FELIPE CONTEPOMI SAYS his rugby philosophy was shaped by his time playing with Leinster. And now as the province’s backs coach, he is intent on reflecting that ethos back on the current crop in the hope of seeing his charges become the best team in the world.
The Argentine returned to the eastern province this summer to fill the vacancy left by Girvan Dempsey and the Puma’s methods have struck a chord with players.
Though he has cut his coaching teeth with the Jaguares and Argentina, the former out-half says the key to any coaching success is the ability to adapt to a club’s individual culture.
“I’ve got my ideas on rugby and it doesn’t have to be exactly what Argentina, or whoever, were playing. Because now it’s changed with a new head coach (Mario Ledesma).
“I think I’m here to give what I can to Leinster and make Leinster the best team in the world. That’s my aim: to help Leinster be the best team in the world.”
His national pride comes in the form of a wry smile when Contepomi considers the knock-on effect of achieving that goal.
As primary suppliers of Ireland’s national team at present, improving Leinster will in turn raise the bar in the Ireland squad. The 41-year-old says he is happy with the ‘compromise’ of upsklling his players so that they can excel in green jerseys.
“Being here, there’s a compromise in helping the Leinster players to be the best they can and that includes a lot of Irish players. We have 18/19 (in the squad), hopefully I can help them be the best players they can be and they can take it wherever they go. If it’s in the Irish team…
“You have to know the culture, the philosophy of rugby where you’re going and coaching. Definitely, I feel very happy with the philosophy in Leinster.”
“I’ve always said I’ve been lucky with the coaches I had. From everyone I took positive things. Obviously from some more than others… I really cemented my idea of what I want from rugby here in Leinster when I was a player.
“Then, obviously, there are things that (different coaches) bring. For me, it is a great learning experience beside Leo, Stuart, Fogs… I keep on learning here in this (environment). And also, it’s not that I’m rigid on my ideas. You are flexible, so you are learning and can tweak things.
“Rugby is not rigid, it is mobile. So, it always keeps changing a few pieces. It’s just about being on top, learning, watching, taking and getting ideas from people.”
Jesus it’s starting to turn into an exodus! Having said that with the state of Gaelic football in Ireland and the extremely limited playing time for F. A. reward for weaker counties it’s no surprise
@jl: around 8 players spread over 32 counties is hardly an exodus and let’s not forget most return
This is a killer for Derry, Conor Glass, Tohill and now Browne. These are the kind of players you build an Ulster championship winning side around. While I wish the lads all the best in life as a GAA fan I would be delighted to see the them decide AFL is not for them after a few years of being trained up and end up being a loss making venture for their AFL club.
Lads picking soccer, rugby, hockey or what ever is grand, they get trained as kids by coaches from those sports but there is something that doesn’t sit right about cash rich aussie clubs swiping a a player that GAA volunteer coaches have given years of coaching.
I know people may say I’m daft, but is it time to have these guys sign a simple contract. So when this does happen the AFL have to compensate the club/county?? Or do they already get compensation?
@Anthony Corcoran: excellent question
@Anthony Corcoran: Why would anyone sign a contract that has zero benefit to them? Clubs and counties should be proud of their players that manage to make a career out of sport.
@Anthony Corcoran: hahahaha the players have to sign a contract??? So it’s not enough they work all day, train 3 times a week, their diet is a 24/7 thing so let’s not forget that, match day to contend with, pay their own membership costs and when the player eventually plays gets their performance judged by every hasbeen there so thats not enough and thats just bloody club level….increase it ten fold for county level. So what are the benefits to the player if they sign this contract? Please explain.
@Patrick McHugh: maybe have is a bit strong, and I did say some people would think I’m daft. The benefits are purely for a small club county who has in vested time and energy for the AFL to come in when they are 18 to hand pick the best players, thus making county’s weaker. So yeah maybe not a contract but the GAA needs to do something. The AFL employ our former players to go around and do all the camps.