Pumas will pack a different punch
VIEWING FOOTAGE of the ominous Argentinian scrum should alone bring the All Blacks back to earth.
The Pumas in Napier this week are, indeed, a complete contrast to the Wallabies. There are no powder puff forwards among this steak-eating lot.
Few packs can steamroll the Springboks in the manner the Pumas did last week. Forcing the Boks to backpedal at such a rate in the scrums is no mean feat – the South Africans like to consider themselves bully boys, after all.
Last week’s Bledisloe Cup demolition was built on a similar, exemplary platform, along with the quest for retribution, but that must be parked or those standards will swiftly decline. ‘‘We’ve got to start again,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen demands.
‘‘If we expect to roll up and do that again we’re going to be in a lot of trouble. That doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work, both mentally and physically.
‘‘We’ve got to get ourselves in that same mental space we were in before we played Australia.
‘‘Whilst the scoreboard said it was a great performance and while we did some great things, there is still plenty of stuff we can work on. The reality is Australia didn’t turn up.’’ For these reasons, expect few changes to the starting team. Ma’a Nonu is on track to return from his shoulder bruising and should extend his record midfield pairing with Conrad Smith. Otherwise, though, the focus will again fall on the tight- five. Wyatt Crockett in particular faces an acid test at loose- head prop. ‘‘ Their scrum looks like it’s operating very cohesively,’’ Hansen notes.
‘‘I’ll be picking they’ll try and attack us there, as they have South Africa. We’ve always known they’ve been good scrummagers but it’s just taken them a little while to get used to the new rules. Now they’ve adapted they’re certainly back to their very best. They’re a different team to Australia all together.’’ Argentina are yet to register a win in the Rugby Championship but over the last two weeks lost by a combined nine point margin in home and away defeats to the Boks.
The Pumas seem to
struggle for belief when it matters most. Last week, they led by 12 points in the second half, only to fade in the final quarter.
In their third tilt at three of the world’s best teams, the 13 defeats and one draw record is predominantly the reason they sit a lowly 12th in the world. Still, there is ample evidence the South Americans are edging closer to a historic win over one of their Southern Hemisphere rivals. Encouragingly, new coach Daniel Hourcade has challenged the Pumas to embrace a two- fold threat. Scrum dominance and physicality remain the pillars but they appear to be finally breaking away from a one- dimensional reputation; more intent on retaining and keeping the ball alive through offloads. First five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez enjoys taking on the line; outside him the classy Juan Martin Hernandez boasts the full array of skills and centre Marcelo Bosch is an emerging star.
‘‘ They look like they want to play,’’ Hansen observes. ‘‘ When you’re getting a good platform like they have they’re going to be dangerous. It’s too early to be making big statements, but they seem to be looking to use the ball more.’’
For all their new-found endeavour, adopting an expansive approach against the All Blacks is fraught with pitfalls.
The Pumas best hope is to slow the speed of the game and hope to frustrate Hansen’s men.