Jason Pine: All Blacks manage perfect game in challenging conditions

That first half - Sam Cane called it a clinic afterwards, and that's a pretty good description.

Everything the All Blacks did in that first 40 was pretty much perfect, and in fairly challenging conditions at times - it was pretty wet at kickoff. The rain did ease off for large parts of the game, but the execution of skills in those conditions was really impressive.

To their immense credit, the Pumas regrouped at half-time and were much more competitive after the break - the second half score was 7-all, but the damage was done by an utterly brilliant first half.

With TJ Perenara, it would appear rumours of his imminent demise have been somewhat exaggerated. He was tremendous last night - what a response to his challenging evening in Wellington.

That run and pass for Will Jordan's first try was sublime. His awareness to see the opportunity down the blindside and the skill to execute it, I bet he slept well last night.

Ethan Blackadder was absolutely terrific. 2 tackles, and he was still tackling in the 83rd minute at 42-10 ahead. It's the kind of workhorse performance that epitomises his approach to the game.

There was also a huge shift from Ethan Blackadder.

And it seems almost repetitive to mention Ardie Savea, but we have to. Just exceptional, yet again.

The stats only tell some of the story, but here they are:

18 carries and five defenders beaten, another try - his 27th in tests - he's level now with Richie McCaw as our highest try-scoring test forward.

He also gave the final pass for Caleb Clarke's try. And on the other side of the ball, 12 tackles and no missed tackles.

Afterwards, he said he demanded physicality from his team through words and actions.

"We'll lead and let the boys follow us."

Imagine having Ardie Savea as the guy to follow.

You'd run through brick walls and still be looking for the next one.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
That first half Sam Kane called it a clinic afterwards,
and that's a pretty good description. Everything the All Blacks
did in that first forty was pretty much perfect and
fairly challenging conditions at times. It was pretty wet at kickoff.
It did ease off the rain for large parts of
the game, but even so it was the execution of
skills in challenging conditions from the All Blacks in the

(00:34):
first half was rarely impressive. To their immense credit, the
Pumas regrouped at half time and were much more competitive
after the break. Second half score was seven all, but
the damage was done by an utterly brilliant first half
TJ Pedinada. It would appear that rumors of his imminent
demise have been somewhat exaggerated. Tremendous last night, what a

(00:57):
response to what was a challenging evening in Wellington and
that run and passed for Will Jordan's first try sublime.
His awareness to see the opportunity that it'll looked to
the left and then darting down the blind side, the
skill to execute it abit he slept pretty well last night.
Ethan Blackadder absolutely terrific. Twenty tackles last night. He was

(01:17):
still tackling in the eighty third minute at forty two
to ten ahead, the kind of workhorse performance that epitomizes
his approach to the game. Plenty of niggle as well
from Ethan Blackadder. He and Thomas love and he had
plenty to say to one another, but only only during
the eighty minutes.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
They're all good buggers.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
It's heated at times on there, but have a laugh
from the Yanna, so it's great. That's Ethan Blake had
a huge shift from him. And it seems almost repetitive
to mention Ardie Savia, but we have to rarely just exceptional.
Yet again, the stats only tell some of the story,
but here they are eighteen carries, five defenders, beaten another try.

(01:55):
That's twenty seven and Test matches now for Ardie savier
a level with Richie mccare as our highest try scoring
Test forward. He also gave the final pass to Caleb
Flight for his try and on the other side of
the ball. Twelve tackle, twelve tackles and no miss tackles.
Here's to mighty Williams talking about Ardie Savia afterwards.

Speaker 3 (02:14):
Ardi just a minor physical dominance, And I guess it's
easy to prepare when that's all you get us to do. So, yeah,
I'm the leader's leader and we'll just follow them.

Speaker 2 (02:23):
And Ardie himself said exactly the same thing.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
It starts with myself as a leader, and it starts
with our leaders. We need to step forward and lead
and let the boys follow us.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Let the boys follow us. Imagine having Ardie Savier as
the guy to follow. It'd run for a brick wall,
wouldn't you, and then be looking for another one.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
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