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All Blacks hold out Argentina |
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Written by Site Admin
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Monday, 26 June 2006 |
 Argentina mounted a wholesale assault at the All Blacks line in the last minutes of the game but the 14-man defence held and a 25-19 win was achieved in Buenos Aires today.
Superb All Blacks defiance contained several determined Argentine drives for the line as the home team attempted to take a first victory from the New Zealanders.
However, the superior defensive technique saw the powerful Argentinian forwards unable to break the desperate All Blacks.
The match was marred by drizzle which made for difficult handling conditions and constant infringing which resulted in a stream of penalties issued by referee Nigel Whitehouse of Wales.
With problems in the breakdown area, both sides had players sin-binned in the last 14 minutes of the game. Argentina lost wing Jose Maria Nunez Piossek first and he was followed by All Blacks fullback Leon MacDonald.
It was also a difficult night for the goal kickers with first five-eighths Dan Carter missing three penalty goal attempts for New Zealand and Argentinian ace Federico Todeschini missing four chances.
Early lineout problems saw New Zealand muff their second and third lineout throws allowing Argentina chances. They didn't use the first when halfback Piri Weepu's covering tidied up a grubber kick towards the All Blacks posts by Todeschini.
Carter cleared well downfield. But in breaking from the lineout, New Zealand lost the ball to a Todeschini intercept and from broken play downfield, he landed a penalty goal in the fourth minute.
Carter replied with a penalty goal after eight minutes when Argentina was penalised for handling the ball in a ruck.
Moments later from the restart, a raking Carter punt from the All Blacks 22m landed in the Argentina half and lock Jason Eaton was able to secure Argentinian ball at the lineout.
The ball was moved through the backs with second five-eighths Sam Tuitupou making the initial break to feed left wing Scott Hamilton, who passed to centre Isaia Toeava allowing wing Rico Gear on the right.
Gear inpassed to Toeava and from the ruck MacDonald slipped round the unprotected blindside to score.
At the 20-minute mark, a superb piece of judgment by half back Agustin Pichot fed Piossek who, when tackled by Hamilton, fed blindside flanker Martin Durand who raced 25m unopposed to score. Todeschini added the conversion from wide out to give Argentina a 13-8 lead.
Argentina went further ahead after the All Blacks were penalised in the 27th minute for taking a maul to ground and Todeschini added another goal.
But 31 minutes into the half, Todeschini dropped the ball on the goal-line and from the resulting scrum, Carter had a wide open stage to use a subtle body swerve to create a gap to waltz through to score between the posts. He added the conversion to make the score 15-16.
Todeschini was given another chance for a penalty goal after 33 minutes from 46m but he missed the chance.
While Carter missed two penalty goal attempts at the opening of the second half, a stolen Argentina lineout throw by No.8 Mose Tuiali'i set up a phase of play that resulted in Eaton charging through the midfield to link with flanker Chris Masoe. As he was tackled the ball was propelled forward from an Argentinian tackler's foot and over the goalline.
Hamilton, on debut, touched down for the try and Carter landed the conversion to give the All Blacks the lead.
Penalties were exchanged and after 56 minutes, the All Blacks were out to 25-19.
With 10 minutes remaining, Argentine wing Piossek was sin-binned as patience wore out for infringing at rucks.
After MacDonald was also sin-binned, the calm Argentinians mounted their charge to provide a thrilling end to the game.
Scorers:
All Blacks 25 (Leon MacDonald, Dan Carter, Scott Hamilton tries; Carter 2 con, 2 pen)
Argentina 19 (Martin Durand try; Federico Todeschini con, 4 pen).
HT: 15-16
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