Felipe Contepomi has criticized England flanker Tom Curry following the autumn international clash with Argentina, accusing him of a reckless tackle on Juan Cruz Mallía and of shoving the Pumas’ coach in the tunnel after the game.
Mallía, the Argentina full-back, was forced off late in the match with what is suspected to be a serious knee injury, leaving his team with 14 men for the closing stages. Contepomi described the tackle as “reckless” and questioned Curry’s behaviour following the incident.
“How old is he? Twenty-seven? And strong. I am 48, and he comes and just shoves me. I was standing there. He was coming in to say hi to one of our coaches, but we said no because we were upset. I said: ‘Man, you broke his knee,’ and he said: ‘Fuck off,’ and pushed me like that,” Contepomi said.
The former Argentina international suggested Curry’s response was bullying and disrespectful, emphasizing the need for humility after causing such a serious injury. He also highlighted his frustration with the match officials, particularly regarding the handling of instrumented mouthguards (IMGs) and head injury assessments. Contepomi felt certain incidents involving his players were not properly reviewed by the television match official (TMO).
England head coach Steve Borthwick defended Curry, calling him a “fantastic team man” and a “respectful guy” whose character is unquestionable. The English forward had already been penalized for the late tackle on Mallía during the 74th minute, but no further disciplinary action was taken.
The match had already been tense following Curry’s tackle, as Argentina sought to overturn an 11-point deficit. After the final whistle, a heated exchange broke out involving Curry and several Argentina players, including Henry Pollock.
Contepomi’s concerns extended beyond Curry’s tackle, noting inconsistencies in the use of safety technology and head injury protocols. He expressed disappointment over what he perceived as mismanagement of injury checks, which left Argentina temporarily disadvantaged on the field.
The incident highlights ongoing debates about player safety, discipline, and the role of technology in rugby officiating, with tensions running high in high-stakes international clashes.
