Piri pounds Pumas

Piri pounds Pumas

9 Oct 2011

MARK KEOHANE reports that Piri Weepu kicked 21 points against the Pumas as the All Blacks advanced to the World Cup semi-finals.

The All Black won 33-10 after leading 12-7 at halftime. They will play the Wallabies for a place in the final.

Wales and France will contest the other semi-final. Both play-off matches will be in Auckland.

The bookies had the All Blacks to win by 20 points and while the result was never an issue All Blacks coach Graham Henry would have expected more patience and precision from his side.

Weepu, starting at scrumhalf, also assumed the goalkicking as flyhalf Colin Slade stuttered through another 30 minutes of World Cup agony.

Slade was as poor as he has been in every Test and when he hobbled off after 33 minutes you could almost sense the relief of a nation. Slade may yet come of age as a Test flyhalf but it won’t be at this World Cup. His replacement Aaron Cruden was an improvement and played with a calm and authority not seen from Slade.

The Pumas, courageous from the first minute, played to avoid humiliation. They offered nothing outside of bravery and referee Nigel Owens could easily have carded half the team for repeated infringements at the breakdown. Owens’s leniency meant a decent play-off work out for the All Blacks and kept the Pumas crowd interested for an hour.

Argentina remarkably scored the first try, against the run of play, to lead 7-6 after 30 minutes but the scoreline never reflected the flow of the contest. The All Blacks were superior in every aspect. Twice they were denied a try by TMO decisions and more often than not Argentina opted to concede the three points instead of a potential seven.

The hosts were effective in disrupting the Argentina lineout, poaching five from 11, but they would have expected to create more with the ball and territorial advantage. The Pumas made 135 tackles to the All Blacks 54 so they at least won something on the night. They also had the more inspiring supporters and the prettiest.

But there was nothing beautiful about the way they played and it was a case of damage control. They did not want to be whipped and recognised (as did every observer) that they did not have the skill to turn on the kind of spectacle produced in Wellington when Wales played Ireland.

The All Blacks, when they did show patience and respect for holding onto the ball, looked dangerous, but often the attack was too lateral. Wingers Sonny Bill Williams and Cory Jane had their moments and so did the midfield pairing of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith. The best of the backs was Weepu who has matured as a player and a leader. He showed on Saturday night that he does a bit more than lead the haka in this team.

Jerome Kaino was again impressive and Kieran Read improved with greater game time, but Richie McCaw played as if he only had one leg and the tight five as a unit were decent without ever being destructive.

Argentina is never an easy opponent and they will always offer a contest. But they lacked individual pedigree and collective belief to ever threaten the scoreboard and the All Blacks were predictable and deserved winners.


247 Comments

Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All

  • 51.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:11 am

    Seriaas!

    PdeV thread, game thread, another post mortem thread!!!

  • 52.ET.: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:11 am

    And now there is Cruden. Very much earlier than expected.

  • 53.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:12 am

    Die plek is besig!

  • 54.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:12 am

    Cruden played some champion footy for Manawatu in the NPC. VERY different stage however as we all know.

  • 55.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:13 am

    nandos piri piri’s kicking is extra warm vandag

  • 56.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:14 am

    In lower hutt, they breed ‘em special.

  • 57.Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    The Boks will f*ck thois NZ team up 6 – love!

  • 58.Kobus Kitty: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:16 am

    Gaping **** is so scared of the All Blacks. Get off the field you dirty sodomite.

  • 59.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:17 am

    As cliched as it so obviously is, where is the All Black urgency?!

  • 60.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:18 am

    @Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-57: From business class you mean?

  • 61.Kobus Kitty: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:18 am

    Argentina 7 Homosexual ref 12

  • 62.Nils: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:19 am

    @Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-57: Right, Boks now can play tennis. Or tiddlywinks. Or whatever.

  • 63.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:19 am

    @Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-58:

    Enjoy the papers tomorrow Klansmen.

  • 64.Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:19 am

    we just drove past a few drunk coloured hooligans supporting the All Blacks and shouting @ us – - “you whiteys ma se p03se – f0k die bokke” …. so we turned around a threw one of the okes with a half full beer can against the head LMAO! blood everywhere! boer maak ‘n plan!

