Argentina gave a good account of themselves in Hamilton last year and pride themselves on their work at the set piece.
Steve Hansen has challenged his forwards to repeat their devastating display against Australia when they meet Argentina in Napier on Saturday.
The All Blacks arrived in Hawkes Bay yesterday ahead of their Rugby Championship test against the Pumas, with coach Hansen wasting little time in putting the acid back on his big men as they prepare for what he called one of the best scrums in the game.
NZ Herald
“At the very least they’re going to have to front up in the same physical shape and mental shape as they did last week,” Hansen said of his pack. “And that’s about being accountable for their games and their roles and that’s a start point.”
He added of the Argentina set piece: “It’s probably one of the best scrums in the world, isn’t it? If you rate the South African scrum, they just demolished it so that will be a good test for us.”
The Pumas were unlucky not to notch their first win of the Rugby Championship last weekend when they were beaten 33-31 by the Springboks in Salta.
A week before they lost 13-6 to the Boks in Pretoria.
Under new coach Daniel Hourcade they appear keen to develop their back play, but it can come at a cost.
In the final minutes last weekend they were in a promising position with an attacking scrum but elected for a quick feed and a botched wide backs move rather than keeping it tight in the hope of winning a penalty.
In their two previous tests in New Zealand they have presented a stern early challenge before falling 28-13 in Hamilton last year and 21-5 in Wellington in 2012.
Hansen’s pack went to a new level in putting 50 points on Australia and claiming the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park after the disappointment of the week before in Sydney. The Pumas are again likely to be a serious proposition up front and defensively, so the All Blacks will need to combine physicality with patience.
Hooker Keven Mealamu said of the Argentines’ liking for scrummaging: “It’s part of their DNA, part of their genetics. It’s what they do, what they’re known for. If you look at how they’re built, a lot of them are a perfect build for forwards.”
Hansen added: “They’ve just come off two very close battles with South Africa and probably should have won at least one of them, if not both of them.
“Their scrum is very, very good, their lineout has variation in it which makes it difficult to upset their ball. I’ve always thought they’re one of the best defensive sides in the world – they show a lot of space on the outside but seem to be able to shut it down pretty quickly and their backs are looking to want to play. They’ve introduced a new fullback [Joaquin Tuculet] and he looks pretty sharp, so it’s going to be an interesting contest.”
Hansen confirmed hooker Nathan Harris would get game time in the test against the Boks in Johannesburg on October 6.
Dane Coles is likely to remain in New Zealand to be at the birth of his child, leaving the way clear for 22-year-old Chiefs player Harris, who has yet to make his debut.
The All Blacks are likely to have midfielder Ma’a Nonu back from his shoulder injury for Saturday’s McLean Park test, but loose forward Jerome Kaino remains six weeks away because of his elbow problem.
Tale of the tape:
- Pack weights of starting forwards in last test
– 900kg All Blacks
– 879kg Argentina
Maybe Hansen realizes Pumas have the best scrum in the tournament. But after 2 losses not much to play for except pride.
Yes they shoved Boks off the ball, but they may do it to the AB s and Oz too
I don’t think Oz will shove us off the ball like Pumas did. Plus is appears Strauss will start at 2? and M Coetzee to start with Victor, and the 2 shark props.
No sure what Steenkamp is doing in the squad?
@ CoachPete:
One of the problems we have is the refs who will usually blow the Pumas if they transgress are mostly SA refs, and they don’t officiate when the Boks play.
All Blacks will either nullify the Pumas or milk penalties.
The Puma backline definitely won’t score easy tries like they did against us, AB defense is too good.
I do think the AB’s will hold back somewhat with an eye on the Bokke the following week, probably only win by 12-20, not give them a too big hiding.
@ nortierd:
Agree about the back and AB defense, but the pumas scrum may be better or equal to ABs, and their lineouts have improved to
I hope they grind the ABs pack in the ground 🙂
@ CoachPete: Hi CP. You swopped threads. All good with you mate?
@ CoachPete: can’t see the ‘grind’ thing happening Coach but I can see a kind of parity in there. But their backs are going to find penetrating the AB defence at lot more difficult because they’ll be better organised than we were. We were actually atrocious in the first 50 mins.
3 @ CoachPete:
Hello Coachie!
How are they hanging, boeta?
3 @ CoachPete:
Don’t count on it Coach….AB’s will counter them and maybe give them a bit of a 20 minute 20 point blitzkrieg just to get their heads hanging 😀
Seems like it might be a wet weather match, then the Pumas still have a chance of keeping the score respectable
Hey Tassies I responded on the Pumas /ABs thread 🙂
Here it is again
@ Tassies:
Hey Hozit my friend How is Slaapstad ? I have not shared this with any bloggers except mentioning it to GBS, and since you asked here it is
Things ok except as I told GBS, at the end of May, (memorial day weekend) my daughter who attends UC Santa Barbara college, was one of the girls shot by the young shooter at campus She was walking with her 2 friends and he fired at them killing her friends on either side. My daughter was the one who survived with 5 bullet wounds. So its been hard, but she has recovered physically and doing ok
Just so sad about her friends but I am so grateful she is alive.
Yes a parents worst nitemare, and least expected at Santa Barbara
8 @ CoachPete:
Good to hear your daughter is recovering well… what a terrible incident it was!
Phweeeew!
8 @ CoachPete:
Shit Coach, so sorry to hear.
That’s just terrible.
Thanks guys
I have three. All well out of nappies and cruising the highways and byways of this crazy city. Some rate it as the murder capital of the world, 90% of which goes un-reported in the public domain. Ho hum. Okay enough already. We move onto more sanguine topics.
Coach sad to hear about the young girls losing their lives…but thankfully your daughter is relatively ok…
@ CoachPete:
Hi Coach, that is a shocking story, so sorry to hear of your daughters experience and the tragedy that hit her two friends.
Hope she continues to recover.
@ CoachPete:
Wow so sorry to hear Coach. Glad she is recovering. Terrible stuff.
Howzit Coach & welcome to R-T, what a terrible thing to happen…glad to hear that your daughter at least survived but the mental scars will obviously remain with her for many, many years to come.
My best wishes to you and your family.
@ 8 @ CoachPete:
Howzit Coach. It has been a long time.
I’m so sorry to hear about the trauma your daughter and family had to endure. I pray that she recovers fully. Strongs…
All removed from nose. No bleeding. Must now wait until this afternoon to make sure it doesnt start again.
@ CoachPete:
Coach words cant express what needs to be said in times like that.
Be strong for your daughter and look for positives.
@ 19 Scrumdown wrote:
I trust you are also recovering. We need a fit and healthy Scrum now don’t we. Keep well buddy…
Hi Coach.Reiterating every bodies sympathy here.God bless her and
may she recover soon from injuries and trauma.
21 every bodies = everybodies
Sorry to hear Coach, all the best for her recovery.
Regards
Shocking stuff Coach, hope she will make a full recovery soon
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