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All Blacks blitz Pumas to book place in Rugby World Cup final
SAINT-DENIS – With the hopes of a rugby-mad nation resting firmly on their shoulders, the All Blacks have overcome pressure, scrutiny and a historic pool stage defeat to book their place in the Rugby World Cup final.
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New Zealand secured their spot in the big dance for the fifth time after overcoming a valiant Los Pumas outfit 44-6 in Friday’s semi-final at Stade de France on a surprisingly dry night north of Paris.
As hours turned into minutes and the countdown for this highly anticipated knockout clash between two great southern hemisphere rivals continued to tick by, fans made their way into the Saint-Denis venue in their droves.
The Argentina fans set the tone with some passionate cheers and cries of support before the Test, but the All Blacks had thousands of supporters in their corner – only they seemed to be stewing in a state of nervous excitement as both teams made their way out onto the field.
Referee Angus Gardner called for time-on soon after, with Argentina playmaker Santiago Carreras kicking off the Test, but the All Blacks stumbled at their first hurdle.
Much as they did in last weekend’s blockbuster quarter-final against Ireland at the very same venue, the All Blacks looked nervous – far from what fans from the world over have come to expect.
Fullback Beauden Barrett cleared the ball from the kick-off, but it was a meaningless kick at best. Los Pumas mounted an impressive attack in return and it so nearly paid off for them. But a wasteful kick from Carreras gifted the New Zealanders a lifeline.
Knockout
11 - 12
Final
6 - 44
SF1
15 - 16
SF2
17 - 29
QF1
24 - 28
QF2
30 - 24
QF3
28 - 29
QF4
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New Zealand kicked again, but it was another poor exit from a Barrett – this time it was Jordie. The All Blacks were under more needless pressure.
Following waves of relentless attack, the Pumas took the lead through an Emiliano Boffelli penalty goal in just the fourth minute. The All Blacks were stunned, sure, but only for a moment. Test rugby is a marathon, not a sprint, after all.
Following a series of penalties after Argentina, New Zealand went on to score the opening try of the Test through electric wing Will Jordan. Playing with an advantage, flyhalf Richie Mo’unga threw a lofty cut-out pass to send his former Crusaders teammate over for the score.
Jordan played a key role in another try just five minutes later by sending Jordie Barrett over for a score in the corner.
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The All Blacks latched firmly onto their hard-fought lead, and while they didn’t concede any points for almost 20 minutes, the New Zealanders didn’t score any either.
Possession was split down the middle at 50/50 with the 30-minute mark rapidly approaching, but the Pumas statistically dominated the territory battle.
Argentina had their best try-scoring opportunity of the night late in the first term with Los Pumas building some well-worked attacking pressure with the try-line in sight. But their efforts were in vain.
The All Blacks’ rock-solid defensive wall stood firm as Los Pumas struggled to break through – but they didn’t walk away empty-handed. Another penalty to Emiliano Boffelli reduced Argentina’s deficit to just six points.
With half-time rapidly approaching, the semi-final battle tipped in the All Blacks’ favour once again as Mo’unga nailed a penalty in the 37th minute.
Attack 
182
Passes
214
153
Ball Carries
167
340m
Post Contact Metres
437m
6
Line Breaks
11
Shortly after, wing Mark Telea beat a handful of Argentine defenders to gift the New Zealanders one more try-scoring opportunity before the break. Flanker Shannon Frizell, rather casually, danced over out wide for the All Blacks’ third and final try of the first half.
But the All Blacks were even better after the break, and it quickly became clear that the full-time result was simply never in doubt.
Halfback Aaron Smith beat a couple of defenders to score a brilliant individual try just after the break. That score, it must be said, seed to suck the life out of the Los Pumas’ usually vocal supporters who were not sat firmly in their seats.
With the New Zealanders continuing to control the narrative on this fateful Paris night, they struck again through a familiar face in Shannon Frizell. The flanker had a double in a World Cup semi-final after crashing over from a pick-and-drive.
The All Blacks began to make some substitutions as they appeared to have almost certainly booked their place in the big dance. Codie Taylor was first, and then coach Ian Foster made mass changes – fullback Beauden Barrett jogged off with a well-earned smile.
While Scott Barrett was yellow-carded late in the piece, it was New Zealand’s night, and that wasn’t in doubt.
Another two tries to wing Will Jordan in the 61st and 74th minutes saw the All Blacks complete their dominant 38-point win over Los Pumas.
The horrors, heartbreak and disappointment of the 2019 semi-final defeat to England had been put to rest. For the third time at four Rugby World Cups, the All Blacks are off to the final.
Comments on RugbyPass
To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
4 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
4 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
4 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
4 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to comments