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So dominant were Ian Foster’s All Blacks against a dire Argentina, they didn’t bother bringing Scott Barrett back on the field when his sin bin sanction had expired in the lopsided World Cup semi-final on Saturday (AEDT).
Barrett, who was exceptional beforehand, was yellow carded on 65 minutes for hands in the ruck.
When his time was up, Foster chose not to send Barrett back on with an eye to next week’s final against the winner of Sunday’s South Africa vs England semi.
“It was an opportunity for us to make sure we look after our resources the best we could,” Foster said.
“We didn’t see a need to put ‘Scooter’ back on only from a perspective of if he had another yellow card in the next five minutes it would have made it a little niggly for us. It was just a precautionary-type decision.”
While Foster’s explanation makes perfect tactical sense it just hammered home the massive gulf between the sides in a semi that fell flat.
Argentina were clearly frustrated by referee Angus Gardner. His fellow Aussie – Pumas coach Michael Cheika -made his thoughts clear,
“I wasn’t very happy with the refereeing in the first-half, especially in the rucks,” Cheika said. “I think it’s his way of doing things. Every time we were in their 22 we encountered the same problem.
“In over 20 years I’ve realised whether I like it or not, I can’t change it.”
Former Springbok star Schalk Burger was among those on social media critical of Gardner.
Gardner did punish the Pumas but they were often overwhelmed by a ruthless All Blacks outfit, which Cheika also acknowledged.
“We didn’t do what we needed to do in the rucks and scrums and I’m not quite sure why. On a few important scums before end of first-half we had good position but we lost the ball going forward. We lost possession and had a try scored against us. The same thing happened at start of second-half,” said Cheika.
“It went from 15-6 to 27-6. From that point it became very difficult. That’s the basics.
“The backs did a lot of good running but we were missing one of two phases to break down the All Blacks.
“It is the highest level of Rugby World Cup and things we can do in a test match here are not enough.
“If we need 20 passes, we have to make them.
“Against a team like New Zealand the slightest mistake is fatal. They are so efficient They converted all our mistakes into points.”
If the game had been reviewed on Google, it would be lucky to muster a single star from disappointed rugby fans, no doubt spoiled by the high stakes action of the quarter-finals a week earlier.
Social media was scathing of the standard of the game and Argentina’s performance, with a resurfacing of complaints over the lop sided draw that left Ireland and France out at the quarter-final stage.
“Tonight showcased where World Rugby got it wrong in term of the ranking system. I really feel for France and Ireland, they would have put on a better show than Argentina did tonight,” said Sonny Bill Williams on Stan Sport.
As poor as Argentina were, Cheika was proud of their efforts.
“I’ve played rugby and I don’t like losing, never. It is not a sad moment, it’s a moment I’m proud for my team. We were in the semi-final of a World Cup,” he said./
“We have invested a lot in this. I am sad for them. The players so much wanted to win for their country, for the fans, for the people back in Argentina.
“It’s hard and it’s a good thing that it’s hard but on Friday we will be there, no doubt. We cannot leave this way. We will learn from it and be back stronger.
“I didn’t cry afterwards. My children cried. Emotions are important but me, I don’t cry but that’s because my job is not over yet. On Friday we will have played seven games in the World Cup. Only four teams will have played four games.”