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All Blacks bounce back to thrash Pumas at Eden Park

Damian McKenzie of the All Blacks. Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images

Rain fell in a steady stream over the All Blacks‘ hallowed turf of Eden Park as the hosts searched for their first win of The Rugby Championship against an energised Argentina, fresh off their second-ever win over the Kiwis on New Zealand soil.

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With a 30-year unbeaten run at the famous venue on the line, the result was all but secured by halftime for Scott Robertson’s men. A 32-point lead at halftime would remain after a quieter second period in Auckland for a full-time score of 42-10.

The weather played its role from the outset with an early knock-on from Argentina allowing Beauden Barrett to make a searching clearance into space in the Pumas backfield.

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Play then remained mostly in the Argentinian 22 for the opening five minutes, until the All Blacks’ third lineout in the spell saw a well-executed wrap-around from Ethan Blackadder and Codie Taylor get the team on the front foot. A few phases later, Jordie Barrett dropped a kick over the defensive line from just 10 metres out and it was a race between Damian McKenzie and the dead ball line, which the All Black won, before converting his own try.

Los Pumas made their way into All Blacks territory after play resumed and after more scrappy handling from both sides, it was a no-arms tackle from Tyrel Lomax that handed the visitors their first shot at the posts from the friendly angle.

Another lineout drive from the All Blacks had them knocking on Argentina’s door just minutes later, and who else but Ardie Savea to provide the carry to see them over the line. McKenzie flirted with the shot clock’s expiration but added the extras with just moments to spare.

Down 11, Argentina looked to return the favour with some powerful work up front, but it was the Kiwis who came away with the penalty. The ensuing scrum was dominated by the men in black and a clean exit was accomplished.

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22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored
3.5
12
Entries
Avg. Points Scored
1
7
Entries

Two consecutive charge-downs in open play from Jordie Barrett sent Argentina’s exit flying backwards towards their own try line, and after an attempt to find the wide channel was run down by Codie Taylor, Tupou Vaa’i won his side a bizarre intercept when Gonzalo Bertranou assumed he was offside.

The hosts sent the ball wide themselves until Caleb Clarke found himself unmarked with a clear path to the try line. McKenzie again left it until the very last moment to convert the effort.

Shortly after, TJ Perenara found a gap down the blindside after another strong New Zealand scrum, threading the needle with an offload to Will Jordan who had the pace to find the line in the corner. The try and conversion made it 28-3 with half an hour played.

McKenzie continued to pull the strings as playmaker, taking a monster hit as he found Beauden Barrett running an immaculate line that carved straight through the defence and led to a try under the posts.

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With a final chance to respond before the half, the Pumas squared up for a lineout on the All Blacks’ 22 line, but more handling errors in the wet saw the half come to an end. Halftime score: 35-3.

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Within two minutes of the second period kicking off the All Blacks had added to their tally through Will Jordan. Powerful carries from captain Savea after another surging scrum earned the side momentum and the backline again had the nous to create a gap for one of their speedsters.

The rain had eased but a damp track meant some handling issues persisted for the visitors and contributed to their few attacking opportunities going awry.

10 minutes into the half Argentina finally managed to pull some phase play together, and after consecutive penalties from the hosts Ardie Savea was warned to tidy up his side’s discipline.

The Pumas battered away on the All Blacks line but ultimately could not get the ball onto the chalk, and they quickly found themselves back in their own 22.

Attack

143
Passes
132
110
Ball Carries
129
284m
Post Contact Metres
130m
9
Line Breaks
3

The rain returned an hour into the Test when points had become hard to come by. The hosts maintained the upper hand at set piece but execution was lacking.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes, the Pumas found some attacking momentum with physicality in tight carries. Consistently making it over the gain line, the visitors patiently chewed through the meters before Juan Cruz Mallia was put through a gap and scored his team’s first try of the game.

The visitors looked to continue their attacking momentum but struggled to get into the right areas of the field. That was until Asafo Aumua was yellow-carded for a hit on Mateo Carreras which saw the winger head to the bench with an ice pack on his ribs.

With the one-man advantage, Argentina again went to their tight carry game but another handling error ended the attack early. Some frantic play brought the game to a close. Final score: 42-10.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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