Mario Ledesma slams ‘disrespectful’ photo shoot
Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma has hit out after organisers decided to stage a photo shoot without anyone in attendance from Los Pumas.
The Rugby Championship photo opportunity took place in Townsville on Friday with the three captains from the other nations, Michael Hooper, Ardie Savea and Siya Kolisi, represented.
A video of the event also went viral but many noticed that Argentine skipper Julian Montoya was absent.
“I just want to make a point about what happened this week with the captain’s photo,” Ledesma told reporters following their defeat to Australia. “The boys and the staff, we felt really disrespected.
“Last week it (the photo) was supposed to happen but it didn’t happen because one team pulled out once, and the other team pulled out the other time. And then when it was our time we couldn’t make it, we were told they weren’t supposed to take the picture, and then there was the picture and the video.
Made sacrifices for the tournament
“We’re not asking for much; last year when South Africa pulled out we came over here, went through strict lockdown, we were away from home three or four months.
“We’re the only team who hasn’t played at home for more than two years; South Africa played at home, obviously you guys (Australia) are playing at home and New Zealand played at home. And we’re always travelling, we never complained and we feel sometimes that we’re getting treated with disrespect and we just continue and cop it on the chin.
“I don’t know if it was Rugby Australia, SANZAAR or whatever, but it’s just disrespectful and it hurts a lot because we have families and we have kids that we haven’t seen for ages now, and in a couple of weeks’ time we’ll be out of houses again.
“And the only thing we’re asking is to get treated fairly and with respect and obviously in this case it wasn’t that way. And I don’t think it was too hard to move that and respect us as a team, as a nation; rugby has values, I’m sure of it, and they weren’t respected here.”
It is understood that attempts were made to involve Argentina but their travel plans meant that they were unable to attend, and Ledesma therefore felt it should never have gone ahead.
“At the end of the day, if we’re not here, you just shouldn’t do it, just by respect,” he added.
“Let’s say (it’s) lost in translation or whatever you’re making excuses, but let’s say it’s that way, you should say ‘we’re not doing that, we’re not doing that’, just by respect to the Argentina guys that have been away from home for that long not seeing their families and stuff like that.
“I don’t think it’s a lot to ask; do you think it’s a lot to ask?”