Preview: New Zealand v Argentina
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE: After six years in the Rugby Championship, Argentina believe they are finally maturing, know how to best use their Latin flair, and are looking to make an emphatic statement at next year’s World Cup.
On the eve of Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks in Nelson, Pumas captain Agustin Creevy and coach Mario Ledesma made a frank assessment of where their side is at.
“We’re growing up,” said Creevy, crediting Ledesma with instilling a more professional attitude which produced a convincing win over South Africa in their last outing.
“He changed our mentality. We were always at the same level but he came and put pressure on the training and that was good for us.”
The 33-year-old hooker, a veteran of nearly 80 Tests, has seen his side win just four of 35 matches since the four-nation Rugby Championship was established in 2012, with their innate desire to play free-spirited rugby never quite enough.
The victories were against Australia and South Africa but never New Zealand, although Creevy said that was not as important as building towards the World Cup in Japan next year.
“Obviously it’s sport and we want to win but now, promise, we want to do what we say we are going to do… next year is the World Cup and we want to be a serious team,” he said.
Ledesma, a prop who played 84 times for Argentina before retiring in 2011, spent seven years learning his coaching skills in France and Australia before returning home to guide the Jaguares to the Super Rugby play-offs for the first time this year and take over the Pumas.
The biggest lesson he learned was appreciating that Argentinians must have structure in their game to complement their natural flair.
“It’s a different mindset. We have a really different character. We ‘re a little bit more passionate,” he said.
“The bad side from that is we’re not used to respecting systems and processes and everything changes from one week to the other and obviously discipline was a major issue.”
After his hard-nosed approach was rewarded with a win over South Africa, the next problem was to curb his side’s natural inclination to celebrate and “not go over the top and be in too festive a mood,” Ledesma added.
“By no means do I want to change our DNA. It’s just that we have to put the other things on top – keep the way we are and make it better.”
Ledesma also poured cold water on high praise from the All Blacks about Argentina’s forward power, although it was an area he was trying to restore to its former glory.
“We’ve been struggling with the scrum for the last couple of years, no matter what everyone says over here,” he said.
“You build a house from the foundations up, not the other way round. We had all the skills and we could score beautiful tries but if you don’t have the foundations you cannot go anywhere.”
Argentina has played the All Blacks 26 times and lost 25 with one match drawn. At the World Cup, they finished third in 2007 and fourth in 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOAjA_QTa2A
Players to watch:
For New Zealand: With so many changes, there are plenty of players to watch. You start at flyhalf, where Richie Mo’unga gets his first start, as Steve Hansen continues to ‘build depth’ ahead of the World Cup next year. On the wing, Nehe Milner-Skudder is returning to the Test side for the first time since October last year. At loosehead prop Karl Tu’inukuafe – who returned to playing rugby due to a significant weight gain when he was working as a Security Guard – will look to continue his meteoric rise. Flank Shannon Frizell, in only his second Test start, is another looking to grab this opportunity to become a regular in the matchday 23.
For Argentina: It still feels strange to suggest that a team, once known for it’s stodgy, forward dominant play, now relies on fleet-footed backs for impact. There are plenty of those – Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, Jeronimo de la Fuente and most of all Nicolas Sanchez. The glue that keeps the team together is veteran hooker and captain Agustin Creevy – at 33 playing some of the best rugby of his career.
Head to head: There is class all over and some intriguing battles. With Ben Smith back to fullback for New Zealand, Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli will have to be at his brilliant best. The big showdown is at flyhalf – where Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand) will go on trial against the mercurial Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina). All Black Kieran Read will provide a stern test to Los Pumas No.8 Javier Ortega Desio.
Prediction: New Zealand remains undefeated against Argentina in Test rugby, having earned 27 wins and a draw from their previous 28 meetings. New Zealand has won their previous 14 games in their home nation against Argentina; however, the Pumas held a 16-15 lead in their last game against the All Blacks in New Zealand, the first time they had ever done so. This will be the first Test played at Trafalgar Park in Nelson since the 2011 World Cup, and just the fourth Test ever – the previous three games were decided by an average margin of 33 points, none of which involved Argentina or the All Blacks. New Zealand has won each of their last seven games in New Zealand, including their last five by an average margin of 35 points per game. Argentina will be looking to win back-to-back games in The Rugby Championship for the first time in what is their seventh campaign in the competition, after notching a 32-19 victory over South Africa in Round Two. Argentina has won just one of their last 10 Tests played away from home, picking up a 31-15 win over Italy in Florence in November 2017. New Zealand has averaged 740 metres gained per game this tournament, more than any other team – their 808m gained against Australia in Round Two was the most of any Tier 1 nation in 2018. Argentina has scored five first-half tries this tournament, two more than any other team in the competition; however, New Zealand (one) have conceded fewer tries in this period than any team and scored the most in the second 40 minutes (nine). Beauden Barrett has been directly involved in 13 tries in his last six Tests on home turf for New Zealand (8 tries, 5 try assists), and already leads The Rugby Championship in 2018 for tries scored (five). Only Australia’s David Pocock (35) has made more tackles in The Rugby Championship in 2018 than Argentinian duo Marcos Kremer (33) and Agustin Creevy (28, Kieran Read also 28). Most pundits suggest Argentina will give New Zealand a run for their money and they should – at least for the first 60 minutes. However, the final quarter will be decisive, as always, for the All Blacks – who should win by about 20 points.
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Luke Whitelock, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Chaparro Tetaz, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Garcia Botta.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Gaston Cortez, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia.
Date: Saturday, September 8
Venue: Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT, 04.35 Buenos Aires time)
Expected weather: Fine with light winds. High of 14°C and low of 2°C
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
@rugby365 & AFP
