Pumas player ratings vs All Blacks | Rugby Championship
An untidy test match in pristine Christchurch conditions wrapped up with the visiting Argentinians securing their first ever victory on New Zealand soil, as well as reaffirming their position atop the Rugby Championship leaderboard.
The hero of the day was undeniably the Pumas’ defence. Their accuracy was matched only by their physicality as they made executing a rapid line-speed against the All Blacks look like a practice drill. The All Blacks were persistent in their phase play and made some progress down the field but it was the Pumas who looked the more composed team, rolling with the punches until an inevitable All Blacks mistake.
Argentina entered this game with the best set-piece statistics in the Rugby Championship but that was the one area where – at least for the majority of the match – NZ had the advantage. The scrum and the lineout were both huge strengths for the All Blacks, a positive sign for new forwards coach Jason Ryan.
Unfortunately for the All Blacks, their discipline did not compliment their set piece, giving Emiliano Boffelli plenty of opportunity off the tee. The winger took every opportunity given to him, ending the game six from six on penalties and one from one on conversions. Those points accumulated alongside a single try to Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso was enough to secure a 25 – 18 victory.
How the triumphant Pumas rate?:
1. Thomas Gallo – 4/10
The Argentinian scrum was well and truely demolished, to the extent rarely seen between tier one nations. Showed good mobility and efficiency around the breakdown.
2. Julian Montoya – 6.5
Was a strong leader and put in a big shift, but was also at the centre of a troublesome scrum, a shaky line out and a retreating rolling maul. Made a lot of tackles.
3: Joel Sclavi – 4
Ethan de Groot was all over him at scrum time. Gave away the penalty which lead to the All Blacks first try.
4. Matias Alemanno – 6.5
Showed up all over the place on defence, including an impressive desperation tackle on Richie Mo’unga.
5. Tomas Lavanini – 7.5
Contributed physicality and experience. Stayed out of trouble.
6. Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso – 8
When the commentary team mistakenly calls you Pablo Matera, it’s safe to say you’re making good plays. Has a natural knack for being in the right place at the right time, reflective of his effort around the park.
7. Marcos Kremer – 9
Was the only player on the field who won every physical encounter he was involved in. Not just dominant and consistent, but timely. Was given the Ardie Savea assignment and did as well as anyone could; he had the All Blacks No 8 wrapped up the second he caught the ball throughout the game.
8. Pablo Matera – 8.5
Running, tackling, passing, kicking… This man is a threat in every facet of the game.
9. Gonzalo Bertranou – 7.5
Argentina’s game management was sublime, playing on top of the All Blacks in short bursts and wasting no time when front-foot ball was disrupted.
10. Santiago Carreras – 8.5
Incredible kicking throughout the match, getting maximum meters with every penalty and controlling the territorial game well.
11. Lucio Cinti – 6
Chased well, had limited opportunities. Contributed well to removing Will Jordan’s impact from the game.
12. Matias Orlando – 6
Was outmuscled consistently on both sides of the ball. Showed plenty of fight and work rate but was on the wrong side of momentous plays. Used his speed well to get in the way of the All Blacks’ backline play and force the first receiver to take the tackle when they were looking to spread the ball wider.
13. Matias Moroni – 7
Operates well within David Kidwell’s defence, playing just outside more physical defenders and contributing to the tackle but quickly returning to the defensive line. Was also exposed physically at times.
14. Emiliano Boffelli – 8.5
Converted all seven of his kicks from the tee, applying scoreboard pressure. His effort in contesting the kick-off led to Gonzalez’s try, stopping any momentum the All Blacks were hoping to build off their own try moments earlier.
15. Juan Cruz Mallia – 6.5
Had a few kicks that were beyond his chasers, yet not as territorially advantageous as he perhaps would have liked. Carreras seemed to manage most of the backfield play.
Reserves:
16. Santiago Socino – N/A
Played well in all of his 60 seconds on the park.
17. Marco Vivas – N/A
Went charging into tackles fearlessly, going very low.
18. Eduardo Bello – N/A
Michael Cheika was looking for some scrum stability off the bench, he did not get it.
19. Guido Petti – 7
Timely line out steal. Was strong in his tackles, often holding players up for long enough to stunt momentum and give his team time to set their defence.
20. Santiago Grondona – N/A
The replacement forwards did bring some success with the rolling maul off the line out.
21. Tomas Cubelli – 7.5
Was a real turnover threat when he came on. Managed to get the ball out of the scrum quick enough.
22. Thomas Albornoz – N/A
23. Santiago Condero – N/A
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
6 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept 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.
54 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.
6 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
18 Go to comments