Family I

I listened while the local media had their round-table with one of my new heroes. Nacho did not go into details about the reasons for his return to Argentina. He is happy to be back. If he is picked for the weekend, he is not worried about match fitness. He knows his way around the pitch including all the short-cuts. It would be the first time he has played against his brother. They have played against one another in training games and in seven-a-side but never before for the points. Sportsmen are known to be competitive; siblings the same. One can only imagine the sort of rivalry that existed in this particular Buenos Aires household.

Juan could never get the better of his big brother. The last time they played tennis against one another, Nacho had to ease the banter (his word) for fear that Juan's racquet would not last the encounter. Slam!

Read My Lips

Nacho seems to have been to the same charm school as Jim Mallinder when it comes to dealing with questions he would rather not answer. All questions about Juan's intentions at the end of his current contract were deflected with the casual precision of a master batsman milking the bowling. We discovered that Juan has been in England for a number of years and he may feel like a change, a new challenge. There has been talk about France but it is not for Big Brother to say what to do or where to go. He does not know if anybody has spoken to Juan about joining Saints. Masterly!

Family II

It seemed the natural question to ask - why rugby? It turns out that, in a football-mad country like Argentina, Nacho and Juan were born into a rugby-playing family. Their father introduced them to the game and starting in much the same way as boys in this country do and played up through the ranks of their local club, Liceo Naval.

At the age of twenty-six, Nacho was already an international and decided to give professional rugby a go. That meant moving to France where he played for Bordeaux and Castres. It was a big step for a young man. Apart from anything else, there was a transcontinental romance to maintain - his fiancée stayed in Buenos Aires. Happily it survived, blossomed into marriage and Nacho can now be found doing the supermarket sweep with his daughter, Lucia.

Trans-Manche Link

Success followed his move to England. Phillipe St Andre was in charge at Sale and added the hard edge required to lake them to the title.

The move to Northampton has been very good. The club has treated him well from the start. Good friends, Federico and Martín, told him what to expect - great facilities, magnificent ground with a playing surface to match and a passionate and set of noisy fans. Is true. He has many friends in the game. Those that he holds most dear are those he has known longest. They are back in Argentina. He picks out Jason Robinson and Richard Dourthe as a pair of the best with whom he has played. He respects all opponents - no hostages to fortune; be prepared.

Franklin's Gardens

When I ask the question, who makes you laugh? Nacho is one of the most frequent answers. Chris Ashton is the runaway leader but on mention of that name, a different look came across Nacho's face. I remembered the incident with the Boca Juniors shirt. The steel, the lack of compromise that makes him such a formidable opponent on the pitch was there to be seen. Chris Ashton has not been near Nacho's locker since.

Besty is the one that makes Nacho laugh. He is a great player with a good sense of humour and a very professional attitude to his work.

Looking forward, not only to the Sale game but the Challenge Cup quarter-final, I asked how Nacho got on with M. Poite. He laughed. We beat Bristol sixty-six. They did not like it because I spoke in French to the referee. It is called experience. It is always better to work with the referee and I could do that by speaking to him in French. The smile and the twinkle were back.

Biscuits do not get a look in with Nacho's diet. However, a pastry, a pecan topped Danish definitely hits the spot. Marmite has not yet appeared over horizon as far as his household is concerned.

For his coaching tip, Nacho offered: work hard and be humble; treat every opportunity as though it is you last chance - that way you will ensure that you have many more opportunities.

I like this man.

arw

12.03.2009