Felipe Contepomi, after the Pumas' defeat: 'I am proud of the boys'

Despite a narrow 17-10 defeat against the world's top-ranked team, South Africa, Felipe Contepomi, head coach of Los Pumas, stated he is "proud of the boys." He acknowledged that losing is painful but stressed the importance of evaluating the team's performance based on their adherence to their game plan and objectives.

"We are here to win," Contepomi said in the post-match press conference. "We understand that externally we are judged by the result, but internally we evaluate ourselves differently, beyond the outcome. We have a purpose, certain things we say we want to do, and we evaluate ourselves on that basis."

Contepomi noted that the team played against the best team in the world and remained competitive, even coming close to an equalizer near the end. He specifically praised the team's defensive effort, highlighting long sequences where they held strong against the formidable South African attack. The coach also pointed to the benefits of the Super Rugby Americas competition in developing professional-level players.

He further commended the team's leadership group, citing Pablo Matera as a prime example of the standards and dedication required. Contepomi believes the younger players look up to these experienced figures, who set a non-negotiable example.