Contepomi on Sexton: ‘I could see a great player coming through’

Felipe Contepomi remains a doctor of medicine even while doing a spot of journalism and coaching the Jaguars these past few days, weeks, months.

Life as a television pundit won't last much longer. ESPN is getting its pound of flesh from the man who quickly guaranteed the eternal love of Leinster folk during six magical years in the 10 jersey.

Contepomi's hatred of Munster helped that relationship to grow. Ironically, such bile reached a similar pitch during several vicious Ireland versus Puma encounters.

Love and hate being easily interchangeable emotions and a patriot to the core, Contepomi was part of Lens in 1999, Adelaide in 2003, that brutal Lansdowne road affair in 2004 and Parc des Princes in 2007.

The Contepomi years were never boring. Ironically, they ended the instant the Sexton era began. A twisted knee on the Croke Park turf, in the never to be forgotten Leinster-Munster war of 2009, gave Sexton an immediate sight of the posts from miles out and under the Cusack Stand.

The rest is written.

See the focus

“I could see a great player coming through,” Contepomi remembered yesterday while visiting Ireland’s team hotel. “We worked a lot with Johnny during those days and you could see in his focus how he wanted to improve every single training session. He is still doing that.

"For me he is one of the best outhalves in the world, if not the best. I feel sorry for him not to be fit. Maybe good for Argentina, I don't know, because Ireland have big depth in strength.

“But Johnny – as a spectator I love to watch him in every game.”

Ian Madigan had just entered the Leinster academy when Contepomi headed off to Stade Français with Michael Cheika.

“Yeah, I remember Ian. He was very young when I was there. To be honest I worked more with Johnny.

“Ian is in the early stages of becoming a Johnny Sexton, maybe. He’s a great individually skilful player. As a controller of the game I think Johnny is by far the best one. Both, I think, have been favoured by the rules.”

The right moment

“Johnny appeared when the rules started to favour the attacking teams and not the kicking teams or the defending teams,” Contepomi said. “He came on at the right moment and that’s why he is the man he is.

“Having said that, if you ask him to play a kicking game he can do that as well because he has all the skills, he has everything in the bag.

“Ian will become a player like that if he wants to. I don’t know him that well but, for me, the difference between Johnny and other fly-halves of his age is his mental strength and his desire to improve every single training session.”

So Felipe, presuming Madigan is at outhalf, which is the better team?

“I don’t know about the better team. I like how Argentina is playing. Obviously I will support Argentina. It’s my soul.”

But if you were, say, placing a bet?

“I don’t bet.”

Contepomi was a gambler once, out on the field, and remains a gentleman off it.