Facing Roberts: Contepomi
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Argentina midfielder Felipe Contepomi has labelled Wales inside centre Jamie Roberts as "rugby's Everest" ahead of their showdown in Cardiff on Saturday.
The 35-year-old returns to the side after missing the Rugby Championship to play his 79th game for his country in a fixture he is clearly relishing.
"It's a huge challenge. It's like climbing Mount Everest. Jamie is one of the best centres in Europe and one of, if not the best in the world," Argentina's hugely-experienced centre said.
"As a player you want to play against the best and to have that challenge on Saturday and I'm looking forward to it.
"He's a great guy and it's delightful to watch him play but it's not so good when he's in front of you.
"Wales have a lot of important players and we see them as a unit. But Jamie has that extra x-factor. He has that experience now but we're trying to analyse them as a unit. We're trying to develop our game more than thinking about Wales and want to be more offensive."
Contepomi was part of the Argentina side that beat Wales 30-16 in Cardiff in 2001, when he scored 25 points in an impressive performance. And he clearly remembers that day well.
"It's one of the great memories of this team but I am the only survivor. For many of the players from that game, and every time we meet up to catch up, we always remember that game," he said.
"It was one of our biggest wins away from home and gave us the confidence and mentality to look to win every game, no matter where.
"Wales is a rugby nation that we love, we've always been very in touch since the 1970s when we nearly beat them but lost in the last minute.
"It's one of the places you always want to play and I was so lucky to be part of the team that beat Wales at the Millennium Stadium."
Comments
Hellovanite says...
Actually the French clubs try to pull the strings on many of their players and the ARU don't contract the players so can only rely on the players making the right decision. What about Albacete, Lobbe, Bosch and Amorosino etc... The clubs can only try to coerce but the decision is with the player and under international rules they must release or face heavy fines, but it wasn't even in season and I notice Stade put pressure on all it players
Posted 21:46 09th November 2012
MarcosGGuti says...
@Hellonavite, first of all, my apologies for the insult. I usually don't react like that. But no, he was not allowed to play The Rugby Championship. The Argentinian Rugby Union and the French clubs made an agreement that those players who played for the national team in June (Against Italy, and twice against France) would not be able to play TRC, because they wanted their players to have proper rest. Contepomi played those three games in June, so because of this agreement he was not allowed to play TRC.
Posted 09:10 09th November 2012
Hellovanite says...
MarcosGGuti... go on then what was the reason?... it was reported on this site so let's hear it from you seeing as you have the proper information? As far as I know he definitely had the opportunity to play... who's the idiot?
Posted 04:20 09th November 2012
ABlack says...
Wales seems to be underestimating Argentina. At their peril.
The argies acquitted themselves very well in the recent RC against the 3 best teams in the world and should have won 2 of their 6 games.
Wales seems to overrate themselves every time these autumn intl's come around and they have a dismal record against the 3 top sides in the world. Argentina isnt that far behind these 3, so all things considered Wales could really struggle to beat Argentina.
Complacency on the overall merits of the welsh team and their overrated abilities by the Welsh media, commentators and even seems to have crept into some of the welsh players in recent days(Warburton)
Posted 22:39 08th November 2012
MarcosGGuti says...
@Hellonavite, you idiot. If you don't have proper information, then don't comment.
Posted 17:07 08th November 2012
Melkiwi says...
Roberts is big but apart from that I haven't seen much from him. Bit over rated to be honest.
Posted 07:08 08th November 2012
KubilaKhan says...
Roberts is a tank! Going to be a fun battle to watch.
Posted 03:10 08th November 2012
papachinzo says...
Everest might be 8,848 m tall, but the Sky is the limit and Ma'a Nonu is just that.
Posted 21:19 07th November 2012
3in4 says...
Lol, he's a bit over-rated, in fairness
Posted 20:47 07th November 2012
Hellovanite says...
Blah blah... I want to play against the best, I enjoy the challenge... So where were you during the Rugby Championship???
Posted 19:39 07th November 2012