'A totally different beast' - How the media reacted to the All Blacks' dominant win over Pumas
The All Blacks have all but secured the Tri Nations title following a 38-0 bonus-point victory over Argentina in Newcastle.
Under immense pressure after successive defeats, the All Blacks delivered the required response in their final test of the year that ensures they will return home in a much more positive frame of mind.
Here’s how media from around the world saw it:
‘Pumas drained, emotionally spent’
By Phil Lutton, Sydney Morning Herald
“From the start, this looked to be a very different All Blacks beast than the one that was tamed a fortnight ago. The carries had venom and that poise and crispness in attack, for so long a hallmark of their play, was back in a big way.
“After such elation when they stunned the All Blacks a fortnight ago, the descent back to earth for the Pumas was rapid. This was the first time they have never scored a point against New Zealand and they looked drained and emotionally spent towards the end of the contest.”
A new superstar is born
Sam Worthington, Nine.com
“How easy is this Test rugby caper?
PLAYER RATINGS
– Finn Morton ??? rates the ABs #ARGvNZL https://t.co/wAJgMI3NlV
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 28, 2020
“For 66 minutes the All Blacks ground away against Argentina and built a solid lead without ever managing to open the floodgates.
“Enter Will Jordan – wearing No 23 no less – the Kiwi super-sub who you will be hearing a lot more from.
“In just his second Test appearance off the bench, the 22-year-old outside back scored his first try in the 67th minute when he pounced on a loose Pumas pass and scooted half the field.”
World melts for ‘classy’ Maradona tribute
Following the national anthem, which the Pumas and their fans belted out, the All Blacks got in position to do the traditional haka.
The All Blacks have been praised for their touching tribute to the late Diego Maradona during their haka ahead of their Tri-Nations clash against Los Pumas in Newcastle. #ARGvNZL #TriNations https://t.co/JsmTOsCFap
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 28, 2020
But first, Kiwis skipper Sam Cane presented a signed All Blacks jersey with the No. 10 on the back was presented in the memory of Maradona, who passed away this week following a heart attack just two weeks after being discharged from hospital for a bleed on his brain, with three days of national mourning declared in the country.
“A great sign of respect here from Sam Cane and the All Blacks,” New Zealand legend Andrew Mehrtens said in commentary.
Great to see the @AllBlacks brothers show respect to the sporting legend that was Maradona ?????
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) November 28, 2020
A lovely gesture by the @AllBlacks in memory of the great Diego Maradona.#Maradona pic.twitter.com/ATYHLJprC2
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) November 28, 2020
Crazed panic to calm clarity
By Gregor Paul, NZ Herald
“The important thing about this crushing victory wasn’t necessarily the superb shift by Akira Ioane, the ball-carrying thump and set-piece work of the props or the magical contribution from Will Jordan. It was the control, the discipline and the patience.
“All the untidy and unconvincing rugby that the All Blacks played in their previous two tests wasn’t of itself the generator of the nation’s angst.
“It was the fact it was underpinned – caused even – by a sort of crazed panic that had everyone wondering whether these All Blacks had the maturity to play with the sort of calm and clarity that has defined their best teams.
“There was none of that wildness on view in Newcastle. This was a different sort of performance all together – one where there was cohesion and a sense of confidence, a real feeling that this young team learned an awful lot in consecutive defeats.”
‘Foster can take deep breath’
By Liam Napier, NZ Herald
“A definitive, statement performance that rectified all the wrongs this was not.
“It did, however, prove the All Blacks’ ability to learn and adapt. It also pushes the All Blacks to the top of the Tri Nations ladder, five points ahead of the Pumas and Wallabies, with a dominant advantage on points differential – 92 ahead of Argentina, and 100 ahead of Australia. The Pumas and Wallabies meet in the final clash next week.
“Two weeks after losing to the Pumas for the first time the All Blacks were a totally different beast, scoring five tries that allows under-fire head coach Ian Foster to take a big deep breath over the summer to reassess.”
‘It’s tough on Argentina’
All Blacks coach Ian Foster
“It’s been an immensely difficult year for everyone,” Foster, who came under immense scrutiny after the All Blacks dropped successive tests for the first time in nine years, said.
“I feel for Argentina they’ve been over here a long time with the commitment they’ve shown.
“A fortnight ago we’d just played our fifth test in six weeks and it was tough. You saw Argentina play their third test in three weeks and it’s tough. There’s been a lot of challenges for all the teams.
“For us there will still be a few niggly hurt moments, particularly the loss to Argentina, but at least we had a chance to fix it; to show that we can play, that this group is developing. We’ve got a bit more to go, we’re clear about that, but it’s a better way to finish.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments