Hansen: Expects a war of attrition
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen expects another war of attrition when his side faces the Pumas in La Plata.
Despite winning the previous match between these sides in Wellington earlier this month, the Pumas managed to keep the the All Blacks at bay for more than an hour before two late tries secured a 21-5 victory for the home side.
And Hansen is convinced Argentina will resort to similar tactics which prevented New Zealand launching attacks in that Test.
According to Fairfax Media, Hansen criticised Argentina's forwards for habitually losing their footing at the breakdown and killing the ball as a means of disrupting New Zealand's momentum.
"Argentina will look to slow it down and make it a scrappy game," he said.
"If it does get scrappy we'll get what we got in Wellington."
Hansen believes it's imperative that his side counters that tactic so that they can implement their expansive game-pan.
"We've got to get quicker ball, we've got to win the collision as the ball carrier and get our cleanout right," he said.
"We've got to keep the big Argentinian forwards from going off their feet, killing our ball and slowing our ball."
The All Blacks have scored seven tries in the four Tests since crossing the line nine times in their 60-0 demolition of Ireland in Hamilton earlier this year.
Despite this statistic, Hansen remains positive.
"We're not scoring a lot of tries but the tries we are scoring are off set-piece play and no other team in the world's doing that to the same extent at the moment," he said.
"What we've got to do now is put together the broken play tries - forwards and backs combining - and the opposition aren't allowing us to do that. So far they've been good enough to stop us."
Comments
The_Block says...
I don't hear Hansen giving grief to the Argies, this is normal speak before a test match - and as ROSBIF put it earlier - what a compliment to the Argies that Hansen is saying this - true respect is being earnt in droves.
Being a rocksolid All Blacks man I'm not really enjoying the petty Kiwi comments re the Irish series - we used to be good winners & losers - for those of you out there, most of us still are, it's just a few muppets hiding behind their "web" bravado. I'm a bit disappointed as you can see. There's no shame in losing to a better team - and from my experience, when the AB's do lose, it's one freaken mighty game of ruggers.
Most Kiwis respect we any and all teams we play.
Except the Canadians. Boo Canada ;)
Posted 02:37 28th September 2012
kinsman says...
@jontheref, I'm surprised that is a direct quote coming from Grant Fox. Being a fellow AB and a kicker as well, I'd have thought he would actually know the name of the player who kicked the penalty goal. Maybe the author had some poetic license...
Posted 19:48 27th September 2012
7ton says...
trinats
Hilarious coming from you who just recently denied Australia ever cheat at all.
Bad refereeing? Aus have had plenty of help from refs in recent games.
Posted 10:20 27th September 2012
sandal says...
@HenryFitz
Now, now. On the one hand you have a bit of tweeted overreaction by some NZ children to what was an utterly reprehensible refereeing display by Wayne Barnes (viz. not one penalty awarded against France after the 19th minute; now imagine that had happened to Ireland in Christchurch).
On the other hand you have nearly an entire rugby fraternity who just WILL NOT consider any evidence from Christchurch that counters their lament of "we wuz robbed". People who will not hear, who will not see, are by definition bigots. I admire much about Irish rugby, but this aspect I do not.
Posted 23:34 26th September 2012
sandal says...
@philijfry
Agreed, my friend.
The headline at times catches the eye, but doesn't reflect the story, even as reported.
Posted 23:29 26th September 2012
philipjfry says...
@sandal: I don't think PR always reports statements from coaches or players in context, or if they do it's done clumsily. There have been many strange reports on interviews with coaches and players recently.
Posted 17:03 26th September 2012
jontheref says...
stan wakes up!
Wow, yu are bitter aren't you?
I agree NZ are the best team on the planet, but they infringe like all teams.
Even when they have the ball!
This is why they are penalised.
But of course, the ref should have played advantage!
Wow!
That would make it all right won't it!
Uh, no actually.
I agree Argentina get away with a lot, but so NZ.
Just because you don't agree with the criticism, doesn't mean it is wrong.
Because you are the best team doesn't mean the other teams should lay down and be beaten.
Or is that what you want?
As to the reference back to 1978 by another poster, this is by Grant Fox, so even an ex NZ player has a view contrary to some of yours.
What will you do?
Strip him of his caps?
"Welsh-New Zealand history is littered with controversies which will never die, from Bob Deans¿ disallowed try which would have saved the tourists from a rare defeat in 1905 to the dirty trick played by Andy Haden and Frank Oliver at the Arms Park 73 years later. Between them, and with the tacit agreement of skipper Graham Mourie, they hatched a plan to dive from a lineout and win a penalty which they did. Bruce McKechnie kicked it and the All Black actors won 13-12 although the English referee, Roger Quittenton, has always maintained he awarded the kick against Geoff Wheel for barging at the front of the same lineout. ¿Most fair-minded Kiwis would think that what Andy did was wrong,¿ Fox said. ¿Most of us would rather win by fair means. There wouldn¿t be much support for what Andy did.¿
I was actually there, and if you look at the tape, you will see Oliver back under Wheel, who had won ball all day.
But, you are allowed your view, even though I disagree with it.
