2023-10-20 23:06:27
A whistle in the silence. The All Blacks raised their arms. They could have put their fingers to their mouths, just to indicate that they were indeed present and far from being as needy as one might have thought before the World Cup. Their walk on the pitch of the Stade de France this Friday evening (6-44), one hand on the ball, the other caressing the docile and clumsy Pumas, sent them to the final of this World Cup in which they had become outsiders.
For the fifth time in ten editions, the New Zealanders (world champions three times in 1987, 2011 and 2015) reach the final stage of the competition. A record. They will compete for the title against South Africa or England who face each other this Saturday evening. And they almost established the biggest gap ever in a semi-final (49-6 by themselves against the Welsh in 1987). The inaugural defeat against the XV of France on September 8 in a group match (27-13) seems a long way away.
These All Blacks may not have brought the crowds to their feet, but their mastery and efficiency caused a few murmurs to spread in a darkened arena. As for the atmosphere, it wasn’t the madness of big nights in fact. As if there was nothing else to expect other than a nice unbalanced opposition, a walk in a French garden, a rehearsal before the real battle for the coronation against South Africa or England, on October 28 on this lawn which resists the trampling of the behemoths well (3rd match in a week after the two quarter-finals). An hour before kick-off, there was already this conventional air around a surprisingly behaved Stade de France. Argentinian, New Zealand, but also French and South African supporters chatted quietly, scattered and almost silent before reaching their places, without any worries, at the last moment.
It was almost as quiet on the ground. After a mini round of observation given to the Pumas, increasing the playing times and delivering their carcasses to the opposing wall as if it were already their last hope. A penalty (5th, 3-0), that’s the meager spoils collected. Then it was enough for two or three small accelerations, without straining too much, from the Pacific players who did not have the same springiness as a week earlier during their stunning performance against the Irish at the same place in the quarter-final ( 28-24), to take control of this tango without music. Winger Will Jordan and center Jordie Barrett found themselves propelled behind the line, taking advantage of Argentinian largesse and open spaces (11th, 16th).
Not enough to wake up a dozing audience. A “Marseillaise” pushed without conviction, a few “Argentina!” Argentina! » no more decided, that’s all. The second half, which started with a body feint and a victorious escape from scrum half Aaron Smith (42nd), did not change this long procession. The All Blacks just did the job of getting their hands on the ball and accelerating when they needed to. That was the main thing.
Dots
Argentina: 2 penalties from Boffelli (5th, 34th)
New Zealand: 7 tries from Jordan (11th, 63rd, 75th), J. Barrett (16th), Frizell (40th, 49th), Smith (42nd), 3 conversions from Mo’unga (11th, 42nd, 49th), 1 penalty from Mo’unga (38th)
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