Argentina Crushed by Early New Zealand Blitz

Argentina were crushed by an early New Zealand blitz in Buenos Aires. The All Blacks demonstrated their abilities early on and had fun doing so, running-out 36-10 winners in front of a packed Estadio Vélez Sarsfield.

So good was new Zealand’s start that they had the win in the bag in the game’s opening quarter. Kieran Read, Damian McKenzie and Waisake Naholo all scored, doing so with ease. In rapid time Argentina was 22-3 down.

The tries were a combination of magic and intelligence. Captain Kieran Read made it look easy as he carefully positioned himself to catch the Pumas defense out matched. In creating an overlap quick play and great yardage enabled the No 8 to go over.

Try number two was by fullback Damian McKenzie. With Argentina’s discipline giving away regular penalties the fullback showed by intelligence. A quick tap with Pumas backs turnes saw him diving over, scoring at the base of the post.

Classic New Zealand play of a big winger bouncing off tacklers saw Naholo scoring. The Fijian-born All Black even received praise from the goal home fans.

Discipline was part of Argentina’s problem. Another component was technique and psychological. These combined resulting in Tomás Lavanini being yellow carded. The familiar offender made a no-arms tackle on Sonny Bill Williams.

New Zealand would also go down to 14-men. Flanker Matt Todd was the offender, yellow carded for collapsing an advancing rolling maul. Argentina was unable to make the advantage count, losing a 5 meter scrum to close the opening half. Before then, Read had scored his second.

Argentina opened the second half well. On three occasions the South Americans were within a meter of scoring. New Zealand was able to hold them off, as impatient play rather than raids saw Argentina halted.

Ten minutes in and New Zealand lost their captain to a yellow card. A dangerous tackle on Matías Orlando saw Read off for ten minutes. Mutual respect from the players saw a handshake immediately following the incident.

With Read gone his opposite scored for Argentina. Playing in his 80th cap, Juan Manuel Leguizamón went over from close range, diving over his team’s own ruck. Nicolás Sánchez added the conversion to make it 29-10. Minutes later Naholo hit-back, only for the try to be called-back for a forward pass.

The early blitz Additional opportunities presented themselves. The 67th minute yellow-carding of replacement Ramiro Herrera hurt Argentina though Juan Martín Hernández soundly organized his team.

With time up Guido Petti was forced off though a shoulder injury. No replacement entered for him and New Zealand took the opportunity to score from an attacking scrum. Debutante David Havili went over with time up giving New Zealand a 36-10 win.

Havili’s try would remarkably be New Zealand’s first score of the second half. It was New Zealand’s fifth and saw the Rugby Championship winners again collecting a Bonus Point.

Argentina face Australia in the final round next Saturday in Mendoza. New Zealand, meanwhile, will face South Africa in Cape Town.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA 10
Tries – J. Leguizamón
Cons – N. Sánchez
Pens – N. Sánchez
Yellow cards – T. Lavanini, R. Herrera

NEW ZEALAND 36
Tries – K. Read 2, D. McKenzie, W. Naholo, D. Havili
Cons – B. Barrett 4
Pens – B. Barrett
Yellow cards – M. Todd, K. Read

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Lucas Noguera Paz

Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Santiago Cordero

NEW ZEALAND
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (Capt.), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Kane Hames

Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 David Havili

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

 

Attendance: 31,000