Posted 16:44 26th September 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
This is a basic tactic, if you are a "weaker" side you play to your strengths and limit your opposition's - we all want to see champagne rugby from both sides but personally, if it has to be a choice between a contest and a running exhibition I'd pick the contest every time.
Argentina are notoriously difficult to break down, Hansen's remarks are purely intended as a means to getting in the ref's ear without obviously getting in the ref's ear.
I would suggest that Mr Hansen is a little bit nervous about a shock result in, what will be, a slightly less partisan atmosphere than the ABs enjoyed at home.
Posted 12:49 26th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Kiwi fans are getting very tetchy and feisty. And so so gracious in victory re the Ireland hostility.
They're definitely nervous!! Hansen is trying to influence the ref.
Relax kiwi fans. If Scotland can go down there an win a series I'm sure ABs can win a game. It's not that hard. And if not.... No excuses... aye.
Posted 12:37 26th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
"Hansen criticised Argentina's forwards for habitually losing their footing at the breakdown and killing the ball as a means of disrupting New Zealand's momentum"
hahahahahahahohohohoho, so funny coming from a kiwi !!! Ouch my sides !!! Hansen, NZ's version of Pvd !
"We've got to keep the big Argentinian forwards from going off their feet, killing our ball and slowing our ball."
Please stop, it's too much. I changing to the comedy channel for some reprieve !!!
jmanngod:
What you say about the huge amount of penalties against NZ in their 22 against Australia (like Arggies 14 players !!!) ??? Bad ref !!!
Posted 11:50 26th September 2012
donguiyo says...
isn't every team in the world trying to slow the opposition down? (in any sport). I can't recall a single team trying to speed up the other team...
Posted 11:46 26th September 2012
StunTheMullet says...
From the stands the first 55 minutes in Wellington went penalty, injury, penalty, injury, penalty, injury, penalty, injury.....every time the ABs started getting some momentum.
So Stevie boy has a point to not let them slow it down.
Though if I mentioned that Romain Poite indulged the Argies and didn't bother with advantage then JonTheNotVeryGoodRef would ask me to name the minute and second.
Well JonTheNotVeryGoodRef it was the entire first 55 minutes until one of the Argies was finally sin binned.
Posted 10:13 26th September 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Aww man, Come on Steve, You're team is the best in the world. Arguably the best counter rucking side on the planet and you came up against a Graham Henry advised team who put just as much priority on this facet of the game as you do and they gave you a good game for 60 minutes. Don't call it cheating when another country does exactly the same thing as you do. It's part of the sport. Its a brilliant confrontational part of the sport. If you want to be the best and have the rest of the world like you and respect you, then lead with grace and sportsmanship. You're team is a joy to watch, so don't ruin it by acting like bozos off the field.
Posted 09:21 26th September 2012
Ferdie says...
KiwiJoe -Ireland's average of losing 10-34 over three tests is nothing to be ashamed of -it is just average - well close to average.
Over the last ten seasons (124 tests) the All Blacks' winning score has been 36 points to 15, average 21 point winning margin. So based on that, beating Australia 22-nil was just average.
Posted 08:02 26th September 2012
Ferdie says...
ArmchairGeneral - the only whinge I see is yours.
As is so often the case, pluck a few lines from the media - in this case add 'criticism' when that was never a word Hansen used. More from the same interview from SH: "What will expect them to bring? "What they've brought to every game so far - real physicality, real enthusiasm, big heart and they started to use the ball a bit more against Australia and looked really dangerous ..."
His comments are I feel more a criticism of his own side's inability to adapt and react to the Argentine style of play.
and rude_80. 80 seems overrated for your IQ? Your erudite manner suggests you're better suited elsewhere . . . anywhere. Take a hint.
Posted 04:11 26th September 2012
melkiwi says...
he's not criticising the argies tactics at all just state what they did and how they will combat it.
Posted 01:32 26th September 2012
kennyisgay says...
La Planta will be a repeat of the last Irish test unfortunately for the argies
Posted 21:14 25th September 2012
jmanngod says...
actually @meldave - their is a tremendous amount of illegal hands in rucks from the Argies. This is shown by the huge number of penalties they concede (particularly at ruck time in their own 22). Which kind of spoils your 'argument'.
A decent SH ref (read any SH ref when compared to NH) would blow Argentina off the park. The must start playing rugby or thy will always be just like another NH team and remain easy beats.
Posted 21:08 25th September 2012
KiwiJoe says...
That type of play generally will result in scrappy matches but Argentina have every right to play to their strengths, no doubt with a bit of Graham Henry inside info to limit the All Black ambition.
Will still do the the All Blacks good to play hard games against different styles, and if they keep winning, even better.
Leave the try fests for no hopers like Ireland, 102 points for, 29 against in 3 tests or an average of 34 - 10 score per game, butt wupping on a grand scale.....
This won,t happen against Argentina
Posted 20:15 25th September 2012
HenryFitz says...
sandal says...
"That is two instances of inept reffing that favoured Ireland and very nearly robbed NZ, though you never hear about that from the Irish. You are becoming as deaf and blind as the Welsh who complain about that lineout in 1978. But then Irish rugby has long been noted for its petulance."
Was it you that sent Wayne Barnes death threats, or was that your mum?
The irony.
Posted 19:31 25th September 2012