters into the middle of a small huddle of journalists and immediately sets the tone after introducing himself.
“Any Irish? Careful with your questions!”
The first of a many cheeky grins.
Landajo featured in all four of Argentina’s Pool C games in this World Cup, starting the wins over Tonga and Namibia. Himself and Tomás Cubelli have been fighting for the nine shirt for some time now.
Both have signed for the new Argentinian team that will take part in Super Rugby in 2016, both of them part of the latest important step for a rugby nation that continues to make swift improvement.
Landajo has thoughts only for the World Cup at present and says there is far more pressure on Argentina this week than was on them at any stage in the pool stages or even in the Rugby Championship since they joined in 2012.
Not that you would guess as much.
Asked about Conor Murray, the 27-year-old jokes in deadpan fashion that he hasn’t heard of the Ireland scrum-half, before laughing it off and laying on the usual superlatives.
A question about Johnny Sexton sees him pick up a dictaphone and turn interviewer.
You think he will play? He is fit? What do you think?
Amidst the fun are a number of replies that show the serious edge that allowed Landajo to win his 50th Test cap last weekend against Namibia. The Buenos Aires man was educated in St. Andrew’s Scots School in his native city, the bilingual school explaining his proficiency in English.
Landajo believes that the last four years of competing in the Rugby Championship have been important to Argentina’s clear improvement, but stresses that a World Cup quarter-final against one of the best teams is very different.
“It’s the first time that we will play a World Cup after four years of playing against the best teams in the world,” says Landajo.
Argentina are in good shape for this clash, with only the suspended lock Mariano Galarza and centre Marcelo Bosch unavailable in their 31-man World Cup squad, according to assistant coach Pablo Bouza.
Ireland, meanwhile, have lost key men to injury. However, Landajo says Joe Schmidt’s back-up options have proved themselves and says that even the possible absence of Johnny Sexton could be compensated for.
“It was a tough game against France,” says Landajo. “Ireland had some injuries and some important players out, but I think they kept on playing well and even played better. They’ve got the lineout, got the scrum, so I think we are against one of the best in the world.
“I think Ian Madigan plays similar rugby to Sexton, but we know that Sexton is one of the best players in the world. He kicks well, he plays well, he’s very important for Ireland. He’s the first-choice, so it would make a difference but Madigan would do a great job.”
Surely you can say that Paul O’Connell is a massive loss?
‘The guy’ is Iain Henderson, a genuine beast in this World Cup and surely a player that the Pumas won’t be looking forward to attempting to tie down. That said, they have their own young bucks in the likes of Pablo Matera and Tomás Lavanini, both freaks too.
Along with the youthful energy those men bring, the Pumas have wizened leaders such as Agustín Creevy and Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe. Then there’s the creative influence of ‘El Mago’, Juan Martín Hernández.
Landajo says he’s a joy to play with.
“It’s very easy, very easy. I just give him the ball. Easy. You don’t like him, no? Because of 2007?”
Let’s not go there. Time is nearly up so we ask about the incredible sense of spirit around Argentina’s squad, the clear joy we have seen in their celebrations of tries and victories in recent weeks, the happiness in that changing room with Diego Maradona.
Another cheeky smile and a swift exit.
A World Cup-winning coach had a huge influence on Argentina’s style
‘A quiet presence that takes up a lot of space’ – Schmidt speaks about O’Connell loss
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