  • 65.Bod: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:20 am

    First time I have had a look at the mighty ABs this WC and what do I see….

    The indestructable, massive, genius, all conquering inside centre schmaltzed out onto the wing

    Whats going on here???

  • 66.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    @Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-57: 4 more years mate.

  • 67.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    Listen fokkers we played well this morning.

  • 68.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    @Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-64: So you just proved that the divisions that lead to them supporting the AB’s in the first place still exist. You must be so proud.

  • 69.Bod: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:22 am

    @ufo(ufo)-1:

    Why?

  • 70.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:22 am

    @Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-64: classy.

  • 71.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:23 am

    Argentina playing well…

  • 72.Nils: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:25 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-71: Of course, nothing less was expected.

    Remember, Georgia led Argentina, too. Then class prevailed, this time it will be no different. Patience.

  • 73.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:25 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-71:

    very well, all the pressure should convert to a few tries in the 2nd half , its what we need though a hard close game

  • 74.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:26 am

    Our kiwi bloggers please ignore the trolls

  • 75.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:26 am

    NZinChina.

    agreed. Argentina having to do a lot of work, but are doing it well.

  • 76.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:29 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-71: Yep, have done their homework. Helps that the AB’s left the motivation at the haka. Sure that there’s been an ear bashing in the change rooms in the last 10 minutes. SBW looks a bit lost when he gets the ball out wide. IF we get through this, Dagg for flyhalf outside Weepu who should retain kicking duties.

  • 77.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:30 am

    ****. We’re the walking wounded!

  • 78.RL: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:30 am

    I just saw katman on tv, dressed in his pink leotard. :grin:

  • 79.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:31 am

    SBWs defense on the tryline was pathetic. hope he got an ear bashing.

  • 80.RL: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:31 am

    The katman got a bikini wax.

  • 81.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:32 am

    Richie stepped twice. Faster ball recycling is better but no accuracy.

  • 82.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:32 am

    Dagg at 1st five?? has he ever played there?

  • 83.corporal punishment: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:32 am

    Tight game! Abs missing dagg

  • 84.danuk: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:33 am

    ABs look disjointed without DC, need to get it sorted to klap Aussies next week

  • 85.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:33 am

    Guys, Argies are playing awesome.
    What defence, its great to see.

  • 86.Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:34 am

    it was actually our coloured friend (big Bok & Guthro fan) who threw the can! he hates the hooligans like the rest of us! i hope it was that rossoneri thing!

  • 87.DontThinkJustWonder: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:34 am

    How Ritchie won that penaly EXACTLY what Pocock was doing all game. Completely legal. What Heinrich does too.

  • 88.ufo: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:35 am

    @Bod(bod)-69:

    why…? because I can and do… :wink:

  • 89.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:35 am

    AB’s need possession, and must settle down.

  • 90.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:36 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-82: Yep. Mate, we’ve got an injured Slade and now Cruden, didn’t even make the initial squad. Dagg is another Carter, very talented, couldnt be worse off than what we are now.

  • 91.DontThinkJustWonder: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:36 am

    @Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-64: I hope they’ve laid a charge of assault.

  • 92.ufo: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:37 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-71:

    hey pops… good to see the real you back…!!

  • 93.Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:39 am

    dontthink, they can … racist remarks is a bigger crime in SA dude

  • 94.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:40 am

    Thanks Ufo. lost my mum on the third of october, so rugby isn’t the same at the moment.

  • 95.Cane 73: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:41 am

    All Blacks need to wake the **** up! They’re bloody lucky Weepus kicking well.

  • 96.danuk: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:41 am

    much tougher game than I expected, McCaw is looking better though

  • 97.Bod: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:43 am

    @ufo(ufo)-88:

    Personally, I would rather shout for Man Utd (When hell freezes over) than a rugby team supported by Cane, Pops, China and the rest of that motley crew

  • 98.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:44 am

    Pops sympathies to you and your family!

    Sad news!

  • 99.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:45 am

    @mpundulu(mpundulu)-89:your boys “playing all the rugby” i see :-)

  • 100.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    9 Oct 2011, 10:45 am

    @Bod(bod)-97:
    wow, maybe yout mum should warm up your bottle of milk, your getting a little cranky

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