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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  • 51.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:52 am

    Mealamu threw better to the Argie jumper than Guinazu

  • 52.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:53 am

    Ref actually blowing indiscretions at ruck time from the Argies.

  • 53.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:53 am

    argies are spoiling :-)

  • 54.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:54 am

    Corey from the Hutts look good in slomo

  • 55.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:54 am

    The ABs are getting bullied!

  • 56.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:54 am

    NZ trying to maul against the Argies, not sure that’s the best course of action.

  • 57.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:55 am

    Watse spoiling.

    They out-muscling everyone in black

  • 58.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:56 am

    @Dawn-57: that’s how it looks, more power at the contact point

  • 59.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:57 am

    Got argiemauled back from their own tryline

    Classic

  • 60.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:58 am

    Argies have come to play, good stuff

  • 61.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:58 am

    When did the AB’s skills get so bad? Third game in a row I’ve been shocked at how inaccurate they are at the basics.

  • 62.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:58 am

    Samba tango whatever

  • 63.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:58 am

    Ref blowing AB indiscretions at ruck time properly too.

    Argies love this type of game.

  • 64.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 09:59 am

    @Dawn-57: side entry, falling on the wrong side, not rolling away.

  • 65.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:00 am

    Roncero broke Savea :)

  • 66.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:01 am

    Trans

    Thanks for that.

    Whatever.
    It’s working.

  • 67.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:01 am

    good kick Cruden, Argentina need to get their lineout sorted, I think they’ve lost 5 already

  • 68.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:02 am

    Breaking News: Bakkies caught cheating & kicked out of class…he was caught copying his classmate’s recipe!

    He’s on his way home now…

  • 69.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:02 am

    @Big Hit-65:i f that was a kiwi you would have called it a head high tackle BH, we know your “impatiality”

  • 70.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:03 am

    Shame

    Conrad Smith was good looking before he started playing rugby

  • 71.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:03 am

    Good game, either turn up and compete or get embarrassed, So far argies doing all the playing

  • 72.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:03 am

    all black handling the pits…

  • 73.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:03 am

    beautiful kick hernandez

  • 74.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:03 am

    If the Pumas can keep the scoreline close at halftime they will have a very good chance of winning this with the wind behind them in the second half.

  • 75.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:04 am

    Once again AB’s dropping the ball as soon as they move it. They need some glue.

  • 76.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:04 am

    Roncero is far king breaking everyone!

  • 77.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:04 am

    A pin point kick.

    Morne take note.

  • 78.Horings: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:04 am

    So, do some guys agree that Argentina is not an easy game. If the argies are in this game with 30 minutes to go NZ will be in trouble. They are playing the 2009 Boks gameplan to perfection (Except for Botha, Matfield and Smith’s lineout dominance).

  • 79.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:04 am

    The Wallabies are going to lose to the Pumas home and away. Bye bye Robbie Deans.

  • 80.W.P: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:05 am

    Where are all these NZ supporting mofo’s who blew their loads when the Argies did the same to the Boks two weeks ago. They’ve all gone silent lol

  • 81.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:06 am

    Everyone hatching their eggs before they laid again?

  • 82.corporal punishment: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:06 am

    Doh, it’s raining!

  • 83.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:07 am

    @W.P-80: Im still here, watching an enthralling game..

  • 84.Horings: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:07 am

    Argentina is putting back the passion in this comp. Best decision Sanzar made in the last ten years (although they were forced into it).

  • 85.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:07 am

    Graham Henry will get lynched after this game.

  • 86.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:08 am

    Nonu shaves his eyebrows.

    Epic fashion fail.

  • 87.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:08 am

    Argentina have always had a great pack, when you play the best, you have to bring your best or get found out and embarrassed.

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

    Aaah Dawnie ur the only kind soul I managed to provoke reaction..

    Ok ok… Back to the real game at hand.

    Argies doing well questions is can they keep it up for 80 knowing the Kiwis have been the most spoilt I am terms of the least travel yet again..

  • 89.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:09 am

    If Argies get to the break trailing slightly it will be goo for them.
    They’ll be with the wind in the second half.

  • 90.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:10 am

    THAT was forward to Savea

  • 91.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:10 am

    glad that was an Arg pen as it was forward to Savea

  • 92.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:11 am

    miles forward(from the replay). Are officials blind

  • 93.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:11 am

    @TASSIES-90: indeed it was…

  • 94.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:11 am

    Guns, during game you are restricted to two sentences!

  • 95.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:11 am

    Suddenly the Boks are looking pretty good, ne?

  • 96.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:12 am

    It would seem the AB’s are more affected by the conditions than the Argies. AND they have that old Wellington blowfest at their backs. I’m wondering about the second half now.

  • 97.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:13 am

    AB players offside at the maul pulling Puma players off the maul in front of the referee.

  • 98.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:13 am

    @kaksioek-95: wouldn’t go that far :)

  • 99.onerb: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:13 am

    Great refereeing. Not taking the all black cheating. Very refreshing.

  • 100.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:13 am

    @poppa69-93: howzit Pops. You well mate? Observing things from the relative safety of Oz?

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