Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Argentina receive SANZAAR apology over photo snub

Mario Ledesma's team have received an apology

SANZAAR and Rugby Australia have apologised to Argentina for a photo snub that infuriated the Pumas and led to an outburst from their coach Mario Ledesma.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ledesma, a former assistant coach with the Wallabies, criticised the decision to press on with a Rugby Championship captain’s photo shoot in Townsville last Friday despite the fact Argentina had yet to arrive due to a flight delay.

SANZAAR claims the decision to push ahead with the shoot was so that a photo of New Zealand captain Ardie Savea and Springboks leader Siya Kolisi standing together could be taken ahead of the 100th Test between the two nations.

Video Spacer

Felipe Contepomi analyses URC’s South African teams

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 3:08
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 3:08
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Felipe Contepomi analyses URC’s South African teams

    A photo of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper in a First Nations jersey was also taken with the purpose of using it to promote the upcoming game against Argentina, which Australia won 27-8.

    But SANZAAR claims there was a communication breakdown when a photograph was taken of the three attending captains minus the Argentina skipper alongside the Rugby Championship trophy.

    That photo infuriated Argentina, who have made huge sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the Rugby Championship could go ahead with four teams.

    “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 on Saturday night.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “They made a video, everyone is joking, having a good time and our captain is not there … and nobody said anything.”

    SANZAAR and RA released a joint apology on Monday.

    “SANZAAR and Rugby Australia take full responsibility for this error and acknowledge that it should not have happened and fully understands Argentina Rugby’s disappointment over this matter after the image appeared in the media,” the statement read.

    “SANZAAR would like to publicly state that no disrespect was intended and indeed would like to thank Argentina Rugby for its unselfish and committed contribution to The Rugby Championship, highlighted by the fact that it has played all matches away from home over the last two years.”

    Argentina are winless after five games of the Rugby Championship, and will be aiming to turn the tables on Australia when the two teams clash on the Gold Coast this Saturday.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Play Video

    South Africa vs Black Ferns XV | Women's International | Full Match Replay

    Play Video

    Namibia vs United Arab Emirates | Asia/Africa Rugby World Cup Play-off | Full Match Replay

    Play Video

    Lions Share | Episode 5

    Play Video

    Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

    Play Video

    Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

    Play Video

    The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

    Play Video

    KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

    Play Video

    New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Long Reads

    Comments on RugbyPass

    S
    SK 8 minutes ago
    'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

    Having taken a 23-5 lead it was important to manage the game from there but Australia just couldnt do it. Conceding two tries before the break surrendering 12 points in the way they did was incredibly poor. The penalty for going in the side at the breakdown was just silly and allowed the Lions to get up field when 23-10 and some of the play in the 10 minutes before half time on defence was really not up to scratch. The Lions side has played in patches. They are not consistent and by no means have hit top form throughout this tour. When they have been in 5th gear the Aussies have had no answer and so it was the case in the last 20mins. The lack of game management comes directly down to an inexperienced backline, bad leadership, poor selection, a lack of killer instinct in a team desperately searching for gains against top opposition. They were underdone and should have had more warm up matches. The Wallabies spent the whole of last year improving the team and developing combinations to compete against the Lions. Schmidts selections has somehow seemingly countered his own preparation. After working so hard last year to improve the Wallabies have somehow come out like half-baked cookie, limp in most parts, crunchy in others but overall, an inconsistent texture and underwhelming taste that makes you wonder what could have been had you left it in for 5mins longer.

    58 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ The forgotten art of the drop goal - and how it's making a comeback The forgotten art of the drop goal - and how it's making a comeback