International
All Blacks fall short to Argentina in Christchurch
Applied Argentina defence carried them to a famous 25–18 win, their first on New Zealand soil, over the All Blacks in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Test in Christchurch on Saturday.
It was a win that puts Argentina right in the hunt to claim their first Rugby Championship, especially with Australia having beaten South Africa earlier in the day. Argentina and Australia have nine points each. The All Blacks have five points, and South Africa four.
Try as the All Blacks might, with long phases of 17 recycles at times, and veteran lock Sam Whitelock, No8 Ardie Savea, second five-eighths David Havili et al, charging at the line, they were unable to penetrate the determined Argentine tacklers, spread across the field.
Instead it was the Crusaders loose forward Pablo Matera, hooker, captain and turnover maestro Julian Montoya, and goal-kicker Emiliano Boffelli, who landed six penalty goals and the conversion who spearheaded the Argentina effort. The effort went in across the field.
Flanker Marcos Kremer made 26 tackles, Montoya 21 and second five-eighths Matias Orlando 18 as Argentina made 195 tackles to 87 by the All Blacks.
Ironically, for a team with one of the most feared scrums in the world, Argentina were unable to claim any dominance in that department, but it didn’t matter, they competed in the lineouts and put the pressure on through that avenue, and in their defence.
That was highlighted in the last two minutes when desperation saw replacement hooker Codie Taylor fail to throw straight 10m out from Argentina’s line.
That spelled the end for the All Blacks who should have made more of their chances in the first half, in which they led 15-12.
Mistakes, and penalty concessions, niggled the All Blacks and when they might have hoped their fitness would bring them home, they ran into Argentinian fervour when they had history in the grip.
Argentina made the stronger start to the second half, capitalising on a re-start after a penalty goal landed by first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga.
Lock Scott Barrett was unable to hold the restart. Lurking to take the ball was blindside flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and he ran around into space on the short side and sped through for a try to allow Boffelli to land a sideline conversion to regain the lead.
Another penalty was conceded in the 57th minute and Boffelli landed another goal to give Argentina a 22-18 lead.
Eight penalties conceded in the first half, four of them in goal-kicking range for wing Emiliano Boffelli, denied the All Blacks the ability to build momentum. The sides were competitive but the All Blacks showed their attacking ability with the forward pack piecing together an outstanding driving maul to get hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho over in the 10th minute.
Then, with the Argentine lineout, which had been operating at 93 per cent against Australia, under pressure and conceding two throws, it was Taukei’aho who covered a poor Pumas throw to get the ball moving.
Mo’unga found Havili and centre Rieko Ioane, and he drew the defence to slip a short pass to fullback Jordie Barrett. He linked with wing Caleb Clarke and he ran in the second try.
The All Blacks showed the power they could harness when driving, including one 17 phase effort that sapped the Argentine defence. It also helped that the strength of the All Blacks scrum saw the less experienced Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax defang the experienced Pumas scrum.
Up 15-12 at halftime, the All Blacks could reflect on a competitive start again, but lost opportunities due to that 8-5 penalty count.
Scorers: All Blacks 18 (Samisoni Taukei’aho, Caleb Clarke tries; Richie Mo’unga con, 2 pen) Argentina 25 (Juan Martin Gonzalez try; Emiliano Boffelli con, 6 pen). HT: 15-12
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
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