Chat with Felipe Contepomi ahead of Leinster

Felipe Contepomi
By Duncan Wood
January 17 2003

Many thanks to Felipe Contepomi who took time out from training to talk to me earlier this week. We spoke about Montferrand, the task ahead against Leinster and about the relationship between the supporters and the players.

How important was the result in France?

Well, I think it was a good result because we came off a bad game against Harlequins and to go to France and win gives you a lot of confidence.

It's one more result and a step that we had to take to keep on improving and I think that there were a lot of mistakes and a lot of things to look at and it's a good thing that we're still trying hard to improve things.

Gus and yourself were very excited at the end of the game and celebrated with the supporters. Did it mean a lot that so many people had travelled to see you?

It does mean a lot yes. The European Cup is where you always wanted to be. Whether we qualify or not depends on other results as well as our own.

You try yourself to the best of your ability and going to Montferrand, one of the toughest venues in Europe, I think was a good result.

We were excited because there were a lot of Bristol people that had travelled there and perhaps because we might have lost that game on another day. We were patient and we got the result that we wanted.

Winning and losing are habits and you have to make it go your way. If you can create a winning habit on your own, you will learn how to win close games and that is the thing that is happening here in Bristol. Sometimes we lose the close games perhaps because we don't know how to close them out.

Because it's a young team?

Yes, but we have to put those excuses to one side. But this was one of those games where you say that this team is learning and improving. We won this game and we took our chances.

What do you think the team will have learnt from the last Leinster game in Dublin?

A lot. I think Leinster is one of the most solid terms of strength in every position. The lineout is good, the scrum is good, they've got big forwards. They know what they want to do and they do it well.

Their backs are brilliant. We learnt a lot in Ireland but we can use our home advantage to put some pressure on them.

Is a big home crowd very important to the team this weekend?

Yes. I think that it's important for Bristol as a club to have a good crowd. I think that it's important for people to come to the game and feel that they are part of the club. That's what it's all about.

For us as players, sometimes you have to shut out all the external influences whether it's a big or small crowd or whether you're home or away. You have to perform the same every single weekend.

I think big crowds can make a difference at every club - for the players, the supporters, the management, the club. It's like a show and the players are the ones that have to run the show but people (the crowd) can participate in the show.

Do you think that Leinster will start the game as favourites?

Well, obviously, they are 4 points ahead of us and they should be favourites. But there will always be a favourite but the favourite has to perform in those 80 minutes.

For example, when I play for Argentina, most of the time we are not favourites but you have to make them work hard to justify being favourites. When you go and play Australia, normally they are favourites but you have to say to them, "show me in those 80 minutes that you are better".

I would always say in the case of Australia and Argentina, that Australia is usually better before and after the game but it is who is better in those 80 minutes that counts. That is what you have to focus on, those 80 minutes.

I don't care if Leinster have 12, 13 or 14 internationals in their XV. I don't care. They have to come here and play and in those 80 minutes we can be as good if not better than them.

Finally, do you have any message for the supporters ahead of Sunday?

More than a message really. For the last 3 years that I've been here, I've seen this club grow and grow and I am delighted with that and very grateful to the supporters because they are part of the club and have a huge impact on the club.

They come and they shout and they cheer. Perhaps as a Latin person, I would like that noise all the way through the game!

I've listened for the past few games and Bristol is becoming louder as a crowd and I like that. I would like to thank them and to ask them to keep up what they are doing as it is really marvellous.