All Blacks wary of Maradona factor
The All Blacks are bracing themselves for an emotionallycharged Argentina performance in Newcastle today in the wake of the death of national icon and passionate Pumas fan Diego Maradona.
In many ways what they’re expecting from their opponents in their season finale at McDonald Jones Stadium contrasts with the New Zealanders’ own approach heading in. They have identified discipline – keeping cool under the pressure of the inevitable niggle that will come – as one of the key elements in an effective bounceback performance.
The All Blacks, of course, lost for the first time to Argentina when the two teams clashed in Parramatta a fortnight back – a match notable for the Pumas bringing the greater intensity and effectively bamboozling the New Zealanders with their physicality and suffocating defence.
Now, after the death this week of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, no one in the All Blacks camp is expecting anything but another passionate Pumas showing.
Argentina coach Mario Ledesma made that clear enough himself this week when he spoke about the impact Maradona’s death had on his team as they prepared for a third test on the bounce and their own penultimate Tri-Nations fixture.
‘‘He loved the Pumas, he’ll be watching for sure,’’ Ledesma told media on Thursday. ‘‘He came to many games, and he came once to our changing-room after a game against the All Blacks in La Plata; we’d lost on the last ball.
‘‘He had an attraction ... the world stopped when he was there; he was like magic.’’
Though the modern players knew Maradona more by legend and old video clips than from first-hand
experience, Ledesma said they would still be desperate to honour his memory.
‘‘He’s still a big figure in our country and he epitomised a lot of the way the Argentinians are. We’re trying to remember him the best way possible, which was on the field, representing these colours. He was an example of how you should play for this jersey.
‘‘It’s a big opportunity that’s in front of them to keep building the culture of the team, keep building the identity of this team, keep playing for the most beautiful jersey in the world and maybe the results will be a consequence of what we do day-in, day-out.’’
All Blacks coach Ian Foster said his team could not afford to get dragged into any emotional consequence of the Maradona mourning period.
‘‘Clearly it’s a sad day for Argentina as a nation and all we can do is commiseratewith them,’’ said Foster. ‘‘He is an iconic sport person and clearly had a lot of meaning for the people of Argentina, and we acknowledge that.
‘‘When this is your next big game off the track for that country it’s going to have some emotional [resonance]. That’s something they will deal with and have got to control.
‘‘We’ve got to control our own emotions. We’ve got plenty of determination to play for our country as well and represent our people and doing what we need to do to fix up a performance from two weeks ago is pretty high on our list.’’
Veteran All Blacks hooker Dane Coles said the All Blacks had to embrace the passion sure to be coming their way.
‘‘I suppose he is a symbolic figure in Argentina, and I know they’ll take a lot of pride and emotion in representing him, so they’ll be extra pumped up. And we’re pretty driven as well, so it’s going to be full of emotion which will be good.
‘‘They’ll go out and represent him, and they’re pretty passionate people anyway, so we’re looking forward to it.’’
Skipper Sam Cane said he was no football fan but understood the significance of the moment.
‘‘I’m aware he was one of the alltime greats, if not the greatest, and from my limited experience with the Argentinian people I’m pretty sure he’s viewed as a godlike figure over there. It’s always sad when a great passes away because everyone feels connected to the greats. I’m sure it will be a driving factor for them.’’