ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire reviews the All Blacks' performance in their 39-18 win over the Pumas.
Outstanding looseforwards
The forward pack in general was very good, but the looseforwards deserve special mention. They just seemed to be into everything, whether it be at the breakdown, making runs in the open, or providing strength and go-forward in contact. Richie McCaw was arguably the best player on the park, getting around the field at a tremendous pace and influencing the game in so many ways. He gave away more penalties than anyone else, but that was probably as much a pointer to how much he was involved. Jerome Kaino was back to his best, making some big tackles and going forward with ball in hand, while Kieran Read was similarly strong in contact, while also running well in the open. On top of that you have Brodie Retallick, who gets around the field at the rate of a looseforward, but still gets through all the work of a tight forward.
Players that needed a big game
It was no secret that there were a handful of players who needed to have good games if they were to remain genuine options for the World Cup. Israel Dagg, Sonny Bill Williams, Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock all fell into this category and all showed their worth at various stages this time around. Dagg took some good high balls and looked more dangerous running than he has for a long time in an All Black jersey, while Williams took the ball to the line, offloaded and tackled well. Mealamu was pretty involved too, which was good to see given the lack of depth at hooker, while Woodcock was better around the park, although perhaps not entirely convincing. The two front-rowers do deserve plenty of credit for a very solid scrum too, particularly that is an area Argentina are traditionally very strong in.
Rolling mauls
Steve Hansen called the rolling maul "bloody boring" and he is probably not far off the mark. The trouble with the rolling maul is that it can be worth multiple tries to a team, meaning they can win a game without actually being able to look like scoring in general play. Of course you can use the argument that you have to get in and stop it. But if done properly, the rolling maul is nearly impossible to defend. That makes it a huge problem in the game.
Hansen suggested a law change allowing you to collapse it as a solution. Perhaps another way would be to allow players to come around the back and do away with the offside line at mauls. After all, the players are still on their feet and moving forward with the ball in hand, why should you not be able to tackle them? At the moment the best way to defend it seems to be not to commit, thus not creating a maul, meaning there is no offside line. With the World Cup approaching, something needs to be done, or we will have a tournament filled with teams kicking for the corner and setting up mauls.
Solid scrum
The All Blacks scrum was good and that is certainly a positive sign. They were not looking to use it as an attacking weapon, like others will do, which makes the game far better to watch, but it also provide a good platform for the backs to launch from. Even more encouraging was the fact that it carried on in this way after the reserves came on, showing that it was not just one or two players being relied upon. Heading into the World Cup, where games can be tight and getting any sort of go-forward you can is important, that has to be one of the biggest positives to take from this encounter.
Sparkling backline
The forwards provided a good platform, but the backs still had to make use of that, which they did better than anyone else in the world would have done. There were threats all over the park and they made themselves known, confidently taking the ball to the line and throwing a series of passes and offloads which were hard to contain. The midfield was devastating, with Williams taking the ball to the line and offloading well, while Ma'a Nonu too showed his ability to offload and was stepping well to create a weak shoulder in the defender. TJ Perenara provided quick service and had one of his better showings in a black jersey, while Dan Carter ran the ball better and offered composure. Out wide you had three threats who all had their moments of brilliance, while also being solid when they had to receive kicks. Remember you still have the three Smiths to come back, that has to be scary for opponents.
Why rest Carter and Williams?
Of course you want to make sure everyone gets a run before the World Cup, but it makes little sense to not take Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams to South Africa. Surely these two are close to the highest on the list of players who need top level rugby. You cannot be too critical of either of their performances on Friday night, but it would be good to have proof that they can hack it against a team such as the Springboks. Over the past two years Carter has played just four tests, while Williams has played six. Of those both played against USA, Scotland, Samoa and Argentina, while Williams also played against England and Wales. Aside from England and possibly Wales those are hardly World Cup semifinal caliber teams. It is one thing to look good against those teams, but you want to see them do it against a team like the Springboks to know they really are the real deal. If nothing else it would give each man another run at a level they have not played at much in recent times, or in Williams' case, not played at much at all.
