Felipe Contepomi determined to write ‘another story’ in Barbarians history against Springboks and reveals what it means to coach against Rassie Erasmus
Barbarians coach Felipe Contepomi and Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus (inset).
Felipe Contepomi has opened up on being involved in the upcoming Springboks v Barbarians clash as a coach of the famous touring team and what it means to go head-to-head against South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus.
The Springboks’ Nations Championship campaign gets underway against England in Johannesburg on July 4 and ahead of that clash they will host the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20.
Argentina boss Contepomi will form part a star-studded Baa-baas coaching ticket alongside former All Blacks head honcho Scott Robertson, Racing 92 head coach Patrice Collazo and Los Pumas assistant coach Kenny Lynn.
It will be the second successive year that the Boks will host the famous invitational side after Erasmus‘ side cruised to an emphatic 54-7 triumph in Cape Town in 2025.
As a player, former Argentina international Contepomi represented his country in 87 Tests and made five appearances for the Barbarians during his career.
However, it will be the first time that he takes charge of the Baa-baas in a coaching capacity, and he is relishing that challenge of facing the top ranked team in the world.
‘Great honour’ to coach the Barbarians
“I think being part of the Barbarians is a great honour. And I’ve been lucky enough to play in two tours with the Baa-baas. And now being asked to coach, it’s a big honour,” he told the Behind the Ruck podcast.
“But when they also showed me the calendar and they said coming and playing against the world champions, for me, it was a bigger honour, you know?
“I think it’s a great opportunity. I love going to South Africa. And I think the way South African people live rugby is unbelievable.
“And I have lots of friends there. And being able to be part of the Baa-baas in South Africa, it will be a great experience for sure.”
The 48-year-old said it’s always “special” being involved with the Barbarians and revealed that there are a couple of reasons for that.
“I think two things. First of all, because you have to be invited to be part of that club,” Contepomi explained.
“It’s a great honour to be invited (and) to be part of it. And the second one, I think they still, in such a professional era, keep a very amateur spirit and sometimes even a way of rolling.
“So, for me, an older guy that lived the last part of the amateur era with a mix with professionalism, it’s a great way of going back to rugby roots, you know?
“It’s very special the way. And look, for me, the most important thing that rugby gives you is a friendship, knowing people, knowing different cultures.
“And that’s exactly what you get in a Barbarians team, you know?
“People from everywhere in the world and sharing their experiences, having a good time, just playing for each other. And in this case, playing against the world champions, so it can’t get better.”
Contepomi has been Argentina’s head coach since 2024 and during that time he has made big strides in the international arena as his team have already beaten the Boks, All Blacks, Wallabies and British & Irish Lions.
He said he is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the world champions and going head-to-head with their coach Erasmus.
‘They are the best team in the world’
“I don’t want to take it personally against the Springboks, you know? But I think the Springboks, because they are the world champions and I think at the moment, I don’t know if it’s even arguably, but they are the best team in the world,” he said.
“And if you ask 100 people, 99 probably will say they are. So, playing against the best ones is all what you want, you know? And when you go and play against the best ones, obviously you want to beat them.
“And Rassie, I have lots of time for him because he’s a great coach.
“And you know that he knows that they have like a target on their back because they are the best ones at the moment. So, it’s a great honour to be able to go and play against them, you know? I’m looking forward (to it).
“We are very grateful that we’ll receive them in August here in Argentina, because as I said, you want to play against them, you know?”
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Over the years the Baa-baas have become renowned for their carefree approach to the game and their free-flowing style of play, but that laidback manner backfired when they faced the Boks in Cape Town last year.
Contepomi is determined that his Barbarians team give a better account of themselves.
“Hopefully it’s not the same (as last year). We can turn that story (around) and bring another story,” he said.
“But to hear that Rassie is taking it as seriously as a Test match is the best way for us to prepare because at the end of the day, it’s a Test match.
“And obviously, you will have a lot of players who played previously (in) Test matches, and they will know that facing South Africa, it’s a big, big challenge, you know, so I’m looking forward to it.”
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