White gets it right
7 Sep 2007
Jake White never wavered in his belief that the Pumas would upset France. And he has always said this is a World Cup to be decided on defence.
White would have given himself a pat on the back because this was a heroic Pumas defensive effort. They made twice as many tackles as the hosts, scrambled magnificently on defence for 83 minutes and deserved a fifth win against France in their last six starts. The only defeat came in Paris two years ago when France won by a point.
Had France won on Friday night it would have been a crippling blow to the psyche of the Pumas, who in the past have come so close in big tournaments, only to crumble emotionally.
In the biggest game of their lives they showed the composure previous Pumas teams have lacked, while France couldn’t conjure up enough momentum to threaten the Pumas tryline.
The atmosphere prior to kick-off was nothing short of sensational and the expectation on the French team was enormous. It showed as the French nervousness proved as menacing as the Pumas defence. The result is a popular one for the neutral observer, but for the potency of the tournament it could prove a killer blow.
France now has to beat Ireland to advance to the quarter-finals and if they come second they will play the All Blacks in Cardiff in a quarter-final.
They could still triumph in the Group if Ireland beats the Pumas and France beats Ireland. It would then come down to points differential. Pity the Namibians and Georgia.
Technically the French still have a lifeline, but the pressure will only intensify in the next two weeks.
The Pumas were in charge of the match at half-time, but the pivotal period came between the 45th and 47th minutes as France’s pack produced a monstrous mauling effort. For two minutes they mauled the Pumas 30 metres and onto their own tryline. But somehow the Pumas held out the French and won the penalty. That was 120 seconds the great grand children will be told and retold for generations to come. Defensive coaching DVD’s need only show that two minute period. What can’t be coached is attitude and Argentina had plenty of it.
They had the urgency and while the French had most of the ball in the second half and all the field position, the Pumas had the stomach for this fight.
The Pumas made 110 tackles to the French 60 – and that was the most telling statistic of this contest.
367 Comments
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8 Sep 2007, 12:07 pm
How’s it going in Manly anyway dude?
8 Sep 2007, 12:12 pm
Did anyone notice how few times the scrum had to be reset compared to all the other games this season? Or am I just imagining it? (It was an 11pm kick off for me and I had to squeeze a few cold ones down before the match got going………….
8 Sep 2007, 12:54 pm
Unfortunately I missed the game, but from replays Puma’s played with heart and soul, well done.
I can’t say it’s a complete surprise, many WC games turn into upsets, and will be more.
It’ll be interesting to see what it does for the French team, knowing how unpredictable they are I suspect good.
Big Hit, stop being an arse, no-ones going to hail England for almost beating NZ once since the last WC. Boks whip AB’s at least once a year, its tradition, even written in the haka.
And as it’s now the end of the year, its delivery time.
As for those idiots (no names mentioned but watch the eyes) claiming saffas are hoping the boks miss the AB’s, don’t be fools : we’ve been waiting all year for the annual win, and there’s nothing better, not even a kilo of biltong and a sixpack. BTW, I can understand a large part of the AB supporters are wishing for that, which my kiwi colleague confirmed, as they know their times up. But its just not gonna happen … if AB’s can really hold it together and get past Italy and the others, we’ll be waiting.
{eyes roll} Tackles, have some egg on yr face again?
) I see you still getting it all wrong about France. They’ll thrash yes, but not when u expect it.
As for “Boks losing 2 tests vs NZ in the past year” … EXCELLENT… great timing then – about time for our win then isn’t it?
btw: Things have come on in 4 years, I see the AB players are crumbling under pressure even before they take the field now. On the other hand, Italy might not be as easy a walkover as they think.
Hier kom die bokke!
8 Sep 2007, 13:08 pm
#353 The Pumas played with guts and more passion than the French I skiem.
As for he other antagonists you mention, dont bother even rubbing salt in their wounds, its pointless and one or two weeners are simply here because they have found a place where some of us bloggers rise to the occasion, to me their inept posts and purile thoughts mean sweet bugger all.
They dont exist.
As for the cup, upset number one is done and dusted, and what an upset. I wonder who is next and if the French will rise to the occasion or fail to reach quarters, it will be a let down for the whole tournament.
8 Sep 2007, 13:46 pm
346 Vin
No probs.
8 Sep 2007, 14:45 pm
#3 What a joke, the Island boys have never beaten the boks before so I don’t know what you are on about. But come on the make up of this All Black team is getting browner and browner as the years go on, hey TT what you say broer?
8 Sep 2007, 14:59 pm
The joke is NH rugby, what you say?
8 Sep 2007, 15:24 pm
NZinChina,
Is it possible to have an all SH affair from the semi’s onwards.
France – Not as good as everyone thinks, No flair.
England–Too old, too slow, too unimaginative.
Scotland-Out in the quarters.
Wales-see above.
Italy—point a minute conceded against AB’s.
Ireland—–NH’s only forlorn hope.
8 Sep 2007, 15:33 pm
Cane,
Lets hope so otherwise the cricket scores will continue. Wait for Big Hit etc to come tonight with all the Ab’s weaknesses and faults in tonights performance. This team just looks so good.
8 Sep 2007, 17:21 pm
The AB team is picked on rugby merit, not melanin. No quotas anywhere. No worries about how brown, white or brindled they are. It doesn’t have to “reflect the demographics of the overall population” in any way, shape or form.
All it needs is to be the best team chosen on rugby merit.
The normal way to select a sports team, you know?
8 Sep 2007, 18:52 pm
360
No quotas? Then why so many Samoan and Fijian players?
8 Sep 2007, 18:59 pm
Seems like JW saw a different game from what I saw.
“The best form of defense is attack”, an old addage that goes back a few centuries and has never been proven wrong.
It was the offensive effort of the Pumas that beat the French, not defense. As I’ve always maintained that the faster (and fitter) team will win an encounter and so it was last night.
If JW patted himself on the back I hope he missed!
9 Sep 2007, 00:42 am
#10 – Greatest13Gerber -
I’m with you on that prediction – or rather France have more of a chance of beating NZ in a quarter-final than they do in a final; strange as it may seem – every winning side has a bad day at the office – France had theirs yesterday; they have still to do what they do best and that is throw a spanner in the works.
On the plus side the Boks now look good to going to the final – I was more worried about France in the semis than I was about NZ in the final.
9 Sep 2007, 00:44 am
#362 – It was a combo of attack and defense that won it for the Pumas – that defense was unbelievable.
9 Sep 2007, 02:50 am
Chch…mate you just keep adjusting your story like Tackler and I’m sure youll be a legend in your own lunchtime.
Fact is if SA was at the 87 WC we would probably have beaten you as easily as we did the Cavaliers(and please dont tell me that was not a representative team,remember you said whoever runs on the park represents their country.
9 Sep 2007, 23:36 pm
hey tackler you’re still here crowing when just a few months ago you were telling us that argentina are not fit to be included in the 3 nations.
you’re a ***, but my dont you just know it.
9 Sep 2007, 23:49 pm
the pressure more than anything beat the french. they cracked and just did not know what to do in the face of a spirited argentinian team.
france did enough to win this game, but their kickers could not pull through under the immense pressure. their nerves should now be gone though as france will know they cant possibly play that badly again. i feel for ireland. the french will whip them and then they have to play argentina in the hope of making the semi’s.
i cant see any NH team challenging for the title.
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