Good news and ominous news for All Blacks fans. The good news is that Sunday morning’s 42-12 win over the Pumas in Mendoza was about as good a start to the season that they could have hoped for, with a host of excellent performances across the board.
The ominous news? Think back 12 months and you can replace ‘Argentina’ with ‘Ireland’ after the All Blacks’ 42-19 win at Eden Park. While the headlines were very similar to the past few days about how good it was to get off the mark in style, events that followed proved very much that one swallow doesn’t make a summer. So in this case one test win over a scratchy Pumas side doesn’t automatically right the wrongs of the past few years.
But back to the good stuff. The one thing the All Blacks seem to have always possessed more than other Test playing nations is the ability to kill a game off before the opposition even knows what’s happened, and they showed it in Mendoza. It really felt like a continuation of the beat down they gave the Pumas in Hamilton after the Argentinean’s landmark win on NZ soil last year – that’s now 95 points for the All Blacks in the last two meetings and it’s obvious they are in no mood to create any more unwanted history.
The trope of talking about scrums whenever Argentina is mentioned is about as dated as four point tries, but the All Black version on the weekend is worth mentioning. Jason Ryan’s influence on the forwards has clearly moved past the beta testing stage and to have the set piece humming early is a good sign.
That’s especially since Josh Lord was playing only his third match in a year, depth at lock is an issue right now so it was pleasing to see the Chiefs player look comfortable in what could have been a tricky assignment.
It wasn’t, in the end, due in part to the Pumas being clearly scratchy after only assembling last week. There is enough talent in that side to improve in time for the World Cup, maybe even for this weekend when they face a Wallabies side that was pumped by almost the same score line by the Springboks in Pretoria.
Which makes for an intriguing Test this Saturday night. It will be the first time the Boks have played in Auckland for a decade, and the first time ever at Mt Smart Stadium. The traditional home of rugby league in New Zealand has been pressed into service for the test because of the FIFA Women’s World Cup taking ownership of Eden Park, switching the locale from gentrified Kingsland to depressing and industrial Penrose. Mt Smart is a perfectly fine venue when it’s full up, but don’t expect any amenities in the area post-match other than a nearby McDonalds or an array of hydraulic repair service shops.
Head coach Ian Foster talks to media during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Mt Smart Stadium. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
For all the good that the All Blacks did in that opening win, there really should be a question asked over why Foster decided to take all 36 squad members to Mendoza and back. The travel means they’ve lost a day in the buildup and really for no discernible gain other than the blokes that didn’t play got a decent feed of Argentinean beef.
Meanwhile, the Boks have flown in half their side last Friday. With no Eden Park factor, a long trip and a short buildup, it could be argued that the All Blacks have done their best to replicate an away game in the most successful city they play in.
Who is the best option at first five? Damian McKenzie put in a pretty good case for it to be him in Argentina, while the dynamic between him and Beauden Barrett looked promising. It’s not long before Foster has to make a call and stick with it for the World Cup – although maybe he’s already done it. If it’s any consolation, Jacques Nienaber might be having the same issue picking between Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok.
In fairness, the Mendoza win was a lot more rounded than the corresponding fixture last year against Ireland, a match won by the All Blacks with an eerily similar score line. But within a fortnight that result was long gone, replaced with two embarrassing and complete defeats to the men in green, and calls for Foster’s employment status to be erased immediately.
This is another tough start to the season for the All Blacks. A win against the Boks will tell us a lot more about this side’s fortitude, while a loss will once again see the dark clouds forming. If the All Blacks can’t win at home this season, what chance are they going to have in France?
Finally, a word on Sam ‘The Karate Kid’ Cane’s post-match actions dealing with a pitch invader who turned out to be a 14-year-old boy, which has overshadowed the performance somewhat. Using a bit of (Sweep The) Leg Theory evoked memories of Richie McCaw dealing to portly Afrikaner Pieter van Zyl all those years ago in Durban, and thankfully SANZAAR don’t decide to do anything about Cane’s post-match red mist moment. Because really, it was too funny to be taken particularly seriously.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Yawn…
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Only those who decide to rubbish their current bosses publicly Croker. I've not heard others say they threw the kitchen sink at me and begged me to stay... Its time they selected from all around the world... Think what you like but some class in public is way better. Mounga also tried to tell NZR to change their selection policy as did Piatsu and Sopounga plus Feketoa. Please name the Chiefs players who have done this publicly and ill wish they were not selected too.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I said.....His record at SR level is great but not as impressive as at test level You saidhow could you possibly say Jordan has not been as impressive for the All Blacks as he is in Super Rugby? You miss-read Terminator. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
The most ridicules comment Ive read for a long time anywhere. :laughing: :laughing: Mounga is NOT a stand-out 10 and is leaving NZ so why BUILD anything around him? Its really bizzarre that most Mounga fans want the team selected just to suit him. Not one other 10 has ever made selections all about him. Players get selected because they are the best and then they play with others who are the best in their positions. Mounga has no chemistry with JB or RI either so the whole backline functions better when he isnt in it. This is the All Blacks not the Saders. Drop Mounga, to the bench, Start Dmac with whoever the best players are in their respective positions and have WJ at wing where he holds the best try scoring to tests radio of any player in the world. Terminator when was the last time you saw the backline function like they did last week? For some time now its looked clunky but last week it didnt. Why?
