Scott Robertson reacts to defeat in Argentina
REACTION: All Black coach Scott Robertson and captain Scott Barrett didn’t hide the magnitude of the All Blacks’ 23-29 loss to Argentina.
They acknowledged the home side’s passion and intensity proved too much on Saturday evening.
The Los Pumas stunned the All Blacks at Estadio Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, beating them on home soil for the first time since 1976.
For Robertson and Barrett, it was a humbling experience.
They had hoped to build on the scratchy 41-26 over the Pumas in Cordoba in the Rugby Championship opener a week earlier, they wanted to produce a statement performance.
“We practiced all week, we knew it was coming, aerially. New kick-offs. That’s a good question [about execution], I am not sure I can answer it right now, why,” Robertson added.
“We want to play with a lot more care than that for Codie [Taylor] and put a show on to finish this tour. And we didn’t get that. It wasn’t what we wanted; we are going to have to look deep.”
“They are a quality team, and we were outclassed tonight.”
Two yellow cards, to fullback Will Jordan and blindside flanker Tupou Vaa’i, didn’t help the All-Blacks’ cause, followed by right wing Sevu Reece late in the game.
“It certainly doesn’t help,” Barrett said in reference to the yellow cards.
“I thought we showed a lot of urgency to hold them out just before halftime. But we just didn’t have enough ball … Well done to the Pumas.”
It reduced the All Blacks to 13 men, and they did extremely well to ensure the score was level 13-13 at halftime.
“Three yellow cards, they kicked all their penalties,” Robertson noted. “We fought our way back into the game, but we weren’t holding the ball for long periods of time.”
The All Blacks will return to New Zealand to prepare for the Springboks in Auckland on September 6.
It shapes as a pivotal game for both teams. The Springboks want to win at Eden Park for the first time since 1937.
“We have got a week back at home, and I am sure there will be a bit of pain within this group,” Barrett added.
“Because we have a big challenge the following week, and we certainly need to bounce. You know, carry this, and certainly get better.”
