LIAM NAPIER Last updated 22:33 09/10/2011
RWC 2011 - All Blacks vs Argentina QF4: Argentina v New Zealand
Match Scorecard
New Zealand33
Tries: Kieran Read (1), Brad Thorn (1)
Conversions: Aaron Cruden (1)
Penalty goals: Piri Weepu (7)
Argentina10
Tries: Julio Farias Cabello (1)
Conversions: Felipe Contepomi (1)
Penalty goals: Marcello Bosch (1)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand may be into the semifinals but they could be down to their third-choice pivot after Colin Slade suffered a groin complaint at Eden Park, the same injury that robbed Dan Carter of any further participation in this tournament.
That was the primary talking point a crowd of 57,912 will ponder post-match.
Anxious memories of that shocking night in Cardiff four-years ago will have crept into the consciousness of some, as the All Blacks struggled to shake off the Pumas, who were never expected to get close, until the closing stages.
This was not the complete performance second centurion Mils Muliaina would have wanted as he entered the record books alongside underpowered captain Richie McCaw, clearly plagued by his ongoing foot problem.
Veteran fullback Muliaina, replaced by Isaia Toeava after 50-minutes, was almost brought to tears during the national anthem.
Slade kick-started a shaky beginning by dropping a regulation pass which forced Conrad Smith to scramble back and save a try.
It summed up Slade's short and erratic evening.
He was unable to ease the nerves left by Carter's void and cement his place as the first-choice playmaker. He was replaced by Manawatu's Aaron Cruden, who linked confidently in his unexpected cameo.
Missing evasive fullback Israel Dagg and powerful utility Richard Kahui, the All Blacks were ragged, disjointed and nervous for large periods.
They looked like a team that had made constant backline changes throughout pool play.
Cohesion was absent, highlighted by their inability to finish chances, other than No.8 Kieran Read and lock Brad Thorn's late scores.
Graham Henry's men weren't able to dictate terms and implement their high-tempo game, a worrying sign ahead of the semifinal against Robbie Deans' Australia.
World No 7 Argentina, keen to engage in the close-quarter combat, put the customary squeeze on at the breakdown.
Their illegal slowing tactics went unpunished by Welsh referee Nigel Owens too long before halfback Nicolas Vergallo was yellow carded with 20-minutes to play.
However, for much of the contest the All Blacks failed to adapt and allowed themselves to be frustrated with the infringing.
To their credit, the Pumas' abrasive and committed defence was tough to crack.
It denied Read as he was pushed out in the corner. Two Cory Jane breaks went unconverted in the first quarter and McCaw placed the ball on an Argentinean boot, rather than at the base of the post, in the second-half.
Luckily, man-of-the-match halfback Piri Weepu stepped up to save the day with seven coolly struck penalties.
He took much of the directional duties with Slade prone and Cruden new to the systems.
Without his assured guidance the All Blacks were in strife. He is now more crucial than ever to the hopes of ending 24-years of angst.
The tenacious Pumas made the most telling statement of the first spell when No 8 Leonardo Senatore stepped Read and broke McCaw's covering tackle, possibly confirming the influential pair's lack of fitness.
That movement finished with blindside flanker Julio Farias Cabello busting through wing Sonny Bill Williams for the surprising opening try. Felipe Contepomi gave his side a shock 7-6 lead after 31-minutes, but Weepu put the hosts back in-front, 12-7, at halftime.
McCaw came off as precaution with eight minutes to play when the game was safe. He had plenty to think about on the bench, with the Wallabies now intent to crack the 17-year Eden Park fortress.
Result:
New Zealand 33 (Kieran Read, Brad Thorn tries; Piri Weepu 7 pen, Aaron Cruden con) Argentina 10 (Julio Farias Cabello try; Felipe Contepomi con, Marcelo Bosch pen). HT: 12-7
