We value your privacy

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

More Options

Sun 7 Sep 2014 | 12:33
Julian Savea scores a brace as All Blacks win comfortably vs Argentina

15
Comments

Julian Savea scored a brace of tries to take his tally to 26 in just 25 matches as the All Blacks beat Argentina 28-9 in Napier on Saturday. Los Pumas were highly competitive but a few key turning points allowed the home side to get a comfortable win.

Refereeing was a source of contention again this weekend, as the first Rugby Championship match of the day featured two key moments that had commentators, fans and pundits questioning how the officials managed to get them so wrong.

The first was early in the match, when powerful wing Savea was held back without the ball, and then later on with the score still close, Argentina's Leonardo Senatore charged down a kick, regathered and scored the try, but it was disallowed.

"There are things that happen in a game unfortunately," said captain Agustin Creevy post match.

You have to feel for the Pumas in particular, who were playing well away from home and could have been in with a chane in wet weather conditions if that try was given.

As it was, the All Blacks continued their dominance with a four-try victory and despite a poor kicking performance by Beauden Barrett, who was starting at number 10 for the first time in a Test, they scored through Liam Messam and Aaron Smith, as well as a try to Savea in each half.

"From a scrummaging point of view we should be very proud." said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. "We sometimes get underestimated at scrum time by others and tonight we scored a try right on half-time from their ball."

Injuries to flanker Messam and lock Sam Whitelock, and perhaps Barrett's kicking at goal, will be the only real concerns ahead of next weekend's Wellington Test against South Africa.

Your thoughts on the match? Register | Login to comment

Posted By: Grant Constable

15 Comments

  • oldflyhalf
    2:05 PM 11/09/2014

    What a bunch of frustrated?

  • breakaway
    8:38 AM 10/09/2014

    There's an interesting discussion of the charge-down and the other incidents here:
    http://www.rugbyrefs.com/showthread.php?18024-Pascal-Gauzere-All-Blacks-v-Pumas

  • reality
    2:16 PM 09/09/2014

    I was under the impression that the difference between a knock-on on a charge-down depended on the trajectory of the ball. If it's travelling upwards you charge it down, and if it's travelling downwards you knock it on.

  • breakaway
    7:39 AM 09/09/2014

    Oops.. that was in answer to Eddie's next post, below.

  • eddie-g
    3:17 PM 08/09/2014

    Not to be contrary for the sake of it, but sometimes (definitely not here) I think it is fair to call a block a knock-on. If the ref decides a kick is catchable, and the player knocks it down instead of trying to catch it, it's a fair enough call. That's what the ref decided here, we all agree it was the wrong decision, and what really compounds it is the fact he could have not blown his whistle and let the TMO decide.

    This might not be a popular opinion, but if there were no TMO to adjudicate, I'd not be overly critical of this call. But it is not acceptable at Test Match level to make such a serious error like this.

  • eddie-g
    3:10 PM 08/09/2014

    There's nothing the Argentina captain could have done. Firstly, the decision to refer to the TMO is the referee's alone. The best captains can sort of plant a doubt in a ref's mind, and get them to refer it; but just straight up asking for a referral hardly ever works.

    But here, even that wouldn't have worked. The ref blew play dead before the "try" had been scored. There was nothing to refer, the TMO could not have awarded a try even if the ref had gone to him. At best, Argentina get a scrum.

    The lesson for refs is not to stop play too quickly, they have a TMO on hand to correct something that happened in live play. And clearly, this is a try that should have stood.

  • jeri
    12:04 PM 08/09/2014

    My enjoyment of the game ruined by a shithouse referee

  • rugbydump
    8:25 AM 08/09/2014

    The highlights clip that is up now (in this post) has some replays. Awful decision.

  • jimmy23
    6:10 AM 08/09/2014

    Should have been a try for Argentina, that MAY just have changed how the end result looked.

    However for me the moment that optimised what separates the AB's from other teams was the try right before half time. Argentina win a scrum, number 8 loses control, ends up on the NZ side, bish bang bosh 5 seconds later NZ have scored a try before anyone has realised what happened.
    You feel as though other teams would have made a hash of that opportunity, the ABs however will punish you if you slip out of concentration for a split second. It's a huge ask for teams to be that switched on for a full 80 mins, so until teams can also take advantage of those kind of opportunities like the ABs do I think this dominance will continue.

  • hendogo
    1:48 AM 08/09/2014

    Good on NZ for winning the game. They never looked like losing. However, that was not a knock on, and the ref got it wrong. Would like to see a slow-mo of that one again Rugby Dump. The Pumas where rob of a try, no case about it.

  • feddderico
    12:37 AM 08/09/2014

    Since when a blocked kick is a knock on?! Fucking ref..

  • jim_goat
    11:21 PM 07/09/2014

    Sure thing, sweetheart.

  • reality
    8:54 PM 07/09/2014

    I think the Argentine captain is as much to blame as the ref. For such an absolutely appalling decision he should have gone to the referee and demanded that the video referee be consulted. I'm all for respecting the referee's decision and such, but a blatantly incorrect call needs to be brought to the referee's attention.

  • eddie-g
    8:02 PM 07/09/2014

    It's not a north-south thing. Nigel Owens is the best, and he's Welsh. There is definitely an issue to be resolved, but if the ref is good, I sure as heck don't care where he's from.

  • jim_goat
    7:47 PM 07/09/2014

    You turned a rant about referees into a bleat about the haka? Sounds like you have some sort of chip on your shoulder, mate.

Related Articles