Ireland home from home for Pumas coach Contepomi

Argentina may never have beaten Ireland in Dublin but for their head coach Felipe Contepomi it is a place he holds close to his heart and where "many milestones" in his life happened.

The 47-year-old former fly-half and centre's priority is to overcome the Irish at Lansdowne Road on Friday but even defeat will not lessen his evident love for the country.

Not only did he star for powerhouse province Leinster from 2003-09 but he also passed his medical degrees at the Royal College of Surgeons and went on to work at the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

He came back for a second stint in Dublin as Leinster's assistant coach from 2018-22, leaving when his country called hiring him as assistant coach to Michael Cheika.

Speaking on Wednesday the affable Contepomi said his spells in Ireland had had a lot of influence on his life in general.

"I've got one son and a daughter who were born in Ireland as well," he said.

"Unluckily they are not Irish because of the rules or whatever, but many milestones in my life happened here in Ireland, definitely.

"I spent 10 years here. It's a lot of my adulthood.

"I'm 47 so say from 17 to here, 10 years is a third of my life in Dublin, so that's a lot, and I'm grateful.

"I've got really good memories, fond memories."

Contepomi, who missed Leinster's 2009 European Cup final due to being seriously injured in the semifinal, said he had made many friends during his time in Ireland inside and outside rugby.

'PERSONAL THINGS'

He had already met up with Leinster coach Leo Cullen and he was going to use the 'day off' on Wednesday to see some more friends.

"I still have a few to go," he said.

"Luckily I have a long list (of friends) to catch up with, including those outside rugby.

"After having lived 10 years in Ireland, I think it is great to have those friends.

"In short, it is the most valuable thing that this sport gives you or allows you to have."

Nevertheless Contepomi is keen to play down the notion that the match and indeed the brief visit is all about one of Leinster's favourite foreign sons returning.

"No, I think I never try to put personal things on top of the team," he said.

"I think here the important thing is that the Pumas play, it is another opportunity, in a place against one of the best teams in the world.

"For me it is another opportunity for this team to continue growing, to continue improving.

"I don't take it personally."

Those with relatively long memories will know Contepomi is capable of putting sentiment aside as he showed in the 2007 Rugby World Cup pool match with the Irish.

He contributed 11 points in the 30-15 whipping which sent the Irish home and the Pumas were to go on to finish third.

At least with him in charge the edge that has existed between the two sides down the years may be missing and a convivial drink will be taken post match.

However, friendship aside he says that knowing so much about a lot of the players who will line-up on Friday is a double-edged sword.

"I don't know if it's an advantage," he said.

"It's the same way as those players know how I think as well."