Argentina ready for New Zealand challenge, says Agustin Creevy
Saturday 10 September 2016 08:32, UK
Relinquishing a 10-point lead with 10 minutes remaining in their first Super Rugby Championship clash against South Africa has helped Argentina in their preparations for their match against New Zealand, according to captain Agustin Creevy.
The Pumas were leading 23-13 in Nelspruit in their opening match of this year's competition only for the Springboks to storm back and score 17-unanswered points and clinch a remarkable victory.
Live Rugby Championship
Instead of retreating into a never-ending questioning of 'what if', the Pumas bounced back the following week with Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias slotting a late penalty to give his side a 26-24 victory.
"We were not very happy as we didn't close out that (first) test," Creevy told the New Zealand Herald in Hamilton on Friday.
"But when we beat them in Salta, it showed to the team that we can get a good result after having a disappointing result the week before."
Creevy, however, was also aware how well the All Blacks had been playing this year, despite the retirement of six stalwarts following last year's Rugby World Cup.
Steve Hansen's side beat Wales 3-0 in their June series and were nearly flawless in their opening Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies.
The All Blacks raced out to a 32-3 halftime lead before winning 42-8 and then retained the Bledisloe Cup with a 29-9 victory over the Wallabies in Wellington two weeks ago.
Creevy said his side would need to be as close to perfect as they could if they were to win their first game against the All Blacks in their 23rd test match, with their best result a 21-21 draw in 1985.
"That's why it's such a huge challenge for us," Creevy said. "But we believe that if we do things really well, if we have the perfect game, we can beat them even knowing they are one of the best teams in the world."
Under the radar
Argentina's confidence has not gone unnoticed by the All Blacks and skipper Kieran Read believes they will pose a big threat on Saturday.
"I expect a real tough Test match," said Read.
"We've prepared really well and I think we're looking at this Argentinian team as a real threat to us, you know. They're coming under the radar. They've certainly got a bit of confidence about them. You know they are a good side and we know they've run us close a couple of times last year, so it's going to be a big test for us.
"They've got two sides to them and they love the flair and to throw the ball around and offload and also we look at their strengths which is their scrum and lineouts. So you know it's a full package from them so we expect a pretty tough game up front, so our big boys are going to have to really step up and get parity or top of them."
Read will be up against one of the stars of the tournament in Pumas No 8 Facundo Isa who is relishing the chance to rewrite the history books. The two sides have met 22 times but the nearest the Pumas have come is a 21-21 draw way back in 1985. However, the inclusion of the Jaguares in the Super Rugby competition has bolstered the confidence of the Test side.
The Buenos Aires-based side were essentially made up of the Pumas and while they disappointed at times, were competitive in most of their matches and will only benefit from the regularity of the competition going forward.
"Super Rugby gave us an experience that was very important to many of us, confronting the different franchises," said Isa.
"The team matured a lot, and that inspires us to beat New Zealand."
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Joe Moody, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read (c).
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Matthias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Juan Martin Hernandez, 11 Santiago Cordero; 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo; 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (capt), 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Facundo Isa
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Ramiro Moyano.
Watch New Zealand v Argentina live on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports 3 HD on Saturday from 8am. Watch on NOW TV for £6.99. No contract.
