New Zealand restores old regime | game

Argentina, the chronicler of the All Blacks' rebuilding, is deeply saddened. They set their house on fire with a 19-25 victory in Christchurch in August last year, a 19-25 victory on New Zealand soil that put coach Ian Foster's expiry date on hold – he will not continue after the World Cup. – and forced the rugby tyrant to step down from the top spot in the rankings. The defeated giant, without previous leaders, grew from vulnerability: versatility in attack and discipline in defence. This Friday, 14 months on, he restores order with a decisive 6-44 win in Paris en route to the World Cup final, where he will face the winner of England-South Africa (this Saturday, 9:00pm).

Argentina have beaten the All Blacks just twice in 36 games, but have seen the glass half full: those victories have come in the last three years. Of the 23 semi-finalists, 15 played in the tournament in Christchurch. That experience fueled an under-performing team at the World Cup, with highs such as a clear loss against England and their reaction to beat Wales, and lows such as a clear defeat against England. But the task required, as Emiliano Boffelli, the main kicker of the day, recognized the “perfect game”.

It was the first page. After the kick-off New Zealand stayed on the field and took the lead until the penalty hit when his team scored a simple kick between the sticks to start the game. With that, the Pumas have already improved on their disastrous performance in the semi-final against Australia in 2015. The three points didn't set a trend, as Argentina leveled the rival's top spot with mistakes. Thus they stood on the verge of rehearsal, the referee reminded the Americans Mall – The pushing platform created after playing the ball from the wing – cannot be stopped laterally. So the defense concentrated and the All Blacks took advantage of the opening on the right for Will Jordan to score a routine try.

Other generations of All Blacks have been based around Herculean forwards with bulky physiques like Richie Mecca or three-quarters like Jonah Lomu. The current squad is the traditional rugby of totality, not just the charge – now they run and kick – and three-quarters have freight train physiques. With third lines like Ardie Savea – a leg worthy of a fly half – or Sam Kane, the connection between front and back is pure fluidity. Compliance finds its maximum expression in security. The All Blacks compounded mistakes everywhere in their defeat to Argentina; A year and a half later, as they showed in the quarter-final against Ireland, they can dominate without breaking. His patience without the ball irritates opponents.

Defense was a fundamental element of Argentina's two victories in which the All Blacks did not exceed 20 points. In the other five matches they've played since 2020, they've added at least five tries and the two immediate frontrunners have been outscored: 94-15. Argentina coach Michael Cheika said minutes before the game that “it's how you tackle that decides. When Boffelli saw Jordy Barrett, one of the three brothers in the starting XV, come on after one of the All Blacks' harmonious displays, he was able to beat him, but that was his effort. Not blocked. Another blemish that costs points.

Argentina's hope is possession and charges from Kremer or Issa, who break meters and add defenders. That's how they approached the test, but held on and took the three points from Boffelli. Mo'unga scored a consolation to immediately neutralize their rivals with a kick. There was one more bite before the break. Marc Delia beat the Argentine's two friendly tackles and stepped forward as a commodity to make an unlikely comeback for the Pumas. Another was Shannon Frizzell Fat Ready to pose.

Beating the All Blacks is one thing, beating them is another. A 20-5 scoreline at half-time demanded aggressive treatment, and the diagnosis worsened in the first set, with the men in black dominating until director Aaron Smith grabbed the ball and slipped it between the Argentina jerseys. Without pausing, Frisell added another mark, now pulling with strength. The result was written when Jordan scored his eighth try, the most of the match. Argentina managed, but it wasn't enough. Their third World Cup semi-final had the same result as the others: defeat without reply. Ahead was a quail with six wounds. “We can have two kinds of Mondays, one of which is terrible,” pointed out the black-clad captain Kane, one of those who bit the dust against England in Yokohama four years ago. A nation that never forgets defeats will seek a fourth World Cup.

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