2023-07-08 23:31:58
The Blues, gathered in training in Monaco since the beginning of the week, are warned. For their opening match of the World Cup in two months to the day (September 8-October 28), Antoine Dupont’s teammates will face the New Zealanders at the Stade de France. And the All Blacks showed that they were already in very good shape, winning well in Mendoza against Argentina (12-41), who had beaten them twice in three years, on the first day of Rugby Championship 2023.
However, Ian Foster’s men, who had been said to be moribund for a year, could have been surprised at the start of the match after aggressive pressing from the Pumas and the blocked clearance from Damian McKenzie, who finally managed to flatten in his in-goal under pressure (1st). And the New Zealanders were able to count on their iron defense again before the half-hour mark, on a very good comeback from Jordie Barrett in the corner, just ahead of Moroni (25th).
Three tries in 11 minutes
In addition to their defense, the All Blacks especially shone in attack against Pumas too quickly overwhelmed. Hooker Dane Coles scored the first try of the match after a good combination between Ioane, McKenzie and Narawa (5th). Julian Savea then doubled the bet four minutes later (9th). Smuggler on Savea’s try, Jordie Barrett participated in the festival by going along the line and flattening alone in the Pumas in-goal after a one-two with his brother Beauden (12th). The match was already folded even before the quarter of an hour of play. A demonstration.
Before half-time, Ioane scored the fourth try of the match (29th) thanks to a very good exit from scrum, before Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and winger Emoni Narawa, for his very first selection, worsened the score (39th, 57th, 76th).
The only downside of the evening was the kicking game of McKenzie, preferred at the opening to Richie Mo’unga, who missed four conversion attempts (out of seven) but who showed accuracy in the animation of the game Moreover. The Argentinians will barely console themselves with the tries of Sordoni (53rd) and Creevy at the very end of the match (81st).
New Zealand will face South Africa, largely victorious over Australia earlier in the day, on July 15 in Auckland in a final before the hour. Ian Foster’s men can dream of a fourth consecutive coronation in this tournament exceptionally reduced to three days, instead of six, due to the World Cup.
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