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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  • 201.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:41 am

    @Horings-163: Out of those 3, the most important: Ruan Pienaar IMHO. Depending on which version of Ruan Pienaar runs out today of course….

  • 202.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:41 am

    Hopefully new Zealand re-learned how to catch at half time.

  • 203.spartan: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:41 am

    This perfomance by Argentina could inspire Aus to a 4 try bonus point win

  • 204.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:41 am

    Howveryfuckingconvenient

  • 205.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:41 am

    wonder who this break will benefit, maybe the Argies won’t tire so quick with the extra rest? not sure, very amateur for the lights to go out though

  • 206.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:41 am

    @cab-198: counted all them chickens Cab? lots of time to go, if the Argies do pull it off I will be one of the first to congratulate them..

  • 207.grant10: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:41 am

    cool….sorted….now go moer them argies

  • 208.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:42 am

    An enthralling contest, a change in tactics needed with Abs using the pick and go more…..and perhaps abit of glue to eliminate handling mistakes.

  • 209.Narutokun: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:42 am

    Duck worth Lewis going to play a part!!! Lol

  • 210.onerb: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:43 am

    Ref taking no kak from ab, love it

  • 211.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:43 am

    @Big Hit-205: Reminds me of a certain game in the 1995 RWC here in SA (same sort of weather as well…)

  • 212.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:43 am

    Bloody farce

  • 213.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:44 am

    Kiwi scrum really battling.

  • 214.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:44 am

    All Blacks have left more points on the field in the last 3 tests than they have scored all season. Romain Poite is A Typical French ref during scrum time.

  • 215.onerb: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:44 am

    Mccaw throwing a tantrum

  • 216.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:44 am

    @Puma-164: can’t bemoan my spot in life Pumes. All good. Heading up to Knysna tomorrow. After a morning ride in the vineyards here. Be a fools to complain.

  • 217.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:44 am

    @Te Rangatira-208: kia ora te ranga…

    argies putting big hits on ya boys ;)

  • 218.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:44 am

    Ref is keeping the blacks accountable, must be a first for them.

  • 219.cab: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:46 am

    Popps
    fingers McCaw almost certainly behind the power outage – seems like barnesey will have to watch him on and off the pitch – this is v poor form by the ABs to try win in this way.

  • 220.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:46 am

    Poor decision by Argies, poor all round attack by abs.

  • 221.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:46 am

    Messam should never have been dropped. Far more stones than Vito.

  • 222.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:47 am

    Tonight of all nights kiwis decide to remind everyone that they third world

  • 223.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:47 am

    AB’s certainly playing closer to the forwards now. Patience game in the 2nd it seems.

  • 224.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:47 am

    @cab-219: haha ok Cab, have another sip of the conspiracy muti mate..

  • 225.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:48 am

    who was that bearded samoan?

  • 226.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:48 am

    @Dawn-222: you mean like the two years of power cuts Capetown had Dawn?

  • 227.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:49 am

    In from the side? Wait he’s not kiwi, do play on.

  • 228.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:49 am

    Messam’s daytime job – Boswell Wilkie.

  • 229.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:49 am

    the argie was miles offside :-)

  • 230.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    Geezer McCaw looks out of it.

  • 231.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    @Transformation-217:
    Howzit Trans……fricken Argies playing it hard….causing Abs massive problems

  • 232.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    @Big Hit-225: Charlie Faumuina

  • 233.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    Slightly better by the allblacks, but still bad handing creeping in.

  • 234.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    still plenty mistakes by the men in black. Pressure from gringos in blue.

  • 235.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    @CSI:Rugby-227: ruck’s over when the 9 picks up the ball

  • 236.willievz: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    Just woke up…

    To this scoreline on such a beautiful morning !!!!!!!!!!

    :lol: :lol:

    VAMOS PUMAS!!!!

  • 237.grant10: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:50 am

    bloody hell this is a cool match ….

    Come on Argies….this may be the biggest upset since Clay vs Liston…

  • 238.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:51 am

    these argies are awesome!

    what a team.

    go ARGENTINA!!!!

    :lol:

  • 239.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:51 am

    ABs too passive in contact, they need to roll up the sleeves and get physical. Only way to mute a stout defensive line is to play this pick and go game.

  • 240.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:51 am

    Indeed pops

    Now maybe you quit slagging us off

    You not immune

  • 241.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:52 am

    @poppa69-226: No. We’ve been well lit Pops. 3 or 4 back certainly.

  • 242.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:52 am

    lmao Smith got emptied

  • 243.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:52 am

    what defence by JMH…

  • 244.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:52 am

    what a tackle argies!

    after a clear obstruction for nonus break.

  • 245.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:53 am

    Conrad Smith gets sold.

  • 246.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:53 am

    NZ setting themselves up again before spilling it.

  • 247.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:53 am

    @Transformation-229: Bakkies (bless his little heart) will be knitting Mr Pointe a matching scarf and beanie as thanks.
    If Bakkies praises the Argies, he will indirectly be praising Graham Henry….that should be interesting :)

  • 248.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:53 am

    That was a BOOM!

  • 249.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:53 am

    @Dawn-240: im just slagging off the conspiracy fools…seems anything that happens is set up for NZ? its laughable :D

  • 250.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 10:53 am

    what a hit on Smith. Bam. End of.

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