New Zealand 33 Argentina 10:THE SCORE suggests this was the least close, the most unsurprising of the quarter-finals. It was anything but, with Argentina producing a display of passionate obstinacy that made the favourites look ordinary at times. After 65 minutes it was Piri Weepu 18 (six penalties), Argentina 10.
The All Backs pulled away in the 15 minutes that truly counted but the tournament seems to be taking its toll on them, both on the field and off it. Just when one might have thought, with England’s departure, that it was safe to go out in Auckland after dark, the wing Cory Jane and the injured fullback Israel Dagg made the headlines with a spot of late-night drunkenness three days before the quarter-final. Jane was allowed to play, although his coach was not delighted with him.
Weepu had a busy week. Not only did he take all those kicks here but he had also been the one to go out and fetch the miscreants from the bar. The headlines tend not to do a camp any favours, if only because they are a distraction at a time when there is little time for anything but keeping the squad patched up for action.
When they are added to a growing injury list the worries mount. That list now includes Colin Slade, the mini-Carter outhalf who did a mini-Carter groin and disappeared after half an hour, and Mils Muliaina, who injured his shoulder and ruined his 100th-cap party.
Even more disturbing for the host nation, still glum after the Carter saga, was the sight of Richie McCaw spending most of the evening on the wing. He was not half bad out there but the screw in his fifth metatarsal is bothering him, although he did his best not to make it obvious. More obvious was the plan to withdraw him as soon as the game was safe. He had to stay on until six minutes from the end.
Weepu played with real guile and invention and accuracy at scrumhalf. Jerome Kaino continued in his rich vein of form, although he was well contained by the Argentina backrow, who were outstanding. Leonardo Senatore, an amateur player from Rosario, broke away from a scrum, handed off Kieran Read and galloped off to set up a try for Julio Farias Cabello, a score that gave the Pumas the lead after 26 minutes.
At this stage the South Americans were full of resolve and stamina. Patricio Albacete and Manuel Carizza have been secondrow pillars as has Juan Leguizamon on the flank. Mario Ledesma was ageless at 38 and nobody tackled harder than the prop Rodrigo Roncero. Four penalties kept the All Blacks in front at half-time and they had one try disallowed on review when Read dipped a toe in touch and another when the ball missed being pressed against the base of a post by a whisker. There were other near misses but this was not the clinical efficiency of champions-in-waiting.
Aaron Cruden, on for Slade as the mini-mini-Carter, was full of mischief but he could be tormented by Australia’s Quade Cooper in the semi-final.
The All Blacks began to gain control at the breakdown, although it should be said the two quarter-finals played by the Southern Hemisphere nations were awash with bodies flying in horizontally. That was supposed to be the northern disease. The messy breakdowns began to go the way of the Kiwis and they scored two tries in the final 14 minutes. Read caught a floated pass from Kaino that eluded the fingertips of Martin Rodriguez. Read’s try shut the lid on their campaign and Brad Thorn’s turned the key.
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina; Jane, Smith, Nonu, SB Williams; Slade, Weepu; Woodcock, Mealamu, O Franks, Thorn, Whitelock, Kaino, McCaw (capt), Read. Replacements: Cruden for Slade (32 mins), Toeava for Muliaina (40 mins), Williams fo Whitelock (62 mins), Hore for Mealamu 65 mins), Afoa for Franks (74 mins).
ARGENTINA:Rodriguez; Camacho, Bosch, Contepomi (capt), Agulla; Fernandez, Vergallo; Roncero, Ledesma, Figallo, Carizza, Albacete, Cabello, Leguizamon, Senatore. Replacements: Ayerza for Roncero (39 mins), Imhoff for Agulla (49 mins), Scelzo for Figallo (59 mins), Campos for Carizza (62 mins), Creevy for Ledesma (69 mins), Lalanne for Vergallo 78 mins).
Referee:N Owens (Wales)
Guardian Service
