Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post / Sport

Carter key to exploiting Argentina's tough defence

By Patrick McKendry (In Buenos Aires)
Rotorua Daily Post·
28 Sep, 2012 06:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The All Blacks think they have identified weaknesses in Argentina's defence which so frustrated them in Wellington.

Repeatedly repelled in the wind and rain at Westpac Stadium, it was only in the final quarter that the All Blacks scored their two tries through Julian Savea and Cory Jane.

However, they are confident they are better prepared to take advantage of the Pumas' defensive strategy of leaving space and then quickly filling the gap.

Having the experience of Dan Carter for tomorrow's Rugby Championship test at La Plata, near Buenos Aires, will help.

Carter missed the 21-5 victory over the Pumas and 21-11 win over the Springboks in Dunedin with a calf injury, but has made a timely return in place of Aaron Cruden for what is expected to be an extremely tight and intense match at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Conrad Smith is one of the men outside Carter who is preparing to run through a blue and white brick wall, but said the All Blacks had learned plenty from their last encounter.

"We looked at it the last time we played them, but it's a different thing to experience it ourselves," Smith said of the Pumas' effective defensive screen. "I think as players we understand it a lot better now. That's the big difference, and we've trained for it a lot better."

Carter said of Argentina's defence: "They present a few opportunities for us, but they tend to cover those extremely well. You almost have to earn the right to attack against them and be extremely physical with the ball in hand but also really smart. They like to slide and push you to the sidelines ..."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Carter's coolness and confidence was just what the All Blacks needed, Smith said. "Playing over here in what we expect to be a pretty hostile environment, just having his cool head is going to be big for us and we'll rely on him directing us around the field and not get too flustered if things don't work out or we get put under a bit of pressure - which should be the case." Apart from Carter's return to the No 10 jersey, other changes include Aaron Smith returning to halfback, with Piri Weepu dropping to the reserves.

Sam Cane comes on to the bench in place of Victor Vito, and Ben Smith replaces Tamati Ellison as outside backs cover.

Coach Steve Hansen said Cane's promotion was because of Richie McCaw's haematoma on his leg suffered late in the match against the Springboks.

Hooker Andrew Hore has retained his place against Keven Mealamu.

The All Blacks will break with tradition today and not have a captain's run at the stadium because of the travel required. It means Carter won't get to kick for goal at the stadium until the day of the game.

"I would prefer to get there the day before the game, but it's quite a distance and logistically it doesn't make any sense, so it's something I'll have to get used to but I'm not that worried," he said.

Patrick McKendry flew to Argentina courtesy of LAN Airlines (www.lan.com).

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Rotorua Daily Post

Five Steamers players making waves in the Māori All Blacks

03 Jul 10:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Five Steamers players making waves in the Māori All Blacks

Five Steamers players making waves in the Māori All Blacks

03 Jul 10:00 PM

The Māori All Blacks face Scotland in Whangārei on Saturday.

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

'It’s a big deal': Young gamers chase international esports glory

30 Jun 06:00 PM
'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

'Biggest summer of cricket' shapes up for Bay Oval

25 Jun 07:00 PM
Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

Small but mighty: Kyro gets set for Tai Mitchell challenge

24 Jun 09:26 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search