Quarter final four; NZ vz Argentina

First topic message reminder :

Not sure if ones been posted. As long as we win its a start.

Go pumas...!

Great defence

But looks like a yellow card and a try will come soon

Yellow. Can´t say I´m surprised by that. There were plenty of warnings. Possible try to McCaw hitting the post.

Its 14 versus 16 now...

DOD wrote:Its 14 versus 16 now...

Fortuitous foot in the way. Penalty. Should see quick ball now with fewer men and warnings from Owen. I´m starting to breathe again.

no try, superb defence again from the Pumas. a huge 10 mins coming up for them now.

Weepu keeping NZ alive and ahead in this game. 18-10.

Amazing from Jane.

I think that was a fair enough call: cynically and illegally slowing it down inside your own five meter line deserves a yellow IMO

Toeava put the toe in toeava and gives the wrong option. Give yourself an uppercut son. Just when you think Jane is tackled he somehow finds a way through. Good work you boozer.

Go on Corey do a Tommy!!!

Can't believe the ABs haven't a try yet though...the Puma's defence has been superb.

Wow, great handling McCaw.

Miracle passes there. Gaps are opening up now. Shame about the last execution.

Yeah, Owen's has been on the mark so far.

I'm dying of anxiety here. If it goes quiet, I died.

All the booze and fags don't look to have done Jane much harm.

Great stuff from McCaw there. Brad Thorn has been everywhere too.

Then you really will be a

ABs really need to capitalise on the binning....not long left on it.

excellent reffing by NIge telling them not to go into the ruck with a shoulder, wish more reffs would do that.

Possibly the yellow was deserved but owens is only reffing one side. I suppose we wont have the howls of outrage from the nz public aas we got four years ago. How about a yellow card for dangerous play...no.

that was pretty darn good by Rodrieguez.

rugbydreamer wrote:that was pretty darn good by Rodrieguez.

+1 I thought that was a very bold move. I wish more players would try that instead of panicking and booting away possession and not gaining ground.

That's a yellow for you DOD. One more WUM and you´re off...

Try for Read!

oooooh why did you go for the intercept?!


aaaaargh Argentina

Try for NZ.

game over I think

There´s more hands in there than a foam party. Finally a try but lucky not to get an intercept. Read should´ve had his feet up and two tries.

Weepu easily our best.
Welcome back to wcup rugby boys where its all that much harder.
Good try.

Ha! The commentators said "Let's see the reaction of the coaches..." and they didn't move.

I would say Weepu has been the difference between these two teams today.

Ok Mr Owens. That's close enough to 80 minutes. Blow it up, let's go home.

Awh bless Ledesma

Weepu easily man of the match for ABs. Good on you son.

Come back from the dead GG. This is the perfect preparation game for the ABs. Very tight, effective defence. Got to salute the Argentinians.

Mario Ledesma what a guy.

DOD wrote:Possibly the yellow was deserved but owens is only reffing one side. I suppose we wont have the howls of outrage from the nz public aas we got four years ago. How about a yellow card for dangerous play...no.

Don't agree DOD. NZ are playing all the rugby and Argentina are just slowing and spoiling at every single ruck. I think Owens has been lenient because you can't send off 7 guys. But he's had enough now.

You haven't moved forward now have you


No No with a little boy look on his face

NZ have been doing just as much spoiling when Argentina have had the ball but you'd expect that from both sides.

I think Nige has been perfectly fair to both teams, a great refereeing display.

Weepu has been amazing.

Weepu and Jane standouts for me. Got to respect Cruden coming in and he´s looked to be full of running.

Commentator Bingo! "Thorn will be saying he scored that one from the half way line"

I don't know how NZ managed to keept hat ball in play!

Score doesn't really reflect the match now

Doctor! Defibrillator!

Sorry kia didnt realise that disagreeing with the abs = Wum. The point was made at the half time talk on irish tv by conor o'shea that owens was heavily favouring the abs in the 50/50decisions. Some of his decisions have been home based shall we say . Given the screams of derision towards wayne barnes four years ago maybe nigel bottled it.

Or would you rather that we all bow in honour of the abs in terms of their rugby playing prowess ...

NZ look laboured without carter and they wont get a ref who favours them every game..and the Aussies waiting in the long grass

FT 33-10 to NZ, really well played by the AB's they were made to work so hard for that.

But Argentina I just blydi well love that team.

Well done ABs, better side on the day. Look like argentina will do more than make up the numbers in the 4N next season though!

Well done NZ

Cowan makes me want to smash up my house. His passing is woeful. Ellis is better at backup even though he´s not that flash.

Hopefully there are no niggly injuries from this match. That was heroic tackling from Argentina. Some huge hits from there. The ABs will know they´ve been in a real battle. Score doesn´t reflect how close it was for 60 mins and the binning.

Good hard work up the front. Few missed tackles in the backrow but put that down to great play by the Argentinian backrow. Good to see Read and McCaw pull through. Big step up again next week with Australia with different style of play. kia kaha

Whatever works gg. GH will be thankful we had this first.

Looks like we keep our 20 point diff intact for all home wcup matches but its easily our hardest.

C'mon DOD mate. Don't be bitter. I know the Irish are hurting, but trying to blame a referee in a match you didn't even play in is getting rich.

NZ owned the ball and despite Argentina's resolute defence, in the modern game the attacking team with the ball in hand gets the swing of the pendulum on the interpretations.

Are there some specific rulings you're not happy with? or are you just having a general bitter rant?

Full marks to the ABs today. With injuries (not just DC, but also Dagg, Guildford and Slade), and with Argentina using slowing tactics, they reverted to plan B, went direct and won a massive forwards battle with imposing and resilient opposition.

You don't have to bow in honour, but how about a little respect for a top grafting performance.

I have been watching with the NZ commentartors. At half-time they were talking as if they were attending their own funeral. Rather annoying as the ABs were doing OK. Its not as if they were playing, say, Tonga (oops, bad analogy, eh Mr. Livremont?).

No real mention of the referee. Shows much of this is about where one lives and who one supports. it would be interesting now to watch with ITV commentators.

But, good show to the ABs. Should be a nice match next weekend.

Let´s salute Argentina DOD rather than say NZ look laboured. Obviously Carter is a huge loss and he manages a game better than no other flyhalf. But Cruden looked good coming on for me. AB ball was too slow and that was due to persistent infringing.

Feel free to think that Owens was biased. Never give the ABs credit for winning. Of course the ref gives us the game on a plate. Australia is a huge game no doubt.

Taylorman wrote:Whatever works gg. GH will be thankful we had this first.

Looks like we keep our 20 point diff intact for all home wcup matches but its easily our hardest.

Hey Taylor, I have a question for you, and please I am not out to wind anyone up. But, why is it important to maintain this 20+ point winning margin, rather than just winning? When I see it in print, it looks rather........bad. Know what I mean?

Light hearted doctor grey.

Well done NZ.

The Pumas made a real game of it though and the scoreline didn't do them justice.