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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  • 351.onerb: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:16 am

    Ref decided not to blow nz at rucks anymore. More of the same

  • 352.grant10: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:16 am

    just no Bonus point….asseblieftog

  • 353.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:17 am

    @willievz-348:
    Every player can have an off day dont you think?

  • 354.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:17 am

    Could have been a red card for second professional foul

  • 355.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:17 am

    @rangerman-350:

    Do you agree that it came off his outstretched hand and went down?

  • 356.onerb: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:17 am

    Forward pass

  • 357.Soda: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    Anyone else notice back in the first half (forward pass to Savea) that the tackling Argie intentionally bent Savea’s leg back? I’m predicting a citing.

  • 358.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    @Nils-335: well the boks are done with them so they are your problem now :lol:

    another try abs.

    well done.

    i back the argies to take the abs a lot closer at home.

  • 359.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    now that was a brilliant try. Absolutely sublime.

  • 360.grant10: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    farkit….please Argies….fight boys…

  • 361.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    pass looked forward

  • 362.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    Carter, rest up well, we will need you in a fortnight.

  • 363.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    Feckin Corey from the Hutts

  • 364.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    @rangerman-350:
    I have, he went to tackle the player, got the player and put the hand out to stop the next pass, simple. He stopped a try.

  • 365.willievz: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:18 am

    @Hurricane-353: Day off?

    He is a journeyman when things get slightly physical.

  • 366.nama1: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:19 am

    The fat lady starting to warm up.

    Great try.

    Weepu making the BIG difference. Who said he was finished?

  • 367.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:19 am

    Fatties ran out of steam as expected.

  • 368.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:19 am

    Was always going to be about the last 15min when the game opens up.

  • 369.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:19 am

    Great conversion

  • 370.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:19 am

    @Hurricane-353: Some Bok players have the luxury of being afforded 50 off games……

    Sidenote: Piri always looks a better player in an AB jersey.

  • 371.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:19 am

    @Big Hit-361:
    lol
    Can you see forward passes now?

  • 372.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:20 am

    Messam is a hell of a player to have coming off the bench.

  • 373.grant10: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:20 am

    Argies are brave okes….fearless…

  • 374.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:20 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-370:
    Yep.
    Piri coming on has looked better than Smith.

  • 375.Nils: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:20 am

    @rangerman-358: Agree on all counts here.

  • 376.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:20 am

    Fatties???????

  • 377.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:20 am

    @Pencil-355: yes.

    thats called a knock on.

    @Hurricane-364: and stopping a try or going for asn intercept is a yellow card?

    :lol:

    cmon man pull the other one.

  • 378.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:21 am

    Shoulder charge on Richie….what do you all think?

  • 379.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:21 am

    haha, reechee dived like a soccer ponce.

  • 380.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:21 am

    Agulla on McCaw :)

  • 381.onerb: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:21 am

    Richie soccer dive mccaw

  • 382.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:22 am

    @Dawn-376:

    Yes, check the forwards…. lots of spare tubes… bad conditioning if you ask me.

  • 383.grant10: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:22 am

    heat on Heyneke….

    what a thriller in prospect in Perth…

  • 384.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:22 am

    Love the Kiwi commentators laughing at Ritchie :lol:

  • 385.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:22 am

    @rangerman-377:

    and do you think he had a legitimate chance of catching it? Did it look to you like he was trying to? if not, then that’s a yellow card offence.

  • 386.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:22 am

    @Hurricane-378: dont waste your time Hurri, theyve all been deflated because the Argies arent going to win now… very brave effort and they should be proud,,

  • 387.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:23 am

    and then got up in a huff.

    even the kiwi commetators had a laugh :lol:

  • 388.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:23 am

    @rangerman-377:
    lol
    Does not matter. Knocked it down in the process…..yellow card. It has been called.
    The rule is a line call anyway.

  • 389.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:23 am

    It was a legit yellow card, look at the replay, his hand slapped the ball down, interception effort our attempt, hand slaps ball in upward motion.

  • 390.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:23 am

    So the ABs are allowed to throw forward passes and skew line out feeds are also ok if you’re an AB.

  • 391.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:23 am

    @Robzim-382:

    They make even the AB scrumhalf to look like a balerina on diet.

  • 392.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:24 am

    @Pencil-385: seriously bud, that was bs.

    ruined the game imo.

    haha, reechee giving away penalties now, a little gwumpy after seeing his backside :lol:

  • 393.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:25 am

    @CSI:Rugby-389: how can you slap a ball down in an upward motion?

    :lol:

    no man, thats hilarious.

  • 394.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:26 am

    When does the Aussie game start?

  • 395.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:26 am

    so seems Mallett and Mitch got their predictions spot on pre-game. Know their stuff suppose.

  • 396.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:26 am

    @rangerman-392:
    That call ruined the game???
    lol,maybe for someone thats preying for an Argie win.

  • 397.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:27 am

    anyways, the yellow aside i have enjoyed the game.

    well done abs.

    must get ready for the real event.

    have a good one and well done abs again.

  • 398.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:27 am

    So, with all the AN discrepancies pointed out by our massive fan base in the republic, do we remain silent on the argie play because they played a mighty game of rugby away from home? Give yourselves a wrap lads.

  • 399.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:27 am

    The game absolutely hinged on that dubious yellow card, and that leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The game in Argentina will be very interesting indeed. Any ref will think twice about carding Pumas there.

  • 400.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2012, 11:27 am

    Piri pictured the ball as a mince pie and ripped it away from Argies

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