All Blacks 39 Pumas 22 - IMMEDIATE REACTION
- The All Blacks hit the kill switch, and used Vaea Fifita to pull it. His 40 metre try in the second half really was the turning point in the game, and after that the penalties started flowing in the All Blacks direction.
- First half full house. Nicolas Sanchez managed a pretty rare feat, scoring a try, conversion, two penalties and a drop goal in the first half alone. He’s the only player that I can think of that managed to do that in the first 40 against the All Blacks.
- Pumas showed just what they can do. This was their best performance all year, and they did it by playing smart, disciplined football – however that was only for half an hour. They leaked three tries before they came right, then lapsed into indisciplined rabble for the last 20 minutes.
- Beaudy’s kicking boots got left at his mum and dad’s. Beauden Barrett couldn’t hit the side of a barn tonight, and was the sole reason that the All Blacks were down at halftime. Good news was that Lima Sopoaga brought his, as well as a good game all round.
- Joe Moody’s run. Social media loves props running down the field, so get ready to see this one in your feed on repeat for next week.
- What did the Pumas have to do to get a yellow card? Beauden Barrett’s forgettable night included a yellow for repeated team infringements, but the Pumas seemed to be giving away about 12 penalties in a row in the second half.