International
All Blacks fall short to Argentina in Christchurch
Applied Argentina defence carried them to a famous 25–18 win, their first on New Zealand soil, over the All Blacks in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Test in Christchurch on Saturday.
It was a win that puts Argentina right in the hunt to claim their first Rugby Championship, especially with Australia having beaten South Africa earlier in the day. Argentina and Australia have nine points each. The All Blacks have five points, and South Africa four.
Try as the All Blacks might, with long phases of 17 recycles at times, and veteran lock Sam Whitelock, No8 Ardie Savea, second five-eighths David Havili et al, charging at the line, they were unable to penetrate the determined Argentine tacklers, spread across the field.
Instead it was the Crusaders loose forward Pablo Matera, hooker, captain and turnover maestro Julian Montoya, and goal-kicker Emiliano Boffelli, who landed six penalty goals and the conversion who spearheaded the Argentina effort. The effort went in across the field.
Flanker Marcos Kremer made 26 tackles, Montoya 21 and second five-eighths Matias Orlando 18 as Argentina made 195 tackles to 87 by the All Blacks.
Ironically, for a team with one of the most feared scrums in the world, Argentina were unable to claim any dominance in that department, but it didn’t matter, they competed in the lineouts and put the pressure on through that avenue, and in their defence.
That was highlighted in the last two minutes when desperation saw replacement hooker Codie Taylor fail to throw straight 10m out from Argentina’s line.
That spelled the end for the All Blacks who should have made more of their chances in the first half, in which they led 15-12.
Mistakes, and penalty concessions, niggled the All Blacks and when they might have hoped their fitness would bring them home, they ran into Argentinian fervour when they had history in the grip.
Argentina made the stronger start to the second half, capitalising on a re-start after a penalty goal landed by first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga.
Lock Scott Barrett was unable to hold the restart. Lurking to take the ball was blindside flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and he ran around into space on the short side and sped through for a try to allow Boffelli to land a sideline conversion to regain the lead.
Another penalty was conceded in the 57th minute and Boffelli landed another goal to give Argentina a 22-18 lead.
Eight penalties conceded in the first half, four of them in goal-kicking range for wing Emiliano Boffelli, denied the All Blacks the ability to build momentum. The sides were competitive but the All Blacks showed their attacking ability with the forward pack piecing together an outstanding driving maul to get hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho over in the 10th minute.
Then, with the Argentine lineout, which had been operating at 93 per cent against Australia, under pressure and conceding two throws, it was Taukei’aho who covered a poor Pumas throw to get the ball moving.
Mo’unga found Havili and centre Rieko Ioane, and he drew the defence to slip a short pass to fullback Jordie Barrett. He linked with wing Caleb Clarke and he ran in the second try.
The All Blacks showed the power they could harness when driving, including one 17 phase effort that sapped the Argentine defence. It also helped that the strength of the All Blacks scrum saw the less experienced Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax defang the experienced Pumas scrum.
Up 15-12 at halftime, the All Blacks could reflect on a competitive start again, but lost opportunities due to that 8-5 penalty count.
Scorers: All Blacks 18 (Samisoni Taukei’aho, Caleb Clarke tries; Richie Mo’unga con, 2 pen) Argentina 25 (Juan Martin Gonzalez try; Emiliano Boffelli con, 6 pen). HT: 15-12
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Jordan signs for Bristol Bears
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
