Cheika and his future at Los Pumas: “I am very…”

The Australian coach explained that in the coming weeks he will travel to Buenos Aires to decide whether or not he will continue to lead the rugby team. “Then I’ll decide what to do,” he said.

The coach of the Argentine rugby team, the Australian Michael Cheikawho concluded his contract with Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) valid until the end of the recent World Cup in France, he assured that he is “very honest about what is happening between Argentina, Los Pumas” and him.

“I am very loyal to what is happening between Argentina and me, that is my first port of call. I’ll be in Buenos Aires in a few weeks and we’ll have a full report of what we have done so far,” he said in an interview with Australia’s Sen portal. And he added: “We will start making plans for the next World Cup to be held in Australia and then I will decide what I will go to . do in the future.”

The Australian coach led Los Pumas for 19 months, with a balance of 23 games played, with eleven wins and twelve losses, scoring 64 tries and conceding 78.

Later, he assured that “the original agreement with the UAR was a young man whom I had trained for a long time, Felipe Contepomi was the right one to take over at one point.”

“We will make the decision between UAR and me together if they believe it is good for me to stay in that environment or if Contepomi wants to continue on his own.” The Pumas under Cheika achieved three important victories as visitors against New Zealand, Australia and England and had disappointing games against Scotland, Australia and Wales.

Meanwhile, in the 2023 World Cup in France it started with a poor performance losing against England and a heavy defeat against New Zealand in the semifinals and only showed a breath of fresh air with victory over Wales, in the quarterfinals.

The Pumas finished fourth at the 2023 World Cup in France after losing to England 26-23, a bronze medal match.