Pumas’ player ratings: Los Pumas failed to play the full eighty minutes in front of a full house in Córdoba, a first-time venue for The Rugby Championship.
The 41-24 All Black win was based on indiscipline at key moments, mostly the nine first half penalties.
1. Mayco Vivas – 4/10
He knew straight away that his stupid 18th minute penalty minute deserved a yellow card. The All Blacks scored their first try when he was off the field. He was also second best at scrum time. 45 minutes of action.
Rassie Erasmus uses the ‘s’ word
2. Julián Montoya – 6
Each one of his 109 tests have been of complete commitment. He did miss his jumper on a couple of lineouts and as captain could not prevent his side’s lack of discipline in the first half. The only blemishes in an otherwise good 65 minutes on the field.
3. Pedro Delgado – 4.5
At least two of Los Pumas’ nine first half penalties had his name. Looked for work but not always found it. Replaced after 45 minutes. Despite his size, did not control his side of the scrum.
4. Franco Molina – 5
His first test of the season lasted 50 minutes. After an incredible first season last year in which he played in every test, he was rested for the first four games. It showed as he was not as busy as in previous games. The crowd cheered him off being from Córdoba.
5. Pedro Rubiolo – 7
Fifteen tackles, the most in the game, for a lock that is always busy in the unseen, yet very necessary, hard work. The least you see of him, the more he is working.
6. Pablo Matera – 6.5
An early tackle on Rieko Ioane showed his focus, although he was quiet in the first half. His speed of thought saw him tap a penalty, forcing centre Proctor into a penalty and a yellow card. Had fifteen minutes of pure mongrel pushing his team to score their second and third tries. His oldes son took home former teammate Sevu Reece’s All Black shirt.
7. Marcos Kremer – 6
A painful ankle injury after half an hour of active duty would have finished any other players’ game. But the giant, bit his lip, strapped the ankle and continued until the 50th minute as if nothing had happened. He was tactical substitution. He never takes a step back and his defensive work is always busy either tackling or closing gaps as few want to attack his position.
8. Joaquín Oviedo – 7.5
Local boy Oviedo scored a deserved try through raw power, which he showed throughout the game. Attacking from the base, he often broke the first line of defence for a total of thirteen carries. And with Rubiolo, led the tackle count with fifteen. A good return game after being rested in July.
9. Gonzalo García – 6,5
Nervous start, but as he settled, he was constantly on the ball. Three turnovers when he was in possession but gave good service to his first five, allowing Albornoz to shine in attack. An untimely knock-on close to a try scoring opportunity was a missed opportunity for the team.
10. Tomás Albornoz – 8
He has the luxury of time, which he showed repeatedly, including his individual try, breaking one tackle and evading three. A huge left boot – he kicked three goals and a penalty – and the ability to open spaces with his beautiful, well-educated hands. Having shone against the Lions, he was missed against England but his rest paid off. He makes the team better. Led the number of carries for Argentina, 14, the same amount as Ardie Savea, although he carried the ball ten more metres than the All Black number eight.
11. Bautista Delguy – 6
First touch of the ball was a good kick and chase, Delguy was always quick in defence. Had to leave the field when prop Vivas was sinbinned. The ball seldom came his way and his only mistake was when he ignored a try-scoring pass. Fortunately, his teammate Joaquín Oviedo scored two phases later.
12. Santiago Chocobares – 7
Unnecessary shoulder charge in the second minute gave Beauden Barrett the opportunity to open the scoreline with a penalty – truth be told, twice the same incident from the All Blacks went unpenalized. Two key touches for Isgro’s first try, and another good game showed how he was sorely missed earlier this year. A welcomed return for one Los Pumas’ stars in France.
13. Lucio Cinti – 6
Seventy busy minutes for the Saracens’ centre. Forms a good partnership with Chocobares and defended solidly. He has good hands and showed his elusiveness at times but had no real impact in attack.
14. Rodrigo Isgró – 5.5
In his third season in the team, his skills perfected in sevens are a joy to watch. He showed his ability in the air in the first minute, and a couple of other times in the 50 minutes he was on the field. Scored his team’s first try, running in the corner after very good teamwork in the buildup. Missed one-on-one tackle on Will Jordan that led to Cortez Ratima’s try when Los Pumas’ were down to fourteen.
15. Juan Cruz Mallía – 6.5
The Toulouse star offers his team the certainty that the back field is well covered. He was poised when needing to exit his field and in charge of long kicks to touch from penalties. Spent the last half hour on the wing and his contribution was equally solid.
Reserves
16. Ignacio Ruiz – 5.5 – Under pressure at lineout time, three times his throw did not find his jumper or was well read by the disruptive opposition. Ruiz is certainly getting better as an apprentice to Montoya. As Montoya learnt from Agustín Creevy and Creevy learnt from Mario Ledesma. If the baton passes now, he is ready.
17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro – 6.5 – After a cameo in the opening half when Vivas sinbinned, Los Pumas’ scrum was much better when, with fellow prop Sclavi, took the field for the last 35 minutes.
18. Joel Sclavi – 6 – As with Tetaz Chaparro, the scrum was instantly stronger as he took the field. Gave away a penalty close to his line which later led to a try.
19. Guido Petti – 6 – As with González, he was a shock omission from the starting XV but in half an hour made a big impact, winning lineout ball and handling the ball, never losing it despite the pressure the team was under.
20. Juan Martín González – 7 – Was he dropped or will he continue to be an impact player? He did not make his case any good by starring in his 30 minutes of on field action. He is probably the best Argentine player currently playing the game and as much as it was strange to see him start in the bench, he did what was expected from him once he took the field. I’d rather see him play from the start.
21. Simón Benítez Cruz – 6 – The speed of the game was probably the fastest the four-cap scrumhalf ever played in. A box kick went out on the full and he was late to a couple of rucks, but overall, his 15-minute introduction to rugby speed x2 was good.
22. Santiago Carreras – 5.5 – Half an hour on the field as fullback, the position he should stick to in international rugby. Albornoz has definitely taken his number 10 jersey and it might be that his future in the team is as an impact player. In doing that, he had a couple of very long kicks, as always, an asset for the team.
23. Justo Piccardo – N/A – Two positive touches of the ball in ten minutes on the field. Not enough time to be graded.