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
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9 Oct 2011, 11:09 am
Ab’s have been pretty average – almost had too much ball, the argies just want to defend defend defend, smash us and hope for our mistakes. We haven’t had a decent counter to it, to open the game up.
9 Oct 2011, 11:10 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-99: Argentina are just spoilers, whenever we are 5 – 10 meters from the tryline they don’t roll away, they don’t release, it’s all a mess really.
9 Oct 2011, 11:10 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-94: Hey mate sorry to hear that. These things get better with time but unfortuately its the path we all take in the end. Strangley enough therein lies the beauty of it. She´s gone back to the place she came from mate. A return home if you wish. We all go there – take that and let if be your peace.
9 Oct 2011, 11:11 am
@Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-146: Like the 07 dream run of the Boks. Get over yourself. 07 was a win to SA in any record book you read, as was 87 for NZ. What happened in SA when the Boks came back into the international fold?
9 Oct 2011, 11:11 am
@Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-146</
if you depart in the 1/4's your world ranking is 8th
9 Oct 2011, 11:11 am
@Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-146:
I think when NZ plays each side they know in advance who they are playing (no really, the World Cup draw has been out for months) so the approach changes.
9 Oct 2011, 11:12 am
@Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-146:
Its a shame you think SA were the best team in 1987. Just shows you know nothing about rugby.
I think the real losers of the day was the real fans of SA.
People like you can suk it.
9 Oct 2011, 11:12 am
Game in the bag for All Blacks – hasnt been a great display but a very expected result. Best of luck for the Wobblies next week – do us all a favour and put them out of their misery now.
9 Oct 2011, 11:12 am
Not a nice game at all but alas we are still in.
9 Oct 2011, 11:12 am
Thanks Slumtown. appreciate it mate.
9 Oct 2011, 11:13 am
Cory Jane must have been out
9 Oct 2011, 11:13 am
Poor performance from the AB’s but hopefully a big wake up match. Cruden will improve during the week. Lucky try to finish off. They all count.
9 Oct 2011, 11:13 am
@Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-146: Whatever, mate, I understand your frustration. Sure, it’s ABs who didn’t allow Boks to play, sure it will be hollow victory again because ‘we weren’t there’ again, Boks may beat ABs anytime 6-0 as you say, no probs. Whatever makes you happy.
9 Oct 2011, 11:14 am
Jane once again.
Can this guy get any better?
9 Oct 2011, 11:14 am
Hahah nice one for Thorne
9 Oct 2011, 11:14 am
@chch(chch)-161:
crappy reply but was in
good try
9 Oct 2011, 11:15 am
Good game though, think they did the ABs a favour by giving them a tough game. Hope the wallop the ABs … then it’s just a small matter of beating Wales or France …
9 Oct 2011, 11:16 am
@danuk(danuk)-167: meant to say I hope the ABs wallop the Wallabies
9 Oct 2011, 11:16 am
Dont know about the rest of you guys but ive found this WC a bit of a letdown overall. A lot of mismatched games, injuries and a slightly deflated feeling. havent been a load of really great matches.
9 Oct 2011, 11:16 am
Danie Gerber, Naas Botha, Carel Dup, Uli, etc etc ….. best rugby players in their positions ever!
9 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
Congrats to us
Well done Argentina
9 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
Congrats All Blacks! Just do it!
9 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
Well done Argentina.
You guys did really well. The scoreline does not show how hard the game really was.
9 Oct 2011, 11:17 am
Next week is the real final.
9 Oct 2011, 11:18 am
Well done AB’s.
A NZ vs Wales final would be nice.
9 Oct 2011, 11:18 am
Slade can’t come back, I’m happy with cruden.
9 Oct 2011, 11:18 am
well done ABs.
commiserstions Argentina. was a worthy effort. night all.
9 Oct 2011, 11:18 am
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-169:
The IRB/NZRU removed fan zones for the quarter finals. Will games being on Sunday’s to satisfy TV the atmosphere here today was just awful. Really pisss poor organisation.
9 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
@Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-170:
hahahaha yeah sure.
Go drown your sorrows
9 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
Booyukka !! Pressure told , but work to do for the semi . Good work out, it’s what we needed,
9 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
Slade should be dropped, he’s hopeless
9 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-174:
yes and the winner gets the bonus of an easy game against the northern hemisphere
9 Oct 2011, 11:20 am
Congrats ABs, congrats Pumas for brave performance. If they get the best possible squad they won’t be pushovers come 4N.
9 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
yeah they say boks win in 2007 was hollow coz we never played the ABs, well they’ll be happy to be playing aussies next week instead of us.
am still really stoked with how well the boks played tonite. pity they could no convert.
credit to ABs and Aus. you’re both in the semis. we not.
and congrats to ABs, the only pool toppers to make the last 4!
9 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
@chch(chch)-178: Yeah man very odd – I can feel the vibe a bit just by watching. This game was tough but only cos the Argies were hanging onto the ball the whole time. They never really stood a chance – so again the mismatch thing. Aus Sa was a great game and so was Ireland vs Wales yesterday.
Excpect Oz vs All Blacks to be a huge one next week.
9 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-169:
You will always gets mismatched games and injuries is something you cant help.
No one can help.
All the RWCs have had injuries and mismatched games.
But this one has had alot of good matches. Ireland vs Ozzie. Wales vs Boks. Tonga vs France.
I could carry on.
9 Oct 2011, 11:21 am
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-169: I don’t know, I’ve seen 4 good games, including this one, where the Argies where given no chance at all …
Nice to see the passion of some of the teams. Only team I’m glad is out is England
9 Oct 2011, 11:22 am
@Boks_B_to_win_RWC_2011(p0ppa69)-170: In their era, absolute top notch blokes. If you open your other eye for a moment you may see the game has moved on and those guys may not be the best ever in the professional game. Cooper knows what it’s like to be Naas in the modern game. Great going forward but not so nice with your arse on the grass.
9 Oct 2011, 11:22 am
@chch(chch)-182: haha if its Wales it wont be as easy as this game – no mate if you guys face Wales in the finals expect a tough tough match. Give them the respect they deserve. Not saying they´ll win but you have to be on your toes.
9 Oct 2011, 11:23 am
Now big game for AB supporters next week. Hope Ricky tackles Quade out of his boots!
9 Oct 2011, 11:23 am
@danuk(danuk)-187: yeah definitely with you on that one lol
9 Oct 2011, 11:23 am
Cruden looked better than Slade, just as well that he played a bit today. Keep Slade on the bench Ted.
9 Oct 2011, 11:24 am
and start with Dagg, Mils is finished.
9 Oct 2011, 11:25 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-186: yeah dont get me wrong theres been some good matches for sure. Just a feeling I got off it. As it gets more competitive I guess that will fall away. Definitely the minnows played better and they need the exposure.
9 Oct 2011, 11:27 am
@RL(RL)-192:
Colin is like a possum in the headlights unfortunately.
9 Oct 2011, 11:27 am
@Bod(bod)-97:
I have supported the Boks many times. In fact I think you will not be left with any side currently at the World Cup who you can support.
9 Oct 2011, 11:27 am
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-194:
yeah understand Slum.
Minnows played awesome this time round.
One thing the RWC does is let the Minnows feel as they are part of world rugby as we may forget how far rugby has reached all over the globe.
9 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
Well done for reaching the semis NZ.
Would love to see a NZ/Wales final.
AB deserve to win it this year.
9 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
@chch(chch)-182: show the dragons some respect, they are playing 2007 Bok rugby and are as young and fearless ad Jakes 2007 team … you were warned.
9 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
@danuk(danuk)-187:
and not a moment too soon
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