New Zealand 33 - 10 Argentina: All Blacks sweep aside plucky Pumas

NEW Zealand saw off a stubborn Argentina side to set up a World Cup semi-final with Australia, but their post-match press conference saw Graham Henry attempt to draw a line under reports All Blacks had been drinking in the build-up to their quarter-final, saying he had “dealt with it”.

Following New Zealand’s 33-10 victory the coach was asked about a newspaper report which said Cory Jane had been on a “drinking binge” less than 72 hours before the match. “Oh I’ve dealt with that and I’ve moved on,” Henry told a news conference.

Captain Richie McCaw was then quizzed about whether senior members of the team were expected to abstain from drinking. “I think if we’re realistic about putting everything we can into winning this tournament, it is about making good decisions,” he said. “And we probably had an incident that was not a very good decision, but we’ve dealt with that and the guys are pretty committed about doing everything they can to win the thing. That’s the way it has been all the way through and that’s the way it will continue.”

Jane told reporters after the match: “It was a stupid choice. However, it was important for me to play well today and I feel I did.”

He said the incident had not gone down well with the coaching staff. “It was awkward. It was pretty quiet and pretty tough,” he said.

Last month, New Zealand wing Zac Guildford apologised for his “excessive drinking” and vowed to take full advantage of his opportunity after escaping a playing ban.

The 22-year-old had already held discussions with All Blacks coaches after several alcohol-related incidents but was involved in another in Brisbane in August in the wake of New Zealand’s Tri-Nations defeat by Australia.

Henry was last night persuaded to return to the theme and indicated Jane had been forgiven.

“I think he is a proud All Black and he wanted to perform,” he said of Jane’s contribution to the victory over Argentina.

“He probably didn’t make a good decision during the week – he definitely didn’t make a good decision during the week – and he wanted to get right back, and I thought he was outstanding out there … one of the outstanding players.”

New Zealand’s victory was sometimes nervous but ultimately comfortable.

The Pumas kept New Zealand from breaching their line until the 67th minute and the All Blacks were forced to rely on the kicking of Piri Weepu to rack up the points before forwards Kieran Read and Brad Thorn scored late tries to ensure the hosts will return to Eden Park next Sunday to play Australia.

Argentina, who eliminated Scotland at the group stage, battled hard at the breakdown to slow New Zealand ball and even took the lead at one stage after a try from Julio Farias Cabello.

There were flashes of brilliance from New Zealand wingers Jane and Sonny Bill Williams as well as a typically wholehearted effort from Ma’a Nonu in the centres but, in the end, it was the All Black pack who ground out the victory.

Weepu had assumed place-kicking duty from the start and converted penalties in the 13th and 26th minutes to put the All Blacks 6-0 ahead. No 8 Read thought he had scored the first try of the match in the 18th minute but his toe grazed the touchline before he ploughed over in the corner. In the event, it was Argentina who left a packed Eden Park stunned when Cabello got over the New Zealand line in the 31st minute.

A thundering run from No 8 Leonardo Senatore got the Pumas to within a couple of metres of the line and his fellow loose forward plunged over to score with Felipe Contepomi adding the conversion.

The Pumas’ 7-6 lead last just five minutes, however, before Weepu slotted another penalty to edge the home side ahead and another three points from the scrumhalf on the stroke of half-time sent the All Blacks into the break 12-7 up.

Argentina were not done yet, though, and centre Marcelo Bosch landed a penalty from the halfway line six minutes after the break only for Weepu to hit back with one of his own after 50 minutes.

McCaw, who played 73 minutes despite his foot injury, was denied a try by the television match official in the 58th minute but Weepu added his sixth penalty from in front of the posts. The infringement cost Pumas scrumhalf Nicolas Vergallo ten minutes in the sin-bin and while he was sat on the sidelines the All Blacks finally found a way through the powder blue and white defensive line.

There was an element of danger even to this, though, with Jerome Kaino’s pass almost being intercepted before Read gathered it in to canter over in the corner in the 67th minute.

Weepu failed to add the conversion – his first missed kick of the tournament – but he added his seventh penalty to extend New Zealand’s cushion to 26-10 before making way for Jimmy Cowan.

Lock Thorn put a gloss on the result three minutes from time with a second try for the All Blacks after a neat offload from flyhalf Aaron Cruden, who added the conversion to seal a fine performance as first-half replacement for the injured Colin Slade.

New Zealand fullback Mils Muliaina, who was playing his 100th test, was replaced at halftime because of a shoulder injury, another concern for the hosts before they encounter their trans-Tasman rivals next week.

Scorers: New Zealand: Tries: Read, Thorn. Cons: Weepu. Pens: Weepu 7. Argentina: Farias Cabello. Cons: Contepomi. Pens: Bosch.

New Zealand: Muliaina, Jane, Smith, Nonu, S. Williams, Slade, Weepu, Woodcock, Mealamu, O. Franks, Thorn, Whitelock, Kaino, McCaw, Read. Replacements: Toeava for Muliaina (40), Cruden for Slade (33), Hore for Mealamu (65), A. Williams for Whitelock (62).

Argentina: Rodriguez, Camacho, Bosch, Contepomi, Agulla, Fernandez, Vergallo, Roncero, Ledesma, Figallo, Carizza, Albacete, Farias Cabello, Leguizamon, Senatore. Replacements: Jose Imhoff for Agulla (50), Lalanne for Vergallo (49), Ayerza for Roncero (39), Creevy for Ledesma (70), Scelzo for Figallo (59), Campos for Carizza (62)