Terminator
Roar Rookie
Will Jordan has scored 21 tries in 21 tests for the All Blacks- how could you possibly say Jordan has not been as impressive for the All Blacks as he is in Super Rugby? Jordan has the greatest strike rate in All Black history for players with 20 tests or more!
Terminator
Roar Rookie
The most ridiculous comment I’ve read in a long time on Roar. You do not build your attack around your fullback, you build your attack around your 10. If you have a standout 10 who does not have chemistry with standout fullback, you drop the fullback and select another who does have chemistry with your 10. Your 10 has the greatest influence on winning or losing a match more than any other player- you select your best 10. For the All Blacks, it’s obvious that Mo’unga- Barrett have no chemistry. It’s obvious that Barrett’s best days have long since past. Mo’unga has great chemistry with Will Jordan who plays like Barrett use to play back in 2015-2017. Drop Barrett from the 23 man squad and have McKenzie on the bench to cover 10/15.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Haha sadly he aint no visionary. But he is the coach so made the decisions he did. Dagg and Jane were very good AB wingers and the ABs do like a FB as a winger. Id think WL is happy to be in the side at wing rather than on the bench or not in the side at all. He certainly has a knack of scoring tries.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yeah back in the day lots of things were different Coker. I remember not getting home from school until tea time almost every day and we didnt have mobile phones to let anyone know and I remember what Dad would have done to my backside if Id broken the law. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
All good OM Ill happily agree to disagree. I will never accept a fan being in a position where they can hurt or even threaten a pro player no matter their age and Im more than aware of the horrors young criminals can inflict. We are just fortunate that in this incident nothing bad happened.
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Just in time Bluffboy, I came back intending to delete that last sentence, on the basis that it was probably overly snarky. But I can’t do that now! :laughing:
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I disagree to a point Bus, changes will/possibly be made to the pack and only getting stronger with injured players becoming available. It's probably you fellas that have a lingering issue if you blokes go down to the Latin Lefty's :silly:
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
but until then I would keep a lid on your fury :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
It's a pretty long bow calling Foster a visionary Jacko. I, like all of us (mainly you) will back the Foster and the MIB's because that's what we do. But I would suggest that a visionary wouldn't be dropped after 4 years at the helm, with a pretty serious review in the middle of that tenure. It's a pity he didn't have the vision to select a decent coaching panel when he took over. I don't think anyone would disagree that 21 tries from 21 games is anything to sneeze at, but for all we know, if he was trialed at 15, it may have been better. Naturally it may be worse, but this is why we have a forum like this to convince. other that our opinion is the right one.
Nobody
Roar Rookie
You should know by now that can’t make an All Black stack without a bit of red in the foundations OB :laughing: …this comment from a Blues supporter :shocked:
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Ok, so forwards will matter in the RWC. Thanks for clearing that up.
Nick
Roar Rookie
It's about the trash talk on the way out the door Coker.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Do the Boks still lose shape if WLR isn't out back directing traffic? I think he's still their most important back to play at their best. I'd be happy for better informed roarers to tell me otherwise.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
What the ABs really don't want is their pack to be beaten up. A great deal has been made about the impact of Ryan and how this is now a fearsome AB pack as of old. If that bubble is burst (almost regardless of the result) perhaps by a pummelling at the scrum or on the gainline, it could linger into the RWC.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Not sure Rassie nor Rog's sanctions provide much of a prescient. In particular Rassie who on multiple occasions complained publicly about referees on social media. Sexton by contrast had words to a refs face in heat of the moment during or just after a game. Not really the same offense. I'm sure Sexton will get some sort of ban and as an Irish fan I agree that he deserves one however, whatever the ban I predict it wont be enough for his critics as I cant see it being long enough to miss the RWC, though likely the warm up games. These things get ramped up in the lead up to a RWC in particular in rival country media.
WEST
Roar Guru
See the ABs had McCaw & Liam Messam at their captains run.. Good motivation for the fellas listening to these two legends Just reviewing our caps… Actually a very good blend of experience with new young guns. See how we go