All Blacks prevail against Pumas

Updated September 08, 2012 20:07:07

New Zealand remains undefeated in the Rugby Championship after defeating a spirited Argentina 21-5 in Wellington on Saturday night.

The All Blacks only led 6-5 at half-time with the Pumas providing the only try of the opening term through veteran prop Rodrigo Roncero.

But the hosts, following an extended half-time break caused by a malfunction with the floodlights, exerted their dominance in the second period to score tries through wingers Julian Savea and Cory Jane.

Aaron Cruden, starting at five-eighth in place of the injured Dan Carter (calf), landed a conversion and three penalty goals for the All Blacks.

The win is the All Blacks' third of the competition, while the Pumas now have two losses and a draw.

The Pumas, with little possession but a well-organised defence, were still in with a chance until the 66th minute when the All Blacks scored the first of their two tries.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had said eliminating the indecision and poor option taking of their first two matches against Australia in the series had been the priority for this week but there was little sign of an improvement.

Not even the gale packing winds of more than 100 kilometres an hour battering the city could be blamed for the 20 turnovers conceded by the world champions.

The Pumas' performance against the All Blacks raised questions about how much better they could have been if they were able to secure more than 34 per cent possession and 33 per cent of territory.

The All Blacks' errors started in the opening minute when Luke Romano passed the ball to a linesman, unaware that Jane had cut inside him.

In a rare Pumas' foray up to the All Blacks line, Ma'a Nonu attempted to run out of trouble but succeeded only in turning over the ball, which the visitors turned into a try to Roncero.

The Pumas maintained the lead for 11 minutes before Cruden landed a second penalty to put the All Blacks in front 6-5.

Nonu was guilty of a second knock on and Kieran Read and Aaron Smith also spilled the ball when the All Blacks were threatening the Pumas line.

Marcelo Bosch's ability to marshall a tight Pumas defensive line was responsible for much of the All Blacks misfortunes as they searched for a way through.

When Victor Vito did find himself in the clear with a 22-metre run to the line it was outside centre Bosch who cut him down from behind just on half-time.

As the players were returning to the field after the break the ground was plunged into darkness by a power outage causing a 15-minute delay before they were able to re-start.

Cruden inched the All Blacks further ahead at 9-5 with a third penalty before Pumas flanker Julio Farias Cabello saved a try but earned a yellow card for slapping down the ball when the All Blacks had a two-man overlap.

While the All Blacks had the one-man advantage they scored their first try when the passes stuck and the ball went through the chain for Savea to score in the corner.

They scored their second try five minutes later with a wide pass from Cruden cutting out two players to find an unmarked Jane on the wing.

New Zealand: 21 (J Savea, C Jane tries; A Cruden con, 3 pens)

Argentina: 5 (R Roncero try)

ABC/AFP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, new-zealand

First posted September 08, 2012 19:31:15

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Highlanders prevail in Auckland

Updated May 26, 2012 20:18:12

Winger Hosea Gear raised his hand for All Blacks selection with a brace of tries as the visiting Highlanders withstood a late charge by the Blues to win 27-20 at Eden Park on Saturday.

Gear, whose omission from a 35-man squad for the world champion All Blacks raised eyebrows in New Zealand, scored a try in each half to keep the Highlanders' play-off ambitions alive.

Late tries by Tevita Mailau and Tony Woodcock put the Blues within a converted try with two minutes to play, but the Highlanders held on to jump into the top six in the standings and in contention for a post-season wildcard berth.

The Highlanders may be bundled out of the top six if the Sharks beat the visiting Stormers in Durban later on Saturday but captain Jamie Mackintosh was just pleased to come away with four tries and a bonus-point victory.

"We were just lucky enough to get a try just before and after half-time," he said.

"Credit to the Blues, they showed a lot of heart out there tonight.

"We've got a tough run home but we know ourselves that we're a pretty tough team."

Outside centre Tamati Ellison scored the Highlanders' first try in the 25th minute after running half the field to chase down his own clearing kick to the line.

Gear had their second 10 minutes later, scampering in from 15 metres after a line break down the right by winger Kurt Baker.

The Blues were stunned by a third 21 seconds after the half-time whistle when Ben Smith darted through a glaring hole and bolted 50 metres down the left wing before dishing off to Gear for his second try.

Flanker Adam Thomson scored the visitors' fourth try for the bonus point, intercepting a ludicrous line-out overthrow from James Parsons near the try-line in the 60th minute as the Highlanders leapt out to a 27-6 lead.

The match turned sharply a minute later, however, when Highlanders inside centre Phil Burleigh was sent to the sin bin for failing to roll away from a ruck on the Highlanders' try line.

Ma'a Nonu, who came off the bench, began punching holes in the Highlanders defence and the bulky Mailau snatched a ball out of a ruck to plant the Blues' first try in the 68th minute.

Prop Woodcock raised the local crowd's hopes by barging over near the left corner in the 77th minute, but the Blues' were unable to prevent their 11th loss of a dismal, injury-ravaged season.

Highlanders: 27 (H Gear 2, T Ellison, A Thomson tries; C Noakes 2 cons; Noakes pen)

Blues: 20 (T Mailau, T Woodcock tries; G Anscombe, L Munro cons; Anscombe 2 pens)

Reuters

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand

First posted May 26, 2012 19:19:26

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