Contepomi relishing Barbarians role and showdown with Erasmus' Springboks

The Springboks' Nations Championship campaign begins against England in Johannesburg on 4 July, but before that they will host the Barbarians in Gqeberha on 20 June.

Argentina head coach Contepomi will be part of a star-studded Baabaas coaching setup that also includes former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, Racing 92 boss Patrice Collazo and Los Pumas assistant coach Kenny Lynn.

It will be the second consecutive year the Springboks host the famous invitational side, after the Boks secured a dominant 54-7 victory in Cape Town in 2025.

As a player, Contepomi earned 87 Test caps for Argentina and also made five appearances for the Barbarians during his career.

However, this will be the first time he takes charge of the Baabaas in a coaching role, and he says he is relishing the challenge of facing the world's top-ranked team.

"I think being part of the Barbarians is a great honour. And I've been lucky enough to play in two tours with the Baa-baas. And now being asked to coach, it's a big honour," he told the Behind the Ruck podcast.

"But when they also showed me the calendar and they said coming and playing against the world champions, for me, it was a bigger honour, you know?

"I think it's a great opportunity. I love going to South Africa. And I think the way South African people live rugby is unbelievable.

"And I have lots of friends there. And being able to be part of the Baa-baas in South Africa, it will be a great experience for sure."

The 48-year-old said it's always "special" being involved with the Barbarians and revealed that there are a couple of reasons for that.

"I think two things. First of all, because you have to be invited to be part of that club," Contepomi explained.

"It's a great honour to be invited (and) to be part of it. And the second one, I think they still, in such a professional era, keep a very amateur spirit and sometimes even a way of rolling.

"So, for me, an older guy that lived the last part of the amateur era with a mix with professionalism, it's a great way of going back to rugby roots, you know?

"It's very special the way. And look, for me, the most important thing that rugby gives you is a friendship, knowing people, knowing different cultures.

"And that's exactly what you get in a Barbarians team, you know?

"People from everywhere in the world and sharing their experiences, having a good time, just playing for each other. And in this case, playing against the world champions, so it can't get better."

Contepomi has been Argentinaâ™s head coach since 2024 and has made significant strides on the international stage, with his side already recording wins over the Springboks, All Blacks, Wallabies and British & Irish Lions during his tenure.

The former playmaker said he is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the world champions and going head-to-head with their innovative coach Erasmus.

"I don't want to take it personally against the Springboks, you know? But I think the Springboks, because they are the world champions and I think at the moment, I don't know if it's even arguably, but they are the best team in the world," he said.

"And if you ask 100 people, 99 probably will say they are. So, playing against the best ones is all what you want, you know? And when you go and play against the best ones, obviously you want to beat them.

"And Rassie, I have lots of time for him because he's a great coach.

"And you know that he knows that they have like a target on their back because they are the best ones at the moment. So, it's a great honour to be able to go and play against them, you know? I'm looking forward (to it).

"We are very grateful that we'll receive them in August here in Argentina, because as I said, you want to play against them, you know?"

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