New Zealand survive Argentina scare to maintain perfect Rugby Championship record
Argentina gave New Zealand a real scare before the All Blacks showed their world-champion quality in coming back to secure a 39-22 Rugby Championship win on Saturday.
The Pumas came into this clash in New Plymouth having never beaten their hosts in 24 previous meetings but with 50 minutes played they led 22-15 thanks to a full house from Nicolas Sanchez and two monster penalties from Emiliano Boffelli.
Beauden Barrett had failed to convert any of the All Blacks’ three first-half tries and his day did not get much better as he was sin-binned for the transgression that allowed Sanchez to give the visitors that seven-point advantage.
But without their influential fly-half on the field, the hosts were able to pull level thanks to a stunning try from flanker Vaea Fifita on his first start, a finish more in keeping with that of a back-line flyer.
Damian McKenzie’s try, the boot of replacement Lima Sopoaga and a score from the returning Barrett saw the tide turn further in favour of the home side in the closing stages to give the final scoreline a cruel twist.
The All Blacks will aim to maintain their perfect record in this year’s championship when they welcome South Africa next weekend, while Argentina will attempt to earn their first win against Australia in Canberra.
FT | A thrilling contest as the #AllBlacks run away in the second half to defeat Argentina 39 – 22 in New Plymouth. #NZLvARG pic.twitter.com/tqmXuWiIUD
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 9, 2017
Nehe Milner-Skudder’s last Test appearance came in the World Cup final two years ago but he wasted less than 10 minutes in celebrating his return, cruising over on the left following McKenzie’s break.
Sanchez’s boot got the visitors on the board but the All Blacks were quick to go back on the offensive and went over for a second time as a sliding Anton Lienert-Brown just managed to dot down Barrett’s grubber before it crossed the dead-ball line.
By way of response, Boffelli knocked over a penalty from inside his own half and the deficit was cut to one point after Sanchez slotted a drop-goal.
A sustained spell of New Zealand pressure resulted in Israel Dagg crossing on the right but Sanchez – who had been guilty of complaining to the referee instead of defending that score – redeemed himself almost immediately.
With the clock beyond 40 minutes, the All Blacks lost their line-out deep inside their 22 and the Pumas took full advantage, Sanchez crashing over before converting to give his side the narrowest of half-time leads.
Boffelli maintained that momentum with another massive kick early in the second period and although Sanchez subsequently missed from shorter range, Barrett saw yellow for the latest in a string of All Black infringements close to the line.
The Pumas took the easy kick and a 22-15 advantage rather than a scrum and it was a decision they were left to rue as Fifita, with seemingly little on, showed the pace and power of a winger to scorch round the outside of the defence en route to the left corner.
Sopoaga converted to level before missing a kick for the lead, but the hosts retained their composure and worked the ball left for McKenzie to dive over.
McKenzie was denied a second due to a forward pass following another scintillating Fifita break, but Sopoaga slotted a penalty and Barrett ended a mixed outing on a high as the All Blacks finished with a trademark flourish.
Comments on RugbyPass
I think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
21 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
21 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
21 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
21 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
21 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
21 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
87 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
21 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
21 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
21 Go to commentsHi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
87 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
3 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
4 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to comments