If new Test coaches are supposed to take a softly softly approach to their new job as they get a feel for what their squad is capable of then no one has told Mario Ledesma.
After the loss to the All Blacks last weekend Ledesma tore into his side. There was none of the deferential, "well the All Blacks are just so good" arguments that sometimes follow a loss to New Zealand.
"We couldn't deliver; we under-performed in terms of delivery from scrum and lineout. In All Black scrums we got dominated and we couldn't do the simple things right."
No excuses: Argentina coach Mario Ledesma.Credit:AAP
It doesn't get much more 'right between the eyes' than that.
That was consistent with his message after the Pumas lost in New Zealand, where he questioned how much they actually believed they could win the game, having seen them repeatedly concede points just after they themselves had scored.
That short of hard-nosed attitude won't surprise anyone within the Wallabies but it does set the tone for this weekend's big game in Salta.
Perhaps, in the past, Argentina would have already been content with their work in this year's Rugby Championship – a win at home against South Africa and the win against the Wallabies on the Gold Coast.
But that doesn't look like success to Ledesma – and that in part is perhaps why he has had a promising start to his career as Test coach.
After a year of drifting Argentine rugby looks like it has clear direction again, especially when it comes to what is acceptable in terms of performance.
They were sloppy last weekend in Buenos Aires. The performance was probably best summed up by an incident involving Nicolas Sanchez in the 44th minute.
After the Pumas came out with a bit more fire in the second half – presumably after some stern words from Ledesma – they had a golden attacking opportunity about eight metres out.
The All Blacks already had one man in the sin bin (Sonny Bill Williams) and had just conceded another penalty so the pressure was building.
However, instead of taking the scrum – or even going for the lineout – Sanchez tried to be cute with a quick crossfield kick which went straight into the arms of All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo.
Chance gone, and game over. The All Blacks were next to score, pushing their lead out to 28-3 and that was it.
Sanchez's poor execution aside, the moment was perhaps an illustration of how a misfiring set piece can undermine your entire game.
Star: Waisake Naholo was too hot for the Pumas to handle.Credit:AP
With the Pumas' lineout and scrum struggling, Sanchez may have thought that the cross-kick was the least risky option. Whatever his thought process it was the sort of soft moment that can really test a coach's patience. No doubt Ledesma and Cheika can meet up after the Test and compare their copious notes in that area.
For the Pumas are not perfect – far from it. Despite their breakthrough win against the Wallabies on the Gold Coast, a cold hard look at that game would reveal a number of occasions where it almost seemed they were trying to lose it.
Their accuracy and composure disappeared in the last 15 minutes and made Ledesma ride the rollercoaster of emotions.
The coach may also have learned something from last weekend's game. With brilliant left-winger Ramiro Moyano injured (he returns this week) Ledesma opted against a simple like for like replacement strategy and instead pushed Matias Moroni out one to the wing, with No 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente going to No 13.
The back line looked clunky as a result and not altogether repaired for the Salta test.
Although Moyano is back right winger Bautista Delguy is injured this week and Moroni switches from the right flank to the left, when outside-centre is still his best position.
However, given the complex, confusing nature of the Wallabies back line (in one 15-minute period last week Kurtley Beale looked like he was playing in four positions) that may not be as much a factor as the respective mindsets of the teams.
The Wallabies looked stressed and anxious last week.
The Pumas will also be on edge this weekend, but in a good way. They have a new leader who sets high standards, and in the uncomplicated early days of any coach's tenure those messages have a good chance of cutting through.
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