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'Argentina weren't trying to win': Aaron Smith's take on Pumas gameplan
By AAP
The All Blacks need more variation in their game given their ball-in-hand “mentality” is being exploited by opposition teams, says halfback Aaron Smith.
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With struggling New Zealand trying to avert another Rugby Championship defeat against Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday, Smith said his team needed to be prepared to kick the ball rather than constantly seek to run with it.
“I think variety is key, but the mentality from our boys is to want to be able to hold the ball, build pressure and use our attack,” he told reporters.
“As we see with the north hemisphere teams and the teams so far in the Rugby Championship, they want to give us the ball.
“They don’t really want to play and they’re really attacking our breakdown.
“If you attack with the ball for long periods of time, you’re giving them opportunities and they’re taking them.”
Argentina needed only one try in their 25-18 win over the All Blacks in Christchurch, the visitors’ first win over the hosts in New Zealand, as they built pressure and knocked over penalties.
South Africa, who have long employed a kicking game to great effect, beat New Zealand in the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela, though lost their next clash at Ellis Park.
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Smith said there were honest conversations with flyhalf Richie Mo’unga about being aligned in their game plan.
“Because teams at the moment are going 2-3 phases and just kicking it, because that’s their tactic, and they try to punish us at the breakdown and that’s what the Argies did,” he said.
“Argentina weren’t trying to win the game, they were just trying not to lose it. They used their defence for that and we played into their hands.
“Variation, that was something we looked at hard in the review and we can still use our kicking game, use the ball to pressure teams and obviously turn them around.”
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NZ should be very relieved the Argentinians didn’t want to win. Imagine the score if they actually tried to win.
Funny how NZ haven’t been in a loosing situation like this for decades. That’s what happens when you win all the time, you don’t really know why you are winning until you start loosing. His remarks are so childish and unprofessional that it really makes you wonder if they understand the game at all, or they are bad loosers.
I think the most apposite response is the one Martin Johnson gave when asked why his England side kicked so many 3-pointers: “You’d have to ask the other team. It’s not us that’s giving away the kickable penalties.”
The Pumas were being pragmatic and playing to their strengths. They have a top class goal kicker and a very effective defence. If the ABs don’t want the Pumas to keep the scoreboard ticking over, then they need to stop giving away kickable penalties. Conversely, if you have to give away penalties to stop a limited but efficient attack, you’re going to have to accept that price.
Porta potty loving Aaron Smith must have been locked in one a wee too long while Dupont and Ntamack carved them up in November only to be followed up by Sexton’s genius string pulling blitz, especially in games 2 and 3. But yes, those northern hemisphere teams don’t play attacking rugby, right-o Aaron.
Wow, I think we have reached maximum entitlement in New Zealand Rugby… we only lose because everyone else plays anti rugby. Last time I looked Ireland cut through the All Blacks Defence like Butter (even though Jeff Wilson thinks it’s our best attribute) and Arron Smith was part of a highlanders team who used the same kick-Defence tactics to win super rugby. Get real - the laws Favor d over attack at the moment - the all blacks look like they are blind rat running into the same brick wall over and over again. We have the players (maybe light at lock) and the coaches - but we don’t use any of them.
It’s all just a bit too cool for school!!
we didn't want a win. the pumas traveled all the way there to get to know Christchurch lol
That’s a great assessment…. Not!
Never heard more nonsense in my life
'We've beaten the All Blacks by mistake.'