Karmichael Hunt has backed departing Wallabies scrum coach Mario Ledesma to drive the Jaguares to a whole new level in Super Rugby.
Ledesma will leave Australian rugby after Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup Test to take up the head coaching role with the Argentine franchise ahead of the 2018 season.
It represents a homecoming for the 84-cap Los Pumas great, having retired after the 2011 World Cup. He has coached alongside Michael Cheika at Stade Francais, the NSW Waratahs and the Wallabies.
He will move back to Buenos Aires, his birthplace, with a full knowledge of Australian rugby's inner workings and a plethora of valuable experiences to draw on.
While much criticism has been levelled at SANZAAR for expanding Super Rugby into Argentina and Japan, the Jaguares had made clear improvements in their second campaign. They won seven matches from 15 - including away wins over the Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels, plus a 22-8 victory at home over the Queensland Reds.
Hunt, who played in that match, believed the Jaguares had snared a quality mentor in Ledesma.
"The experience he's had is obviously going to benefit him," Hunt said.
"We played them in Buenos (Aires) this year and they absolutely touched us up.
"They've got plenty of talent, as we saw in Argie a couple of weeks ago. They can stick it to us.
"I'm sure Mario's going to take their provincial team to another level and benefit their national team as well."
The Jaguares will play next year in the South African conference after Super Rugby's reduction to 15 teams, with Japan's Sunwolves to be in the Australian conference.
Ledesma said he was excited about the opportunity in front of him.
"There's a lot of changes going on over there and it's good to be part of the change and give something back," he said.
"I've really enjoyed my time. From my experience in Australia, really, there's nothing bad.
"It's all good and much more focused about getting better people, better players, making them better.
"It's all about the process. At no point in time do we talk about results. There's no negative pressure.
"It made me a better person. I'm taking much more than what I'm leaving over here."
Share
