Pumas hoping to make history

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina will try to pace themselves, looking to finish with more stamina, in their quest for their first win over New Zealand in their Rugby Championship match at Velez Sarsfield today.

The Pumas took more points off the All Blacks than in any previous clash when they scored 22 in their previous match in Hamilton three weeks ago, and were equal to their opponents for nearly three quarters of the game.

They were let down, however, by their failure to stay the pace for 80 minutes and lost 57-22, but hope to have learnt some lessons as they look to end a run of 22 losses and a draw against the All Blacks at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani.

“In the 60th minute I couldn’t catch my breath any more,” said loose forward Javier Ortega Desio this week. “We’ve got to be intelligent and not exhaust ourselves so much.

“In the heat of the match, playing well, going through phases, (doing) offloads from the ground, sometimes you overdo things and that’s not smart. Those are the bad decisions we’re making.”

The players are also well aware that in their two matches on the road in Australasia, including a 36-20 loss to Australia, Argentina’s usually strong defence was poor, shipping 13 tries.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, whose team beat South Africa 41-13 in Christchurch to clinch the title two weeks ago, is expecting his team to face the usual passionate support the Pumas enjoy at home.

Although his team have already sealed the title, Hansen is looking to consolidate depth in his squad while maintaining their winning momentum.

He has made four changes to the starting side, and nine in total.

“This weekend presents a massive challenge for us,” he said on Thursday.

It will be the teams’ seventh clash in the Argentinian capital, which is where the Pumas have come closest to beating the All Blacks, notably a 21-21 draw in 1985. – Reuters