Test mixes immaturity

Better accuracy required as fantastic start unravels into frustrating second half

Chalk up the scrappy nature of the All Blacks in Argentina to continued growing pains. Like an infant experiencing teething issues so, too, is this All Blacks team progressing through the development stages.

Victory over the Pumas in Buenos Aires, on a day when another Rugby Championship title was clinched, was never in doubt but also won’t be 36 10 World Cup. Combined with managing workloads in another long campaign, that’s why five starters, all of whom are expected to return against the Springboks on Sunday, were left at home.

It’s also easy to forget the All Blacks have already lost starting front rowers Owen Franks and Joe Moody, and vice-captain Ben Smith is on sabbatical.

Fringe players, who, with mixed results, savoured the chance to step up, should absorb the contrasting blend of game time, lessons and confidence. Long-term, that should prove invaluable.

But is it any wonder there were elements of immaturity mixed with fleeting brilliance?

Beauden Barrett and man of the match Damian McKenzie were to the fore on the magical attacking front early, combining to allow Waisake Naholo and Kieran Read to cash in. But it didn’t last.

The reality is the level of opposition in the Rugby Championship is not what it used to be. When the All Blacks are challenged mentally, as they were against the Boks in Albany, they tend to produce their best.

When they expect to win and achieve dominance too easily, they can be overly flamboyant in their approach.

The All Blacks needed to click for only half an hour to easily put away