Rugby World Cup: All Blacks survive scare from plucky Pumas

AS statements go, New Zealand’s was less than convincing as the most experienced Test team ever seen was given a serious scare by Argentina.

AS statements go, New Zealand’s was less than convincing as the most experienced Test team ever seen was given a serious scare by Argentina before prevailing 26-16 in the opening match of its Rugby World Cup defence on Monday morning (AEST).

The All Blacks looked vulnerable as they lost the plot in the face of a fiercely ambitious Argentina side unimpressed by the famous jersey and famous faces.

This was supposed to be a relatively comfortable opener for the All Blacks, who have never lost to the Pumas and beat them 39-18 in July.

But familiarity with the All Blacks from playing them twice a year has bred in the Pumas, not contempt, but belief that they are not that far behind the world champions.

JAPAN SHOCK THE WORLD! LISTEN TO OUR RWC PODCAST WITH DAVE DENNIS

‘DUMB’ MCCAW BOOED AT WEMBLEY

NZ VIEW: SONNY BILL SILENCES CRITICS

WALES FACING INJURY CRISIS AHEAD OF ENGLAND

News_Image_File: New Zealand’s Kieran Read flicks out a pass against Argentina.

They beat South Africa for the first time last month in Durban, and this margin of defeat to New Zealand was their smallest in nine years.

Such was the effort by Argentina, to lead into halftime and until the end of the third quarter, that it drew a standing ovation at fulltime from the Wembley crowd of 89,019, the biggest ever to watch a Rugby World Cup game.

New Zealand was playing its first match in more than a month, and deliberately picked its strongest side — the first in world rugby to feature more than 1000 caps — against its toughest Pool C opponent, to blow out cobwebs and get some momentum going in a tournament they’re heavily favoured to win.

News_Rich_Media: Rugby World Cup: Phil Waugh says the All Blacks "had too much class" despite an upset on the cards by Argentina.

They started well.

They rode smoothly to 9-0 on the back of Dan Carter penalties through the first quarter.

Then the plot was lost.

Argentina, while down a man, scored the first try of the match through lock Guido Petti Pagadizaval.

The move started inside their half, led by winger Juan Imhoff, fullback Joaquin Tuculet, and captain and hooker Agustin Creevy.

Petti Pagadizaval ended up diving over too easily off a ruck, but was hit late by Carter and had to go off the field for a suspected head knock.

Nicolas Sanchez converted, and put his team in the lead in the 30th minute when New Zealand captain Richie McCaw was caught tripping, and yellow-carded.

News_Image_File: Richie McCaw of the All Blacks receives a yellow card.

Just before the break, Argentina attacked from inside its 22 to New Zealand’s 22 and earned another penalty when centre Conrad Smith played ruck ball off his feet and was sin-binned, reducing New Zealand to 13 men.

Sanchez kicked the penalty for 13-9, but there was still time for fly half counterpart Carter to stroke over his fourth successive penalty and cut the margin to one.

Still, Wembley was aflutter at halftime, the tension was mounting, and the sunshine at kick-off had made way for grey clouds, matching New Zealand’s mood.

Sanchez’s boot extended the lead to 16-12, and when an Argentina scrum, backed into its left corner, pushed New Zealand back for a relieving penalty, the Argentines in the crowd began singing.

New Zealand, deep enough to replace star backs Ma’a Nonu and Nehe Milner-Skudder with star backs Sonny Bill Williams and Beauden Barrett, kept hammering away, and forced another lineout in Argentina’s left corner.

News_Image_File: Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe of Argentina celebrates as Guido Petti Pagadizabal goes over to score.

They drove it, hooker Dane Coles peeled off, and scrumhalf Aaron Smith scored without being touched to put New Zealand in front for the first time in nearly half an hour.

Carter’s conversion made it 19-16.

The try didn’t break the Pumas’ resistance entirely, but they noticeably wilted.

They spent the rest of the match scrambling in defence, watching the All Blacks find all kinds of ways to botch tries.

No 8 Kieran Read threw a forward lob to McCaw, the superb Aaron Smith worked a give-and-go with Williams only to see his try-pass to replacement flanker Sam Cane dropped.

Cane scored in the next minute, however, given an overlap by Williams in a three-on-one.

Carter, who didn’t miss all day, converted for the final score with 13 minutes to go, and the tension drained away from Wembley.