Australia may have lost the Bledisloe Cup again this year, but they have a good chance of winning the Tri Nations title after Argentina pulled off the upset of the decade by defeating New Zealand 25-15 on Saturday.
The Wallabies have two games left, both against Argentina, and will need to win both in order to give new coach Dave Rennie his first trophy. But Argentina also have a chance, as they have three games in hand, including one against New Zealand.
The South Americans’ victory over New Zealand was anything but expected, coming as it did after 29 Tests in which they managed only one draw back in 1985.
New Zealand’s big guns were all back in the 15, but they played a terrible game with no continuity, an inability to retain possession, a lack of discipline and a lack of common sense too. At times many players looked uninterested as well, making one wonder whether there are any issues within the team as there were in the early 2000s.
That lack of common sense was demonstrated in the fact not one of their experienced hands realised they were not clicking and suggested to the team brains trust that they instead try and convert the penalties they received in the second half – they got eight – which were within kicking distance for Ritchie Mo’unga.
Had the scrumhalf been an erratic kicker like Carlos Spencer, then one could have understood a reluctance to try and take the three points on offer. But Mo’unga has something like an 80 per cent success rate.
The All Blacks have a streak of arrogance in them that always dictates they will kick and take a lineout instead, always arguing that they can score a try rather than take three points. During the reign of John Mitchell they used to scoff at people who suggested they practice drop goals, with Mitchell saying they would score tries aplenty due to the speeds backs he had. We all know what happened in the World Cup semi-final of 2003…
Argentina were disciplined and very accurate on the day. One statistic says it all: the Pumas had just one handling error in the 80 minutes. Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez kicked straight and true, missing just one of the seven penalties he attempted. He also scored his side’s lone try and converted it.
They certainly didn’t look like a team that had not played a competitive game for more than a year. Their skipper, Pablo Matera, was breathing fire every step of the way, while No. 8 Rodrigo Bruni was fierce in attack and defence.
Scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli hardly made an error, in sharp contrast to his opposite number, Aaron Smith, who had a bad game by anyone’s standards, let alone his own. All Blacks hooker Dane Coles seemed more interested in a bit of biff than the game, while his Pumas hooker Julian Montoya was the exact opposite.
When one man could not make a tackle and bring down a New Zealand player two joined in, and in this manner they managed to neutralise even Caleb Clarke, who has shown the ability to break tackles with ease. Clarke was reduced to a shadow of the man who started the game in Sydney against Australia.
Despite finding themselves unable to make progress through a passing game, the All Blacks failed to make use of a kicking game, with practically all their kicks being wasted efforts that just gave the ball away. It was a massive contrast from the time they played Australia in Sydney and used the kicking game with great skill. And these were the same players out on the paddock.
In short, New Zealand were beaten in every aspect of the game. Their scrum was treated with disdain and the experienced prop Joe Moody, back after a concussion break, was put under tremendous pressure.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The Kiwi lineout fell apart at crucial times, with one miss just five metres out from the Pumas try-in goal area almost on the halftime whistle the worst offence.
One Mo’unga kick for touch off a penalty went into the try-in goal area.
Argentina had a game plan and stuck to it no matter what, not being seduced into playing the game the way New Zealand wanted. By doing so, they forced the Kiwis to play to their tune and thus had control of most of the game.
In handing the All Blacks a defeat Argentina have made the tournament that much more interesting and ensured that nobody will take them for granted after this.
Remaining matches
Australia versus Argentina, 21 November
New Zealand versus Argentina, 28 November
Australia versus Argentina, 5 December
numpty
Roar Rookie
I can't listen to your words Obes, I can only read them. You've clearly made up your mind on hooper and see only what you wanna see. But, I'm sorry, your comments wreak of arrogance when you seem to be claiming to know better than 4 former wallaby coaches that have won countless SR titles and so on. I'll take theirs, and countless other current and former rugby professionals, word over yours that Hooper is a class player. Not to mention the stats/evidence that show him topping tackle counts and work rate metrics week in week out. Maybe you should consider these factors, but that would take some critical thinking and introspection, things you are yet to show glimpses of.
Obes
Guest
I watch him very very closely every game, no need for gut instinct when the evidence is staring you in face, he rarely hits rucks hard he just stands there like a meerkat at pillar most times leaning on other players. Totally ineffective .As ive said if you actually listened, 2 WB coaches were sacked because of poor performance with Hooper as the primary 7 the other was knifed by hooper.The 4th could be ok as 2021 will be hoopers last season. The wallas will get better and Rennies job will be saved. But the wallas have been poor again this year with the tiny fella at 7.Rennie is Clown 2.0 so far.
Origin
Roar Rookie
Men in blue and white, I guess...
