Get Newsletter

Puma passion not enough for All Black skill

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: New Zealand showed just how large the chasm between them and the rest of the world is with a classy performance in a historic match in Nelson on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

They simply had too much class for a willing Argentina, winning 46-23 with a team that showed seven changes from their regular starting XV and suffered a few injury setbacks early in the encounter.

The All Blacks will be concerned about the injuries suffered to Brodie Retallick (knee & elbow) and Ngani Laumape ( serious knee injury) inside the opening 10 minutes.

However, the scary aspect of this game – which effectively sealed another Rugby Championship title for the All Blacks – is that the Kiwis feel they are nowhere near their best.

Captain Kieran Read, in his post-match reaction, said: “We are not quite where we want to be.”

Outside of the injuries, the dominance of the All Blacks’ set pieces – especially the rush of penalties at scrum time – often pulled the sting out of the Pumas’ passionate onslaught.

In the first 10 minutes, the All Blacks had almost 70 percent of the possession, but almost 80 percent of the game was played inside the New Zealand half.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yet the Kiwis held a 3-0 lead – a Richie Mo’unga penalty.

However, in the 15th minute, Los Pumas opened up the All Black defence on the left, with Ramiro Moyano scoring a sensational try. Nicolas Sanchez added the extras to give the visitors the lead.

However, that was short-lived – as the All Blacks kicked into a higher gear – with Shannon Frizell very prominent – and Nehe Milner-Skudder finishing off the move that reclaimed the lead for the hosts.

On the half-hour mark, Thomas Perenara sniped around a ruck – as the All Blacks turned up the furnace – to stretch his team’s lead.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bautista Delguy had a try denied by the TMO in the 35th minute, with Mo’unga finishing the half with a penalty to make it 18-7 at the break.

From the restart Argentina got themselves back into the contest in sensation fashion – a turnover several phases later flyhalf Sanchez slipped between two defenders for the visitors’ second try.

As was to be expected, the All Blacks hit back in the 49th minute – Ben Smith making the initial bust and Kieran Read finishing off in a move that was the epitome of All Black class. Mo’unga’s conversion made it 25-14.

Five minutes later Sanchez narrowed the gap to 17-25 with a penalty – becoming the highest points scorer in Argentinean rugby history.

Again the All Blacks responded a style – Anton Lienert-Brown busting the line and Perenara finishing off in style.

With just on 10 minutes to go Emiliano Boffelli and Sanchez combine for another sublime try – Sanchez committing the defence and Boffelli taking a no-look pass on his shoulder for a great score that kept them in the contest.

In true All Black styler they again raised the bar – Shannon Frizell scoring on his home turf after a period in which the Kiwis took the ball through 16 phases that had the 21,000 locals in raptures over the score by the Tasman player.

Jack Goodhue put the icing on the cake with a try in the 79th minute.

Man of the match: Augustine Creevy was, as always, one of Los Pumas’ most productive players and Javier Ortega Desio also produced an impressive display of skill and power. Nicolas Sanchez was the epitome of everything that was good about Argentina’s game. Richie Mo’unga was impressive in his first start and Thomas Perenara also used his opportunity of a rare start to make a statement to the coach and selectors. Ardie Savea did a mountain of work at the breakdown, including winning a crucial penalty early in the second half. Rookie All Black Shannon Frizell was sensational – extremely powerful with ball in hand and also showing some sublime skills – making an amazing 70-odd metres with ball in hand and his tackle count is well into double figures. That is why he wins our award.

Moment of the match: There was the Thomas Perenara try on the half-hour mark – a score which took New Zealand’s lead past three points for the first time in the match. However, the Nicolas Sanchez try two minutes after the half-time break got Los Pumas back into the contest when it seemed New Zealand was easing clear and contributed to a highly entertaining affair.

Villain: No villains in this match. Not even French referee Pascal Gaüzère – despite some strange rulings that confused both teams.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries: Milner-Skudder, Perenara 2, Read, Frizell, Goodhue
Cons: Mo’unga 5
Pens: Mo’unga 2

For Argentina:
Tries: Moyano, Sanchez, Boffelli
Cons: Sanchez 3
Pen: Sanchez

 

Listen to our latest Podcast below:

 

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.

Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment