Strong Opening Half Forgotten as Pumas Fall to New Zealand

A strong opening half is forgotten as Los Pumas lost 57-22 to New Zealand this morning. The round three Rugby Championship match changed dramatically in the second half. Argentina went from trailing 24-19 at half time to losing the second half by a score of 33-3.

With 50 minutes gone the scores were separated by just two points. A penalty from Pumas fly half Nicolás Sánchez made it a 24-22 match at that point. It would be Argentina’s final points though while New Zealand would cross for five tries.

It may not have served justice to how Argentina performed but the final score was nonetheless explanatory. Argentina had chances and took some of them. In comparison New Zealand had a similar number and took all of them. A slight gap in defense was enough for New Zealand to score and that they did.

The final total read eight tries by New Zealand and one to Argentina. The Pumas tries came early on, being the first points of the match. In just the second minute Santiago Cordero scored under the posts. The left winger was put over in a team try. Having gained a half break Joaquín Tuculet managed to offload upon being tackled to the ground. He found Matías Orlando who attracted defenders to put Cordero over untouched.

New Zealand’s first try came after 10 minutes. From a set move winger Julian Savea want over for his ninth test try against Los Pumas. Barrett added the conversion but Argentina hit back through Sánchez. Two penalties from the Tucumán star gave Argentina a 13-7 lead after 18 minutes.

Following a missed Barrett penalty New Zealand scored their second try. Following good work from Savea Aaron Smith combined with Ben Smith to send the latter over. It made it a 14-13 scoreline after 24 minutes.

Sánchez restored Argentina’s lead two minutes later only for New Zealand to cancel it out. Winger Israel Dagg was asked to kick a long range penalty which he landed in the 32nd minute. Ben Smith then created a simple try for Barrett as he kicked through for the fly half to chase as Argentina’s rush defense was outsmarted in the simplest of ways.

The half time scoreline painted a picture of a match that either side could win. Argentina though lost both Juan Martín Hernández and Guido Petti. Hernández was forced off in the 38th minute and Petti in the 40th.

In the case of Petti he was forced off from a high tackle. Joe Moody was not penalized despite performing the tackle around Petti’s neck. It was a decisive blow for the South Americans.

Indeed the injuries worked against Argentina. With frontline players in their respective positions already missing too much was asked of Los Pumas. The tries simply rained with Ben Smith being the star performer as New Zealand demonstrated why they are feared so strongly.

Post match Agustín Creevy said “we had an excellent first half, but it is inevitable that they would grow this is what we lack to be the best.  In the second half we were unable to keep up and we committed errors due to being tired while they did not. We had to play the perfect game and unfortunately we were unable to do so”.

Argentina will now turn their focus to Australia. Los Pumas will depart New Zealand to fly to Western Australia where they face the Wallabies in Perth next Saturday. New Zealand will host South Africa in round four.

SCORERS

NEW ZEALAND
Try: Savea, B Smith (2), Barrett, Crotty (2), Faumuina, Romano
Conversion: Barrett (5), Cruden
Penalty: Dagg

ARGENTINA
Try: Cordero
Conversion: Sánchez (5)
Penalty: Sánchez

NEW ZEALAND
15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (capt.), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody

Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown

ARGENTINA
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Ramiro Moyano