The All Blacks were shaken, waking to the reality that the pack is closing on them despite their dominance and unbeaten run in the Rugby Championships.
Yes, they were convincing winners against a determined but lackluster Wallabies in the Bledisloe showdown but their win against a vastly improved Pumas was only on the scoreboard as they battled to contain the foraging South Americans throughout a tense game over the weekend.
Against the Wallabies in game two, the All Blacks rallied to make my prediction of a possible upset or a boilover at Eden Park so far off the mark, it was embarrassing.
I certainly did not anticipate the individual brilliance of fly half Beauden Barrett whose silky skills wrecked any hopes the Wallabies entertained of springing a surprise, leading the way for an All Blacks riot as they sealed the fate of the Bledisloe for a 16th consecutive year.
Barrett’s effort saw him blitz the Wallaby defence on four occasions and underlined coach Steve Hansen’s faith in his uncanny ability to produce the unexpected despite his mediocre performance in the domestic tournament preceding.
His individual contribution of 30 points makes him the most lethal weapon in the All Blacks arsenal and signals another year as the most outstanding player in world rugby.
The Wallabies were given a rugby lesson at Eden Park and the expectation of a close contest after Sydney evaporated early as the marauding All Blacks stamped their class all around the park looking ominous every time their penetrating outsides were set in motion during the rout.
Testing their bench strength against the Argentinians, Steve Hansen will be satisfied that the replacements – especially surprise discard Richie Mo’unga who turned in a superb performance in the pivotal role replacing Barrett – gave Hansen a headache that he will be happy to wear with his rotations in the ensuing games.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
What would be a worry for Hansen in the coming weeks will be the defensive errors of the All Blacks who let the Argentinians breach their defence on numerous occasions and only scrambling cover defence saved them a few blushes.
The Wallabies picked themselves off the canvas and notched their first win of the championships with a narrow win over the Springboks in a fiercely contested game. They scored the only try of the second half to seal their win after scores were deadlocked at 18 points apiece at the short break.
The Rugby Championships this year has certainly narrowed the gap between the competing nations as the All Blacks must continue to innovate to stay ahead of the pack.
Z1000
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article Trevine I wouldn't consider Mo'unga's performance "Superb" ESPN hit the nail on the head http://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story/_/id/24630245/rugby-championship-review-all-blacks-see-determined-pumas-wallabies-edge-springboks "Mo'unga not so magnificent Just like Frizell, Crusaders ace Richie Mo'unga was also making his first run-on appearance in the famous black jersey. But unlike his rookie counterpart, Mo'unga didn't experience a similarly glorious night in Nelson. Having missed touch from a penalty kick early on, an error he repeated again in the first half, Mo'unga quickly discovered the difference between Super Rugby and the Test arena; most tellingly that the time and space he operated in at the Crusaders this season was in short supply against the Pumas."
Misha
Guest
The chasing pack might be narrowing the gap but when its 2 kilometers behind it doesn't really make much difference. PS BB did not have a mediocre SR - it's just that he's expected to be a genius in every game.
Ryan Laracy
Roar Rookie
What an odd article.
Stu
Roar Rookie
Gee he started young.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Did you consider the 6 changes in the Team that played the LPs (Los Pumas)...and all credit to them for playing the game of their lives.....but in the end class wins out...and I am not saying that any of the tries the LPs scored were poor, they were brilliantly taken...as for your comment...'the heat of the challengers'...the ABs have had this since 2010....
taylorman
Roar Guru
It was clearly intouch. You just prefer to deny the obvious. What happened there was an extremely good defensive play from Perrnara who never gave up and his effort managed to force the out, slight as it was. That is what should be commented on here. A superb effort by the Argies stopped by an even more superb defensive read. Officials got it dead right. Take your blinkers off. If tgat had been an AB foot out Id have agrred with it and you definitely wouldnt have said it should have been given. Why some have to bend their sense of reality because the ABs are involved is hilarious.
taylorman
Roar Guru
As a NZ fan I would be licking my lips playing Ireland.
taylorman
Roar Guru
If I remember correctly Carter had a superb start to his test career at 12.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
The point is it wasn't clearly in touch. It has to be clear and obvious. An example of clear and obviously in touch was Ben Smith's try which was allowed in the Ireland v NZ game in Chicago where half Smith's leg was in touch.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
He doesn't really remind me of Barrett at all. Barrett's defense is outstanding, McKenzie's is understandably not outstanding as he is a much lighter guy. Sure he is brave and has good technique but not that effective. McKenzie is very light for a modern day 10. Even George Ford and Frederik Michalak are bigger than McKenzie and they are two of the smallest 10s in modern rugby history.
piru
Roar Rookie
The disallowed try in which the player clearly went into touch would have been given to the ABs. bovine exrement my friend
Jacko
Guest
Sorry but he is a very good defender....And 1 thing you forget is that he has had 1 start at 10......he reminds me of BB a few years ago but a bit quicker over the first 15mtrs and an all out attacking thought pattern of thoughts....he not only sees every gap he can get thru he also goes thru gaps others think he cant get thru...in 30mins v the Wallabies he created 3 tries....Not bad
Danny
Roar Rookie
I thought Mounga was a little shaky in first half, but I also see what Trevine is saying he was bloody good once he settled down, I would imagine Hansen and co would of been bloody happy as it was a very good first up starting game. Not sure if the ones being clever remember the likes of BB, Cruden, DMac or even the great DC in their first start for ABs at 10. I not suggesting he better or worse than anyone, just I think he had a bloody good first up test!
Brian
Guest
I believe to be "discarded" one must be there in the first place. So if he wasn't ever in the starting line up, he can't possible have been discarded. Agree this whole article was a bit odd (other than the ABs being concerned about the defensive lapses that led to the Argy tries - that's unlike them).
Etepeus
Roar Rookie
Hansen gave him a pass and the coaches will now have something solid to work with, Mo'unga will just get better from here the brains trust will see to that. One of the biggest improvements of the ABs in last 10 years is the ability to bring talent into the team and get the results they want.
Etepeus
Roar Rookie
Maybe there is a reason the ABs always get the rub of the green from Refs because they are just that good. Fortune favours the brave and the ABs make there own luck. So sick of the continual crap about Refs being on ABs side and this used as a justification for why we win and others lose. Every kid in NZ is taught to play to the Ref and how he wants the game played. It's a skill like any other to learn to remove the Ref from the game and play as far across the line as you can get away with. Push the boundaries wherever possible.
Carlos Blanco
Roar Rookie
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one. This article is bizzare.
Etepeus
Roar Rookie
By time RWC comes about AB's will have 3 1st fives capable of starting. Depth will win as we have seen before AB's are in a much stronger position than most with cover being blooded in key positions. Injuries will happen when least needed or expected. In Hansen we trust to prepare a squad to win a third RWC.
Kiwikrs
Guest
I would argue that Koribete was the worst
Atapene
Roar Rookie
Well hey fair play, everyones got their opinion right.