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Much has changed since Los Pumas last two test tour of New Zealand in 1997

Marcos Kremer of Argentina pushes Shannon Frizell of the All Blacks during the 2020 Tri-Nations rugby match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Argentina Los Pumas at Bankwest Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

That tour in 1997 was a really hard one for Los Pumas. Five games, two tests and the tour opener against the always strong New Zealand Maoris.

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The understandable loss in Napier against a Maori side led by Errol Brain was the start of a tour that had one win as scant reward, under heavy rain in Nelson, 48-10 against Nelson Marlborough.

Flying over the Cook Straight was a forewarning of what would happen later that week – the four or five small Air New Zealand planes that transported the squad moved and shook in one of those regular storms that hit the southern and northern tip of both islands.

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Even if the test at the old Athletic Park was played under the sun, it was a dark day for Argentine rugby, with the 93-8 loss leaving a group of players perplexed and unable to understand what had hit them. They were certainly moved and shaken.

Taranaki beat them midweek and the second test, a night game in Hamilton, was a more decent loss: 62-10.

Argentina had some very good players, namely Lisandro Arbizu, Gonzalo Quesada, Nico Fernández Miranda, Rolando Martin, the huge locking duo of Germán Llanes and Pedro Sporleder and Mario Ledesma, who played his first major test in Hamilton.

The All Blacks were one of the best teams in history: Olo Brown, Sean Fitzpatrick and Craig Dowd, Ian Jones and Robin Brooke; Josh Kronfeld, Taine Randell and Zinny; Justin Marshall and Carlos Spencer, Tana, Lee Stensness and Frank Bunce, Jeff ‘Goldie’ Wilson and Christian Cullen. Enough said.

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That was the last time Argentina played two consecutive tests against New Zealand.

That was the start of professional rugby in Argentina, maybe not in the pocket. Certainly in the mindset and big thanks must go to the iconic Grizz Wyllie.

It might have taken a few years for Los Pumas to find their feet in test rugby and 23 years for their first win against the All Blacks, but 2022 is a totally different scenario. Not that this means the task is in anyway easier.

Much has been said about the current state of the men in black; they really had their backs against the wall, probably like never before for this current crop of players. They responded.

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Boy did they respond.

Los Pumas are showing signs of getting better with each game since the start of the season.

Yes, it is great to look down on the rest of the teams from the top of the table, but it is momentary gratification. Movement is expected over the weekend.

Pablo Matera was only four years old when Argentina played those two consecutive tests in New Zealand in ‘97. He will feel at home this first week in Christchurch, a city he called home from late last year until the end of a winning Super Rugby campaign.

Eyes were on him when, as captain, he was instrumental in the 25-15 win in the Bankwest Stadium in Sydney in 2020. The 25 points were all scored by the absent Nicolás Sánchez, but Matera was the leader that was needed in such a game.

His time later spent in Christchurch will have proved very important for him, as a leader without the captaincy, learning about the rugby culture in the country, training and rubbing shoulders with many of his rivals over the next couple of weekends.

Knowing where the best coffee shops in Christchurch are will come handy, but what he learnt in the inner circles of the Crusaders could prove crucial.

Flying, so far, under the radar is assistant coach Felipe Contepomi. The Leinster attack coach for four seasons is very much respected by Michael Cheika.

His heir apparent, has not only worked with one of the best clubs in the world but should have been in close contact with Joe Schmidt, sharing plans and working together for the benefit of Irish rugby.

Both have moved back to their own countries and now they face each other. Again, Felipe will know what to expect from a team with Joe onboard. As with Matera, the All Blacks will also know what Contepomi and Cheika, a regular opponent for almost a decade, can bring to the party.

I don’t expect the All Blacks to win by 50 as Hamish Bidwell wrote earlier in the week; it is also hard to bet against a side that is on the mend and has the urgent need to regain the confidence of a country.

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But Argentina is on the rise, have taken a lot of positives from the shared series against the Wallabies and, if anything, this Rugby Championship format is much friendlier to them that those in previous years, when they seemed to be on a long-haul flight every fortnight.

Can Los Pumas beat the All Blacks in either of the two upcoming tests? Now that the hoodoo of never beating the All Blacks has been broken, and given their recent game-by-game growth, there is confidence in the camp.

One minute at a time, for eighty minutes.

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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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