Mario Ledesma defends Springboks ahead of Rugby Championship opener

Mario Ledesma defends Springboks ahead of Rugby Championship opener

Los Pumas head coach Mario Ledesma has dismissed suggestions that South Africa are 'boring'.

The Springboks' style of play has been criticised during the British and Irish Lions Series with All Blacks coach Ian Foster suggesting the second Test put him to sleep.

However, former Los Pumas hooker Ledesma has jumped to the defence of the Boks even though Argentina take on the South Africans this weekend.

“I certainly don’t agree,” Ledesma told reporters on Thursday. 

“It is very subjective: What is boring and what isn’t boring?


“I thought they (the three match Test series against the British and Irish Lions) were very, very tough games and very competitive, very physical and very tense. There was a lot of pressure on the field and off the field and they won.


“They (the Boks) should be pretty happy about winning and I imagine South Africa is pretty happy with their team, who are the World Champions and won the series against the Lions, which is pretty impressive.


“It’s good for the press and I imagine it is going to be a good build-up (to the September 25 clash between the two nations) when you play the All Blacks – it is fuel for both teams.”

Argentina have named a strong team for their opening test of the Rugby Championship with Ezcurra replacing the injured Cubelli while Gigena and Boffelli are the only two players unavailable due to travel restrictions but will link up with the squad ahead of the second test.

 
 
 
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