A solid win for New Zealand over Argentina in tough weather at Waikato Stadium, and a big win for the Springboks over a very poor Australian team at Suncorp stadium.
NEW ZEALAND 28 vs 13 ARGENTINA
Saturday, September 7, 07:35 GMT, Hamilton
The All Blacks outclassed a game Pumas side in a mucky but entertaining match in the Hamilton rain. Dan Carter was off with the boot but did well enough to keep his team going forward behind a quality performance from the pack. Taking the shine off somewhat was a knee injury to captain Richie McCaw that looks to keep him out until the November tour.
Argentina kept things close despite Eusebio Guinazu’s first half yellow card, but ultimately the last quarter of the match was all New Zealand. A cruel shoulder injury to industrious winger Gonzalo Camacho took a bit of fire out of them, and Julian Savea’s opportune try from a Kieran Read charge-down sealed the victory. Despite the injuries both sides should be positive about their chances next week as the All Blacks face the Springboks and the Pumas head to Australia.
SCORING
New Zealand – D. Carter 2c 2p, B. Barrett 1p, A. Smith 2t, J. Savea 1t
Argentina – N. Sanchez 1c 2p, J.M. Leguizamon 1t
CARDS
Argentina – E. Guinazu yellow (23)
NEW ZEALAND
I. Dagg (C. Piutau 70); B. Smith, C. Smith, F. Saili, J. Savea; D. Carter (B. Barrett 55), A. Smith (T. Kerr-Barlow 75); T. Woodcock (W. Crockett HT {C. Faumuina 79}), A. Hore (D. Coles 46), C. Faumuina (B. Franks 70); B. Retallick, S. Whitelock (J. Thrush 75); S. Luatua, R. McCaw (capt.) (S. Cane 60), K. Read.
ARGENTINA
J.M. Hernandez; G. Camacho (L. Gonzalez Amorosino 45), M. Bosch, S. Fernandez (F. Contepomi 70), H. Agulla; N. Sanchez, M. Landajo (T. Cubelli 66); M. Ayerza (N. Lobo 69), E. Guinazu (A. Creevy 49), J. Figallo (J.P. Orlandi 62); M. Carizza, J. Farias Cabello (M. Galarza 55); J. Fernandez Lobbe (capt.), P. Matera (B. Macome 76), J.M. Leguizamon.
AUSTRALIA 12 vs 38 SOUTH AFRICA
Saturday, September 7, 10:05 GMT, Brisbane
Where does Ewen McKenzie hide? While the losses to New Zealand might have been expected, the Wallabies were tipped for victory, or at least a narrow defeat to a supposedly tired Springbok side. The result could not have been more opposite. Australia went nowhere in attack and looked the worse for wear in the dying minutes.
The maligned Wallaby forwards were beaten in the scrum and trampled into submission by their much more powerful counterparts. Such was the ease at which Jean de Villiers went over around the hour mark it looked as though Australia had given up completely. Bring back Robbie Deans? Not so much, but McKenzie certainly has his work cut out for him now.
SCORING
Australia – C. Leali’ifano 4p
South Africa – M. Steyn 3c 4p, C. Oosthuizen 1t, J. de Villiers 1t, Z. Kirchner 1t, W. le Roux 1t
CARDS
Australia – M. Hooper yellow (49)
South Africa – W. Alberts yellow (8)
AUSTRALIA
I. Folau; J. O’Connor, A. Ashley-Cooper, C. Leali’ifano (M. To’omua 73), N. Cummins; Q. Cooper, W. Genia (capt.) (N. White 69); J. Slipper (S. Sio 65), S. Moore (S. Fainga’a 66-69, 75), S. Kepu (B. Alexander 47); R. Simmons (B. McCalman 30-HT), K. Douglas; S. Fardy, M. Hooper (L. Gill 69), B. Mowen (B. McCalman 71).
SOUTH AFRICA
Z. Kirchner; W. le Roux, J.J. Engelbrecht, J. de Villiers (J. Serfontein 71), B. Habana; M. Steyn (P. Lambie 71), R. Pienaar (J. Vermaak 76); T. Mtawarira (G. Steenkamp 57), B. du Plessis (A. Strauss 57), J. du Plessis (C. Oosthuizen 2-9, 63); E. Etzebeth, F. van der Merwe (J. Kruger 57); F. Louw (S. Kolisi 71), W. Alberts, D. Vermeulen.