JRVJ
Roar Rookie
That was rude to you? Then I figure you prefer to never see other people's comments. Whatever rocks your boat.
Ace
Guest
Numpty you completey skimmed over where Paddy explained to you those 4 coaches failed with Hooper as the primary number 7. That is a fact. Wallabies ranked 2nd with Pocock as first choice 7. Wallabies ranked 7th with Hooper. The cognative dissonance is overiding your logial thought.
Sebastian Laffont
Guest
ozinsa the 7 Kremer played around 25/30 tests some in the second row, he's 23 only.....and I wouldn't like to be in a fight with him, tough as nails and always won the collisions with the kiwis, but there will be a lot of changes for the Pumas
Olly
Roar Rookie
https://www.rugby.com.au/players/liam-wright#Tri-Nations Wright is a light weight as per his weight at Wallabies camp. You are reading his preseason weight taller man but considerably less mass…Wright is also playing like a small man, we can’t play small against this Arg pack, the ABs tried and got smashed. Samu is very good in tight hence he played games at 7 for the crusaders. He just plays the role he is needed at the time. Wright has made little impact at lineout time from the bench while Samu managed to make the AB ball messy at 2 in the first game. Liam is a player of the future but not today IMO. He is not Test ready yet and we have won and drawn the games we played physical. It is our strength. I do agree about Samu and Wilson but I have harped on before that I would pick Samu over Wilson. As a couch coach, I would go 6 Samu, 7 Hooper and 8 Isi.
numpty
Roar Rookie
What you just said "hi I'm paddy and I am definitely smarter than Ewen McKenzie, Robbie deans, cheika and Rennie and they should all listen to me on who to pick at 7." Dunning Kruger effect - look it up. Lay off the Kool aid chief.
numpty
Roar Rookie
I think samu is a quality player too and thought it was harsh he was dropped after one game where I thought he did relatively well. But, he is wasted playing an in tight role, so he has to bump hooper or Wilson for that 3rd spot imo. Happy for him to be on the bench. Wright is actually taller than samu and the same weight... For the third time, wright got more steals than any other player at the lineout. Fact. Take that however you want. Wright also got more jackals than samu.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Those stats are indicative of work rate. You got any to suggest he doesn't hit rucks or is ineffective there other than your anecdotal gut instinct? Most teams actually win with less of the ball at the moment so you're off the mark their too. Territory and 22 entries are the main predictors of successful teams. You're stuck with an outdated view of what a 7s role is/should be. Four wb coaches in a row see value in what hooper brings to the team. Maybe, just maybe, it is you who is wrong and not the professionals that do it for a living...
MikeyO
Roar Rookie
What's the strategy in having Tom sanders playing domestic? He performed strong /dominantly In the trial Nkrth/South match but has been neglected. The investment and faith in the systems and infrastructure nz rugby is on the stage for review.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
#metoo
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Tooly, I think you're right - he will blow the Pumas to pieces for their bone crunching tackles - probably a red and two yellows to boot.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Mostly because he received terrible ball from his forwards - no front foot ball at all.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Yeah Muttley I think you're on the money. If Los Pumas play with that same level of intensity and passion, then the WB's are going to cop a flogging.
MO
Guest
The ABs are getting rattled. In the good old days if they were smashed or leaked points they'd take a deep breath and just (grind) work their way back into the match. Now it is very much boom or bust. They need the tight five in particular to be able to take control or at least hold the line. Sam Cane has been niggly distracted too - not cool like Richie and more recently/relevantly like Kieran Read. A short term solution is to pick 15 Crusaders and add 8 other guys. That way you'd have a strong cool culture with an injection of BBBB and Patrick T and a few others.
Muttley
Roar Rookie
Of course Argentina is more unpredictable and unreliable than the Wobblies, but one thing that is lingering in my mind is that during the AB-Wallabies match the later had no sense of urgency to gain lose balls, when they got into a ruck with ball they stalled the whole thing allowing the Blacks to regather, they even telegraphed their kicks to the opposition. Paradoxically, on Pumas-Blacks, Argentina looked like the AB while the AB looked like the Wallabies. And that is how and why they lost. I do not know if I am making sense to you guys but bottom line is, if Argentina shows the same hunger for ball and explosiveness they had against the AB, the Wallabies are doomed and a Tri-Nations title not out of the question for the South Americans. PS: Last weekend was the best performance I have ever seen from Pumas and I have been watching them for 40 years.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
So which one then.
Paddy
Guest
2 coaches were sacked for poor performances with Hooper in the team. The 3rd was knifed by hoops. The 4th Rennie has just started and he will fail too with Hooper at 7. You missed the 5th coach Gibon who was also sacked as he had shocking results with Hooper as his 7.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Grow up. Go to the Wallabies website.