Player ratings: Pumas fight to the end

Argentina were valiant in their efforts against the All Blacks and will be proud of their achievement – despite their disappointing 10-33 loss in the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday.

The Pumas will have had hope after scoring a try to take a 7-6 lead in the first half, before New Zealand rallied and too the game away from them in Auckland.

Argentina’s defence was very good for most of the match, but they didn’t have enough creativity with ball in hand.

Timmy Hancox rates the Argentinian players:

15 Martin Rodriguez:
Stepping runner with a cheeky jink to get past defenders, but was forced into making a lot of tackles at the back.
6/10

14 Gonzalo Camacho:
Great cover defence. Not afraid to tackle for a smaller backline player, knocking bigger men backwards at close quarters.
6/10

13 Marcelo Bosch:
Outstanding long-range kick for goal, but wasn’t able to add enough on attack and missed a few tackles.
5/10

12 Felipe Contepomi:
The dynamic playmaker looked to be trying too hard to be the team’s star and was far below his best and unable to cope with the physicality of opposite number Ma’a Nonu.
5/10

11 Horacio Agulla:
Had no opportunities out wide and made very little impact on the game.
4/10

10 Santiago Fernandez:
Was a brave tackler, but didn’t offer anything on attack to write home about.
4/10

9 Nicolas Vergallo:
A try-saving tackle on Kieran Read in the corner, a shocking pass over Fernandez’s head behind the tryline hurt and a yellow card for infringing at the ruck in a mixed bag from the scrumhalf. Other than a couple of errors, he did all the basics well and was a live wire.
7/10

8 Leonardo Senatore:
His pick up and break off the back of the scrum to set up first try was incredible and he threw himself into tackles around the fringes.
7/10

7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon:
Battled at breakdown and was a willing ball-carrier, although he was out-muscled by the All Blacks’ forwards.
6/10

6 Julio Farias Cabello:
Scored a try by bursting through a tackle by the fringe of ruck, but wasn’t able to compete on the ground at the same level as Richie McCaw & co.
6/10

5 Patricio Albacete:
A fairly ineffective game and wasn’t great in the line-outs, he’ll be disappointed not to have added more.
4/10

4 Manuel Carizza:
Made a lot of tackles and got involved at the breakdown before going off injured late in the game.
5/10

3 Juan Figallo:
Held his own in the scrums without really imposing himself.
6/10

2 Mario Ledesma:
The veteran forwards co-ordinator was full of heart and left the field in tears in what will probably be his final match for Argentina at 38 years of age. Did well around the rucks, but couldn’t direct his line-out throwing.
6/10

1 Rodrigo Roncero:
Had Owen franks in some trouble at scrum time and made some telling tackles, but ran out of steam early and went off just before half-time.
7/10

Replacements:

16 Agustín Creevy (On for Mario Ledesma, 69th min):
Not enough time to be rated.

17 Martin Scelzo (On for Juan Figallo, 61st min):
Not enough time to be rated.

18 Marcos Ayerza (On for Rodrigo Roncero, 39th min):
Was fairly anonymous and had a quiet game.
5/10

19 Alejandro Campos (On for Manuel Carizza, 62nd min):
Not enough time to be rated.

20 Alfredo Lalanne (On for Nicolas Vergallo, 48th-52nd mins):
Not enough time to be rated.

21 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino (On for Martin Rodriguez, 68th min):
Not enough time to be rated.

22 Juan Jose Imhoff (On for Horacio Agulla, 49th min):
Some great defence to stop a certain try and offered some speed out wide, but had very few touches of the ball.
6/10