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'It's really difficult because we travel more than any other team'
By Peter Hanson
Mario Ledesma hailed Argentina for "working their backsides off" in the shock Rugby Championship win over Australia after admitting he was unsure if his side had the belief to see out the game.
The Pumas ended a 35-year wait for a victory over the Wallabies on Australian soil by grinding out a 23-19 triumph on the Gold Coast.
It marked the first time Argentina have won two matches in the same Rugby Championship and Ledesma was thrilled with the effort on display.
"I thought we were lacking a little bit of belief because I thought we could have scored more, and then it looked like we didn't want to win the game," he said.
"But they've been working their backsides off and this win is [because of] them.
"It's really difficult because we travel more than any other team, not only here but in Super Rugby as well. It's tough to keep that motivation going, but they do it and it's a pleasure to work with them."
Argentina's victory cranks up the pressure on Australia coach Michael Cheika, under whom Ledesma worked as part of the Wallabies' backroom team.
Ledesma added: "That's my team too, so it's difficult."
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Latest Comments
I didn't mean to sound down on Dmac. Just looking hard at the bench sub's role of providing impact. I don't think he can do that at 15, and the bench is not really about injury cover anymore (you need to maximise it's use more than that).
He's my first choice of any New Zealander for the 10 jersey with the All Blacks.
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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