Boffelli puts the boot into All Blacks
THE Pumas are on the prowl. After a record victory over T1 opposition last time out against Australia, they topped that in Christchurch yesterday with their first ever win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil.
No controversy or hard luck stories, Argentina were the better team on the night. The Pumas weathered a lively start by New Zealand, preyed on their hosts' ill-discipline and then produced some majorly good rugby after the break to establish and defend a lead.
There were many heroes, headed up by Emiliano Boffelli who has become arguably the best goalkicker in the elite game, but actually the key to the Pumas victory was their tigerish defence which was spearheaded by giant lock turned openside flanker Marcos Kremer who made 26 shuddering tackles.
New Zealand started in ominously dangerous mood and to restrict the All Blacks to just two tries was a fantastic effort from the Puma defence. Not only did they resist wave after the wave, but their discipline remained solid. Their completion rate on 205 tackles was 96 per cent and very few attacks can counter such resistance.
Even the volatile Thomas Lavanini, usually a penalty and yellow card machine, stayed focused and in the zone and what a player the big lock is when in that mood.
The contest got underway with a well struck 42m metre penalty from Boffelli but the Kiwis hit back with a lineout rumble try from the hardworking Samisoni Taukei'aho before the key period of the game as New Zealand went up through the gears and really challenged the Pumas.
Richie Mo’unga kicked another a penalty and then converted a well taken try by Caleb Clarke and another score might have opened the floodgate but Argentina remained steadfast in defence and New Zealand were ill disciplined at the breakdown.
Boffelli was on target with another three penalties, and it was all to play for as they ran down the tunnel just 15-12 down.
After the break, Argentina were much more energised and ambitious in attack and it was New Zealand's turn to defend. Initially they looked composed and another Mo'unga penalty stretched their lead to 18-12
From the restart though the Pumas, as they had done all game, challenged hard and the ball broke loose for flanker Gonzalez, enjoying a superb tournament, to sprint home from the 22m line. Gonzalez is one third of a huge but freakily mobile Pumas backrow that dominated their opposite numbers on the night.
Boffelli landed the conversion - of course he did and, as the Pumas took the game to the All Blacks, he also stroked over another brace of well-struck penalties to establish a seven-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.
It was close enough to be tense but in truth such was the Pumas excellence defensively that there was no sense that they would buckle as New Zealand began to run out of ideas.
The game was theirs and we await the rematch in Hamilton on Saturday. Win that and they really can challenge for a first ever rugby championship. What a time to be alive.