New Straits Times

‘THE BEAST’

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It was a Test the All Blacks were never expected to lose and they won the try count six to one.

But they were made to struggle for long periods by an Argentinia­n side determined to prove they still belong among the leading rugby nations.

Los Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade rated it his side’s best performanc­e of the year after backto-back losses against South Africa.

But they lost their way when they had a one-man advantage with All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett in the sin-bin.

In the first half, as the All Blacks continued to suffer from the indecision and handling errors that plagued them in their last Test against Australia, Argentina were quick to cash in.

They led 16-15 at half-time and stretched the lead to 22-15 with two quick penalties at the start of the second half before Fifita’s try brought the All Blacks back into the game.

On a cold wet night, once the All Blacks had weathered Los Pumas’s initial onslaught, they put the first points on the board when Damian McKenzie scythed through the Argentine backline to put Nehe Milner-Skudder over for the try.

When Nicolas Sanchez replied with a close-range penalty, the All Blacks were immediatel­y back on the attack with Anton LienertBro­wn winning the race for the ball to score off a Beauden Barrett chip kick.

Los Pumas picked up another three points with a long-range penalty by left wing Emiliano Boffelli from a metre inside his own half and closed within one point at 10-9 with a second Sanchez penalty.

After Israel Dagg scored the All Blacks third try, Argentina came back to take the lead on the stroke of half-time, and from an All Blacks error when they lost a defensive lineout and Tomas Cubelli, a key player in the Argentinia­n attack, sent Sanchez over for the try.

Boffelli and Sanchez landed further penalties at the start of the second half before Fifita’s try which, with Lima Sopoaga’s conversion, levelled the score at 2222.

Sopoaga had taken over the kicking after Barrett had a woeful night in front of his home crowd, missing three conversion­s and being yellow-carded.

Damian McKenzie stretched the lead with the All Blacks fifth try and after a Sopoaga penalty, Barrett atoned for his errors with a late try.

 ?? AFP PIC ?? New Zealand’s Vaea Fifita (right) runs in a try as he is tackled by Argentina’s Santiago Cordero during their Championsh­ip match yesterday.
AFP PIC New Zealand’s Vaea Fifita (right) runs in a try as he is tackled by Argentina’s Santiago Cordero during their Championsh­ip match yesterday.

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