Michael Cheika and his first time as Los Pumas manager: “I want a team encouraged to play”

Michele Sheika does not spin He says what he sees fit and although his team had won the victory in a friendly context – the public received Los Pumas with the expectation of seeing them, not evaluating them -, there were many aspects that could work against them. him: it was his debut, the return of the selection to the national team and a litmus test to know whether or not there was a change in the attitude of the Argentine team.

For this reason, after the victory, the Australian coach who commands the illusions of Argentine rugby was quick to praise and concisely underline the points to improve.

“We have to continue strengthen our foundations and modify some specific issues to be able to surprise Scotland within a week in Salta ”, he distinguished, before specifying the aspects.

“We need to improve the discipline and stop looking at the scoreboard to focus on the game. Sometimes we stop taking risks and I want the team to be encouraged to playwithout thinking so much about the result ”, remarked the Australian.

“As I said before the game, we have to work in the long term and improve in the short term as well. I think we played a good match today and we were able to celebrate in front of this Jujuy crowd who treated us so well this week, ”he said at the time of praise.

“The team’s foundations were good. The scrum responded and the maul went well for us too, against a team like Scotland he’s very strong in that aspect of the game”, He celebrated.

Argentina will face Scotland again next week in Salta and the following week in Santiago del Estero. However, the rival’s repetition is not an advantage for Cheika. “It is more difficult to be able to prepare a game when you face the same opponent again, because the studio gets bigger and bigger,” he distinguished.

Cheika’s idea is add more players and get such a large team with which multiple teams can be assembled. “Today there are 33 and there could be 12 more, which would be 45 that we can divide into three teams and each must have the confidence so that if someone is sick or injured they don’t panic about replacing their partner” , he added. she explained earlier.

The team left the capital Jujuy last night and headed to Salta, where they will complete the working week to face next Saturday at the Padre Martearena stadium.

The same routine will work after that game. The delegation will leave for Santiago del Estero, where they will play at Madre de Ciudades, which for the first time since its recent construction will host a test match.

“Today is a first step”

Pumas captain Julián Montoya was at the press conference with Cheika. He shared some concepts and acknowledged that the team is in a process that has yet to be completed. He celebrated the victory, the support of the public and the dedication of his teammates.

“We are very happy to have been able to play in Argentina again and to do so with a win. We have to keep working because there are many things to correct, but now it is time to enjoy it and tomorrow (Sunday) we will focus on what the match will be like in Salta, ”pointed out the hooker who works professionally for the Leicester Tigers in England.

“I am very proud of the team, of the 23 who entered today and all those who trained during the week. Today is a first step and from there we need to gain confidence. A lot of things went the way we trained them, but we also know where we need to improve, ”she said, without revealing it.