The Albany Gazette - Performance not results counts for Pumas coach Contepomi

Contepomi made three changes to the starting line-up he announced on Wednesday, from the one that thrashed Italy 50-18 last Saturday, for a match against a side he knows well having been assistant coach of Irish powerhouse Leinster from 2018 to 2022.

The Pumas will encounter an Irish side hurting after their 19-match home winning streak was ended by the All Blacks last Friday.

The experienced trio of Pablo Matera, Guido Petti and centre Matias Moroni return to a Pumas team that recorded its first ever win in New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.

They also beat world champions South Africa and Australia to finish with three wins from six Tests.

"Results gives you confidence, definitely, but it's more, for us, the progress we are trying to do," Contepomi said at a press conference.

"What we say we are going to do or trying to, what we train or what we train to do and then go and do it on match day.

"That's the tough thing in rugby or in any sport.

"So for us the confidence comes in doing. We evaluate maybe different to how people from the outside evaluate us."

Contepomi, who also played for Leinster, said from the outside people judged his side on results but he cited one example where things might have been interpreted differently had a kick gone over.

"I give you a very simple example. We beat South Africa in Santiago but it came up to the last minute where (Manie) Libbok missed a penalty," said the 47-year-old former fly-half of the Pumas 29-28 win.

"What if he would have got that penalty? Would have that changed our way of evaluating ourselves?

"No, we don't change the way we evaluate ourselves."

Contepomi, who as a player got the better of Ireland at the 2007 Rugby World Cup where the Pumas finished third, said 33-year-old Moroni's return was due to his considerable experience.

"Well, first of all, he obviously brings experience, without a doubt," said Contepomi.

"Then he has energy and I think he is a good player.

"He is not a natural 12, but he has already played many times in that position, and we believe that, again, for what we are going to do in the game, he is a good alternative and we are convinced that he can play the role that we need."

Team (15-1)

Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Joaquin Oviedo, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pablo Matera; Pedro Rubiolo, Guido Petti; Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya (capt), Thomas Gallo

Replacements (16-23): Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo

Coach: Felipe Contepomi (ARG)

(R.White--TAG)