New Zealand were pushed hard, but showed their class to record a 28-9 win over Argentina in a Rugby Championship outing in Napier on Saturday.
The game - which turned on two crucial tries, one either side of half-time - showed why New Zealand are favourites to become the first team to retain the Webb Ellis Cup at the World Cup next year.
Rain came down heavy from the outset, but let up occasionally. And there is plenty to discuss and debate, such as the match officials.
When the New Zealand commentators have a go at the referee for his horrendous mistakes against the Pumas, then you know the match official had a bad day at the office.
But the clueless clown with the whistle is not the reason why New Zealand won.
The All Blacks simply had too much class and would have won regardless, even though the scoreline may not have been as skewed.
Jan de Koning rates the New Zealand players!
15 Israel Dagg:
Certainly not flawless, although the conditions played a role, but his willingness to attack from deep and general sound play in the last line of defence made it another fullback masterclass.
8/10
14 Ben Smith:
Game wasn't flowing his way, so he went looking for work and made all his tackles.
6/10
13 Conrad Smith:
Great grubber for Julian Savea's first try and was flawless on defence. Words don't always do justice to his class.
7/10
12 Ma'a Nonu:
If you look at his stats it may seem he had a quiet game, but it was his work off the ball and a couple of turnovers that were most impressive.
7/10
11 Julian Savea:
That late shoulder charge put a cloud over what was otherwise another great performance - which again put on display his great finishing ability.
7/10
10 Beauden Barrett:
Showed his skills from early on, with a neat chip-kick that exposed the Argentinean defence. You can look at some of his missed kicks at goal, but his ability to put the ball behind the Pumas' defence and put them under pressure - including vital tries by Liam Messam and Julian Savea either side of half-time - is what made him so valuable.
10/10
9 Aaron Smith:
There are so many positive things to say about him, but the most impressive was the pin-point accuracy of his high bombs.
8/10
8 Kieran Reid:
What is there to say that has not already been said - perhaps that his line-out work is underrated.
7/10
7 Richie McCaw (captain):
Put his body on the line, as you have come to expect of him, while also putting on display his amazing array of skills - and, of course, the occasional penalty that he concedes as he pushed the envelope and a couple of slipped tackles.
7/10
6 Liam Messam:
Pulled a muscle in scoring a crucial first-half try - made a handful of tackles, slipped just one, and won a couple of line-outs.
6/10
5 Sam Whitelock:
Left the field with a rib injury after 28 minutes. Had a couple of ineffective runs, but made all his tackles.
6/10
4 Brodie Retallick:
Sublime skills on the ground and literally gave 'blood, sweat and even some tears' for the cause and his commitment is what makes him the world's best No.4.
8/10
3 Owen Franks:
Gave away a couple of penalties, costing his team some points and was constantly under pressure in the scrums.
5/10
2 Dane Coles:
His workrate remains his most impressive attribute, especially on defence.
7/10
1 Wyatt Crockett:
Produced a great workrate, but conceded his usual batch of penalties and was under pressure in the scrums.
6/10
Replacements:
16 Keven Mealamu (on for Coles, 65th min):
Worked hard on defence.
6/10
17 Ben Franks (on for O Franks, 65th min):
Made all his tackles and stood his ground in the scrums.
6/10
18 Joe Moody (on for Crockett, 58th min):
Conceded a penalty and had a poor workrate.
5/10
19 Jeremy Thrush (on for Whitelock, 28th min):
Made the most of his additional time on the field with some strong carries and made 13 tackles, without slipping any.
7/10
20 Sam Cane (on for Messam, 43rd min):
While his carries were not all as effective as was expected, it was on defence where he impressed.
7/10
21 TJ Perenara (on for A Smith, 73rd min):
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Colin Slade (on for Barrett, 55th min):
Nothing spectacular, but no mistakes.
6/10
23 Malakai Fekitoa:
Not used.------------------------------------------- Argentina came, they saw, but they failed to conquer - suffering a 9-28 loss at the hands of New Zealand in their Rugby Championship outing in Napier on Saturday.
Rain came down heavy from the outset and it was expected to favour the forward-orientated. That did not materialise.
There was drama, especially given the errors from the match officials.
When the New Zealand commentators have a go at the referee for his gross mistakes against the Pumas, then you know the match official had a bad day at the office.
But the clueless clown with the whistle is not the reason why Argentina lost. The All Blacks simply had too much skill.
Argentina's most potent weapon remains their scrum, while some of their backs have underutilized skills.
Jan de Koning rates the Argentinean players!
15 Joaquín Tuculet:
Could not fault him for his general play given the conditions, even though he slipped a tackle or two. Did seem to fade in the latter stages.
6/10
14 Horacio Agulla:
Lucky to get away with an early professional foul and also missed some tackles. Workrate was poor.
5/10
13 Marcelo Bosch:
Very quiet game by his standard and reduced mainly to a defensive role.
6/10
12 Juan Martín Hernández:
Showed that he played at flyhalf before, but also had his share of errors and missed tackles.
5/10
11 Lucas González Amorosino:
Was virtually anonymous for most of the game.
4/10
10 Nicolás Sánchez:
Showed his ability to read the game in very testing conditions, but his defensive frailties were exposed.
5/10
9 Martín Landajo:
Was involved in directing mauls and made a few sniping breaks. Argentina's most effective back.
7/10
8 Leonardo Senatore:
Showed some great skills at the back of the scrum, made plenty of tackles and even won a couple of line-outs.
7/10
7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón:
Showed some neat kicking skills and saved his team on more than one occasion. Solid defence.
7/10
6 Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe:
Maybe he didn't make many metres with his carries, but flawless on defence and won a good number of line-outs.
7/10
5 Tomás Lavanini:
Worked very hard on defence and won most of his team's line-outs.
6/10
4 Mariano Galarza:
Did the basics - making some tackles and winning a few line-outs. But disappeared at times.
5/10
3 Ramiro Herrera:
Some monster scrums, showed their performances against South Africa were not 'flash-in-the-pan'. Rest of his game could be better.
6/10
2 Agustín Creevy (captain):
His basics were acceptable and he made all his tackles. Steady, rather than spectacular.
6/10
1 Marcos Ayerza:
Showed why he is now rated as arguably the most powerful loosehead prop in the world. Also produced some impressive work on defence.
7/10
Replacements:
16 Matías Cortese (on for Creevy, 73rd min):
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Lucas Noguera Paz (on for Ayerza, 65th min):
Hardly noticed him.
4/10
18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (on for Herrera, 66th min):
Made no impact whatsoever.
4/10
19 Matías Alemanno (on for Galarza, 73rd min):
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Rodrigo Báez (on for Senatore, 65th min):
Was no factor in the game.
4/10
21 Tomás Cubelli (on for Landajo, 54th min):
Had a few ineffective snipes and made a couple of tackles.
5/10
22 Santiago González Iglesias (on for Sanchez, 73rd min):
Not enough time to be rated.
23 Juan Imhoff (on for Agulla, 65th min):
One run in which he made some metres, made one tackle and conceded a penalty.
4/10
Captain18,570 posts
06 Sept 2014, 18:13
#1
06 Sept 2014, 18:13#1
