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Mario Ledesma’s final test cap was in RWC 2011. He earned his 84th cap at the age of 38 against New Zealand in a RWC Quarter Final at Auckland’s Eden Park.
The fixture brought to an end a test career spanning fifteen years. The hooker from Buenos Aires debuted in 1996 against Uruguay in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and played in four RWC tournaments.
Since having up his boots Ledesma’s career has turned to coaching. Prior to today’s announcement of Ledesma as the successor to Daniel Hourcade, Ledesma worked with Australia at RWC 2015. RWC 2019 thereby will see Ledesma involved for a sixth consecutive RWC.
In his final cap Ledesma played 69 minutes. He was replaced by Agustín Creevy in what was his 18th cap in a RWC match. It was his third Quarter Final appearance, following on from facing France in Dublin, Ireland in RWC 1999 and Scotland in Paris in 2007.
In RWC 2011 Ledesma and his teammates would miss out on reaching a second Semi Final though the team would give the heavy favorites, New Zealand a run for their money.
Upon being replaced by Creevy, Ledesma departed in tears. His wonderful career was over. The glory of competing at the highest level for so long had concluded.
To watch the match in full click here.
