How 'student of coaching' Contepomi took unexpected path

As former Leinster star Felipe Contepomi arrives back in Dublin to lead his Argentina team against Ireland in the Nations Championship on Friday night, BBC Sport NI looks at the coaching career of the man nicknamed 'Dr Phil'. Felipe Contepomi took over from Michael Cheika as Argentina head coach in 2023 Back when Michael Cheika was Felipe Contepomi's head coach at Leinster two decades ago, did the former Argentina boss believe his immediate successor with the Pumas would go on to have such a successful post-playing career? The pair overlapped for four seasons in Dublin, building towards the province's first Heineken Cup in 2009 before the fly-half departed for Toulon that summer having missed the final through injury.

At a time when he was keeping a young Johnny Sexton out of the 10 jersey, Contepomi was a talisman during what was a foundational spell in the club's history. Conversely, it was such abundant talent that made Cheika doubt his then fly-half's future lay in coaching. "He was obviously a highly-skilled player and you know what they say about some of the best players? They don't make the greatest coaches because they think everyone can do what they could do and they actually can't." Thirteen years after their paths diverged, and after Contepomi had spent four seasons as Leinster's attack coach,