Blacks battle past Pumas

Blacks battle past Pumas

8 Sep 2012

SIMON BORCHARDT saw the All Blacks score two tries in the final quarter to beat Argentina 21-5 in Wellington.

Wet weather is a great leveller and that proved to be the case here as the Pumas went into half-time just one point behind the world champions. But the rain stopped, the wind died down, and the visitors’ resistance predictably crumbled at the 60-minute mark after flanker Julio Farias Cabello was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down.

Soon after, Conrad Smith committed three Pumas’ defenders before sending Julian Savea away for a try that made it 14-5. And with five minutes to go, and the Pumas back to 15 men, a long pass from Aaron Cruden saw Cory Jane dive over in the right-hand corner.

The match had begun in driving rain and swirling wind, with the latter pushing Cruden’s first penalty attempt wide. The All Blacks flyhalf, who was a late replacement for the injured Dan Carter, then knocked on (a sign of things to come for his side) before succeeding with his second attempt at goal.

The Pumas had effectively slowed the Boks’ ball down at the breakdown in Mendoza but French referee Romain Poite was not so charitable in Wellington and they were pinned a couple times early on. However, that didn’t deter the visitors from flooding the breakdown.

The committed Pumas’ defence forced the All Blacks into making mistakes that could not be blamed on the weather. In the 13th minute, Ma’a Nonu lost possession in the tackle and Argentina sent the ball wide. Their forwards then bashed away at the line, with loosehead prop Rodrigo Roncero finding a gap around the fringes to score the first try of the game.

Cruden’s boot edged the All Blacks back in front 6-5 soon after, but the handling errors continued with Kieran Read knocking on with the tryline in sight and Richie McCaw spilling the ball just before the break.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen must have given his side a helluva tongue-lashing at half-time and a city-wide power failure gave him an extra 10 minutes to do so.

His side produced a better performance in the second half, with better conditions allowing them to sent the ball wide on two occassions that resulted in two tries.

But Hansen will be the first to admit that there is massive room for improvement, and Heyneke Meyer will be hoping the world champions don’t hit their straps in Dunedin next weekend.


488 Comments

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  • 1.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 08:43 am

    The All Blacks and Argentina will have to contend with gale force winds for tonight’s clash in Wellington.

    The severe weather has also disrupted several flights in and out of the capital.

    Weatherwatch’s Philip Duncan said it is part of a spring system making its way over Wellington.

    The strong winds will not make things easy for the kickers when the All Blacks take on Argentina at the Cake Tin at 7.30pm tonight.

    “At the moment we’ve got winds gusting to about 100km an hour right in the city centre,” said Duncan.

    “It’s certainly blustery, and we can imagine there will be gusts up in the more exposed areas of maybe 130 to 140km an hour.”

  • 2.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 08:47 am

    owen & naas are out of their depth ito analyses with mallett & mitchell in the studio…

  • 3.lepel: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 08:52 am

    Holly ****! That’s some crazy wind!!!!

  • 4.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 08:52 am

    Great commentary on Supersport, Owen Nkumane and Naas Botha out of their depths, and Arnold Geerdts is just a SABC3 continuity presenter, bless his heart.

  • 5.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:03 am

    Black by 10 should do it.

  • 6.Puma: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:05 am

    Go Pumas! Wishful thinking.

    Great panel in the studio this morning. Mitch, Mallett, Owen and Naas. Campo to join them later for the Bok game.

  • 7.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:07 am

    @Transformation-2: It’s shameful. Totally outclassed.

  • 8.Puma: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:07 am

    @Transformation-2: For sure. Naas and Owen out of their depth with Mallett and Mitch.

    Read yesterday on SS that they were going to be in the panel today. Campo to join them later for the Bok/Aus game.

  • 9.corporal punishment: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:09 am

    At the game, the wind has dropped a lot. Still blustery which will encourage arg. To put the ball in the air at every opportunity. Conditions otherwise good… Field looks pretty dry, and no rain with 30 mins to go to start

  • 10.Puma: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:10 am

    Bad weather in Wellington as usual. Could help the Argies a bit. Afraid Abs will still be too good for them. If Abs don’t pick up the bonus point that would help. Then of course if Boks can pull their backsides into gear and play some decent rugby and get the 4 tries we could be in the hunt again.

  • 11.Puma: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:11 am

    @corporal punishment-9: Okay, well that is even more in favour of the Blacks.

  • 12.corporal punishment: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:12 am

    I was a bit worried earlier in the day, as my mid-day flight home to welly was cancelled due to the winds. But wind dropped enough to get me late afternoon.

  • 13.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:13 am

    best thing about this game is that bakkies wont be watching it, seeing as he only watches CC and the Boks these days :lol:

  • 14.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:15 am

    @Puma-10: You are such an optimist Puma!

