Sexton can be Kidney’s top fly-half, declares Contepomi

THERE were no insults and no fresh wounds opened yesterday as Felipe Contepomi assessed an Irish fly-half.

Rather than turning his ire on frequent sparring partner Ronan O'Gara, his nemesis from Munster, the Toulon star instead was given the opportunity to praise his former Leinster team-mate Jonathan Sexton, who has been given the nod by Ireland coach Declan Kidney to continue at out-half against the Pumas at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

“Since I left - and when I was at Leinster as well - I think he has developed really well,” Contepomi said of Sexton. “He's a great out-half and he's getting better and better with every game.

“Unfortunately, in that position, you need to play games to... the more you play at that level, the better you become. He has proven that. With every game, he is getting better.”

That said, Contepomi was not backwards in delighting in Sexton's elevation to first-choice number 10 for the weekend.

“He's obviously the natural out-half now for Ireland and I'm happy to see him there. I worked with him for four years and now seeing that he's the number 10 for Ireland... it's a great honour and he should be proud and make Leinster proud.”

Tomorrow's Test will be the first time Contepomi, who captains Argentina, has faced his former Leinster team-mate on the field.

“I haven't played against him but I know what he's capable of. He's a very complete player. Very good in defence, very good in attack. He attacks the ball, he likes to run, he has very good skills and is a great kicker.

“Obviously, I always wish him the best. I hope that he's not in playing form this Sunday but, for him, it's an interesting game and it will be good to be on the pitch with him.”

On whether or not Sexton should be Ireland's fly-half heading into next autumn's World Cup in New Zealand, Contepomi said: “It's not up to me to make those decisions but if you ask me if he's capable of that, I'd say definitely.

“He's not only a potential player, he's already a world-class number 10 and the more he plays in that position, the more games he has, the better he will become.

“Those are decisions for Declan Kidney to make but he can definitely can get more comfortable at that level. He's already showed at every level he's played that he's a key player for every team he's played for.”

There will be plenty of familiar faces for Contepomi to reconnect with at the Aviva, including the all-Leinster midfield of Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll, although Sexton will partner Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer at half-back for the first time.

“I don't think we analyse only nine and 10. We analyse Ireland,” the Pumas skipper added. "I think Stringer has a really good pass and will feed Jonny with good ball.

“Then it's all about the backline. I know them quite well. It's great to play with them, but it's hard to play against them... Darce, Drico.

“We'll have to be alert for 80 minutes and we will try not to give them the initiative because they are a really good team. Everyone can see that Ireland are improving and playing better and better each time.”