C'mon the NZ press. All you are doing is feeding the pigeons. Any rugby fan worth his salt would support Graham Henry advising the Pumas. We need this Championship to be up and running in no time. For the All Blacks as a brand and a team we need more competition for when the likes of the Wallabies and the Boks lose form. It's great supporting the world's winningest sports team...but I want some competition! It's no fun winning easy. it's no fun knowing just putting on your boots is half the game won. I always coached my guys to enjoy a 15-12 loss more than a 60-0 win. I played rugby for the sport, and I support rugby for the sport. I support the All Blacks for the sport. Is there seriously anyone with a problem with Sir Ted giving the Argies a helping hand?
Onto the game itself and some journos trying to drum up some readers are suggesting the "fast improving" Argentina are a serious threat. That the underperforming "Carter-less ABs" are a potential victim for the Henry-advised Pumas. Everyone is a potential victim. Anyone who buys a Sunday paper is a potential victim. Anyone who doesn't wear a condom is a potential victim. Hell, anyone who wears a condom is a potential victim. Of course the Argies could turn in a great performance, and coupled with a dismal one from New Zealand could possibly spell defeat for the All Blacks. Possibly,...but not probably.
The ABs have been round the block too many times to throw this game away. There are enough new faces that want to win, want to uphold tradition, and want their places to let this be anything else. Don't point to Carter's absence when Cruden was the form 1st5 of the SuperXV. Don't point to any of the earlier made replacements, who would challenge for a place in any other international team. Sonny has gone but the nous of Conrad Smith are worth 2 tries to any team added to the performance only he can bring out of Nonu. Savea is a potential matchwinner or matchloser but I don't think Argentina have the kick & chase game to exploit there. And the almighty Dagg will have to learn to pass the ball...without a doubt something raised by Hansen over the past 2 weeks. Lock for lock great xp for Retallick but Vito will have to stand up versus some traditional hardnosed forwards.
Graham Henry please help the Pumas. NZ needs you.