  • 15.corporal punishment: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:16 am

    Puma – don’t get me wrong – it is still farkin windy! Just not gale force anymore. Not too cold, so won’t be much dew. Ok conditions all considered.

    Penalty kicking will be difficult, as the wind swirls around the stadium. This is probably bad for the argies.

  • 16.corporal punishment: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:19 am

    I hope the AB’s don’t put up with the time wasting nonsense that they pulled on the boks at Mendoza. The boks had them gaspin and on the ropes after 25!mins, but the boks weren’t able to speed the game up further to take advantage – due to Argie time wasting.

  • 17.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:24 am

    In South America, time wasting is a way of life.

    Lekker.

  • 18.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:27 am

    I actually think the Pumas are going to give the ABs a huge fright here, aided by the wind.

  • 19.grant10: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:28 am

    the DSTV subscription worth it just to have the priviliege of listening to Mallet and Mitchell…2 great Coaches …..no physcho babble, just real rugby men calling it loud and clear…..

    Mallet…please dont turn your back on us if the Meyer train derails…please !!

  • 20.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:28 am

    Could the ABs suffer the same fate as the Wallabies against Scotland in Newcastle?

  • 21.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:29 am

    This is going to be exciting.

  • 22.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:30 am

    Trust pops to leave out the dragons.

  • 23.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:31 am

    The Argies passion: players and fans is something to behold. Really adds something special to this tournament.

  • 24.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:33 am

    @grant10-19: It won’t be long before SARU are begging him mate. He is doing a wonderful job with his PR campaign. The longer he stays on the SS panel…….the more questions are going to be asked.

  • 25.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:34 am

    good haka, ABs here to play..

  • 26.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:35 am

    It’s time

  • 27.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:35 am

    @poppa69-25: Argies as well….when you see tears in their eyes during the anthem, you know they are psyched. Won’t help them in the long run, but it makes for a fabulous first 20 minutes :)

  • 28.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:37 am

    Ritchie got smashed.

  • 29.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:39 am

    It will be interesting to see if the Pumas get carded against the ABs.

  • 30.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:39 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-27:would never question their commitment..

  • 31.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:40 am

    Wind is going to make it very tough for the kickers.

  • 32.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:43 am

    how come the score in the heading says 3-0?

  • 33.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:43 am

    @poppa69-30: These weather conditions are going to test even the most committed today….

  • 34.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:45 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-33: yep should help the Argies

  • 35.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:45 am

    Lineout malfunctioning for Arg, costly.

  • 36.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:46 am

    now its 3-0..ABs

  • 37.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:46 am

    Fuckenhell, the posts are literally shifting….. What a pity Morne wasn’t afforded this privilege.

  • 38.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:48 am

    @poppa69-13: Bakkies now attends cake-baking classes on a Saturday morning!

  • 39.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:49 am

    try time :)

    well done old man

  • 40.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:49 am

    You bloody Argie beauties.

  • 41.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:49 am

    GAME ON!

  • 42.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:49 am

    good try Argies,,

  • 43.Guns: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:49 am

    @grant10-19: :D Grant but surely they are in two different positions.. Surely its always easier to call it like it is or make obvious analysis of games when you are just opposing a current coach and not in the hot seat yourself? It is true though with Meyer we were always going to be stuck with Morne in early stages as he said its what he and the current crop of seniors know best until cavalry arrives. I think in Cotzee and his goofed hybrid talk he is trying to mould Cotzee into a possible McCaw type player.. Dare I say it.. We all know now he’s a hard ball carrier with an offload and good tackle rate.. Hmm then again who does Cotzee in aspects actually reminds me of in his very early day.. McCaw!! Yes still different but similar attributes in their early years. Guess one would either be a genius or complete idiot to say it.. Before Ball pilfering became the next big hit.. Just saying think about it. Another player who actually does remind me of a current McCaw type player – Josh Struuas. Huge desire to lead from front big ball carrier, solid tackles and ball slowing/pilpher abilities. Just stuck in that mess with the lions, look at Alberts and JF for examples when in a higher quality or more confident team outfit.

  • 44.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:50 am

    NZ should have just kicked, not sure what Nonu was up to

  • 45.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:50 am

    @BrumbiesBoy-38: He will be watching…..In fact, if the Argies manage to make a game of this, I expect him to appear on here shortly :)

  • 46.blik: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:50 am

    Are Argies better than people think?

  • 47.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:50 am

    TRY…..Pumas taking their opportunities

  • 48.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:50 am

    The crowd is stunned!

  • 49.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:51 am

    And this is against a howling wind. In the second half that wind will be behind the Pumas.

  • 50.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:51 am

    Guns you talkng too much

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