Five-try All Blacks wreak vengeance
THE All Blacks have all but secured the Tri Nations title with a five-try shut-out victory in Newcastle which moves them five points clear on the competition table.
To snatch the trophy, the Wallabies will have to beat the Pumas by 101 points next week in Sydney. Alternatively, the Pumas must defeat the Wallabies by 93 points after conceding four second half tries to the All Blacks.
Two tries in three minutes from replacement Will Jordan midway through the second half did the damage for New Zealand.
“We were not clinical. Too many errors when we got the ball,” said Pumas captain Pablo Matera. “Some silly mistakes in defence as well.”
After losing to Argentina and the Wallabies, the All Blacks entered the game on the back of two straight defeats for the first time since 2011.
Jordan’s tries came after hooker Dane Coles crossed for the only five-pointer of the opening half to give the All Blacks a 10-0 lead at the break. Ardie Savea and Patrick Tuipulotu put the icing on the cake. for the All Blacks.
The match was played in front of 10,000 socially-distanced spectators at the 33,000-capacity McDonald Jones Stadium because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Victory eased the pressure on New Zealand head coach Ian Foster whose future has been the subject of much debate.
“It’s extremely satisfying,” said All Blacks captain Sam Cane. “There’s no hiding that we’ve had a tough few weeks, we felt the pain of the losses and I’m really proud of the work we have put in the last two weeks.
“The way that the Pumas defended and kept us out numerous times is a real credit to their desire. But I’m proud of the way we were able to stay patient and we got there in the end.”
New Zealand paid tribute to Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, who died this week aged 60. Skipper Sam Cane laid an All Blacks 10 shirt in the centre circle before the All Blacks performed the prematch haka.
New Zealand had the benefit of a week’s rest while Argentina coach Mario Ledesma made ten changes from the side that battled back to draw with Australia last Saturday.
New Zealand’s determination was clear from the off and they thought they had an early score but Beauden Barrett’s try was ruled out because of a knock-on.
However, the pressure paid off and hooker Coles crashed over in the corner following a looping pass from Richie Mo’unga.
Mo’unga then raced through a gap in the overstretched Pumas defence and released Caleb Clarke but the winger’s thigh grazed the touchline before he touched down.
The All Blacks could have added further points to press home their firsthalf dominance – they had 75 per cent possession and needed to make onl 16 tackles to Argentina’s 90 – but Mo’unga’s penalty hit the post.
Argentina’s hopes were ended early in the second half when Savea powered over from a lineout move and then the floodgates opened as the Pumas tired.
Jordan, 22, picked up a loose ball to touch down his first try and two minutes later he intercepted a pass and darted down the wing to score his second. Second row Tuipulotu galloped over the line to finish off a brilliant team effort after the hooter had gone.