Pumas v All Blacks
Kick-off: 9:10am Sunday 24 August NZT
Estadio Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Live blog updates on RNZ
Despite their ultimately comfortable 41-24 win over the Pumas on Sunday morning, it was obvious the All Blacks had a bit to work on before the sides meet again this weekend in Buenos Aires. Some glaring handling errors and a second half slump saw points slip and a comeback from the home side that was a little too close for comfort, something that's not lost the players themselves.
"We left a few points out there, we had our review today and we've pointed out what we need to fix," said Tupou Vaa'i, who suddenly is part of an intriguing selection decision for Scott Robertson before the team is named on Friday morning NZT.
Not that the 25-year-old Vaa'i is in any danger of not playing. On the contrary, he's been the standout performers in the All Blacks over the last season and his utility value means that Scott Robertson has plenty of options regarding the locks and loose forwards. Vaa'i isn't bothered as to whether he ends up playing blindside or moving back to lock.
"To be honest I'm just happy to be weherever…if it does mean that I slot back into lock this week then so be it. I'm happy either way,' he said.
All Blacks loose forward Tupou Vaa'i scores in the second test win over France. Photo: Photosport
The question over where Vaa'i will play has been created by a facial fracture suffered by Patrick Tuipulotu in Sunday morning's win
"(Tuipulotu) shot over to hospital to get checked out (after the game), just hope his surgery goes well and he recovers well," said Vaa'i.
While the combination of a Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland second row with Vaa'i at blindside is likely, the choice now is who to back them up is an interesting one. Samipeni Finau finished the first test at lock so can cover both, while Robertson may be tempted to give Simon Parker a debut off the bench and leave Vaa'i to be the extra lock.
It's not as risky as it seems, given that Barrett is the captain and will likely play the entire game, while Holland has been on the field for all but nine minutes of his four tests so far.
Billy Proctor. Photo: www.photosport.nz
In any event, the forward pack aren't the ones with the microscope on them. After all, it was two lineout drive tries set up by some clinical breakdown turnovers that clinched the game, but the backs looked uncharacteristically clunky at times. Midfielder Billy Proctor admitted that sometimes things just don't go their way.
"There's things we can improve there but you can't expect to win every moment in a test match," he said after a wet training session in Buenos Aires.
"There's going to be moments in a game we lose, it's how we can adapt quickly and get back on top and control them, get the momentum back on our side. If we can stay on top of them early and take the crowd out of it, we'll hopefully put some momentum on our side."
Proctor also finds himself in a selection discussion of his own, with Anton Lienert-Brown also out for the second test. Quinn Tupaea and Timoci Tavatavanawai stand as his logical replacements on the bench, however again Robertson may be tempted to tinker given the amount of dropped ball and blown chances in the first test.
The All Blacks name their side for the second Rugby Championship test on Friday morning.
