Kane Hames' scrummaging ability, questioned before and after the All Blacks' demolition of the Springboks a fortnight ago and again before he turned Argentina tighthead Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro into a human taco, probably doesn't need to be questioned now.
Chaparro was bent out of shape by Hames to the extent where it was uncomfortable viewing. Goodness knows what it was like for the man himself, an experienced 28-year-old playing in his 37th test.
And then Wyatt Crockett came on in the second half and did the same to Chaparro's replacement Ramiro Herrera - to the extent where Herrera was sinbinned due to his awful technique.
If anyone had cause to be pleased with his efforts at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani yesterday, it was the 29-year-old Hames, who was playing in his fourth test and under a fair bit of scrutiny from some in the media and also former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains, who said: "He's got a bit of a tough job ahead of him to prove worthy of being there as a long-term All Black prop."
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Advertise with NZME.Hames is a rare beast for an All Black front-rower in that he has lived a bit before getting his opportunity at the top level. He is a confident individual and not afraid to speak his mind - including in press conferences, which is fairly odd for an All Black full stop.
In doing that he attracts attention and perhaps extra scrutiny and here's hoping that's not beaten out of him because Lord knows it's a breath of fresh air, a welcome change to the usual stuff trotted out by our national players (although to be fair some of the questions in All Black press conferences deserve to get short shrift).
Contrary to what many think, Hames has been selected in the squad following the injury to loosehead Joe Moody specifically due to his scrummaging. It's clear the Pumas aren't
the scrummaging nation that they used to be - they were under pressure here all game and could have conceded a penalty try from a defensive 5m scrum in the opening minutes, but Hames was at the forefront of a spectacular All Black set piece.
He did enough to suggest he will be around for a while yet.
Another who answered his critics was midfielder Sonny Bill Williams, a high-profile athlete who will polarize opinions for as long as he laces up his boots. Against the Pumas, and before things got sloppy in the second half after the All Blacks had all but won the game at halftime, Williams was committed and courageous, and, crucially, disciplined.
He showed in winning a turnover from a breakdown that he isn't afraid to put his head in dangerous places, and even when things got testy between the sides and it seemed only a matter of time before a shoulder or arm went where it wasn't supposed to, it wasn't Williams at fault but in fact skipper Kieran Read.
Williams can do flashy but he can also do the stuff that often goes unnoticed. In beating lock Luke Romano when diving on a loose ball, there was clearly a hunger about him in Buenos Aires that suggests he too will be around for a while yet.
Other thoughts from penultimate weekend of the Rugby Championship: After yet another draw against Australia, the Springboks would do well to concentrate limiting the damage against the All Blacks in Cape Town this weekend because Boks coach Allister Coetzee, who seems a nice bloke, doesn't appear to have what it takes to overturn that record beating in Albany. Neither do his players and in particular their one-dimensional pack.
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Advertise with NZME.One of the best qualities possessed by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is the loyalty he wins from his players. He will clearly defend them to the last, but there is little doubt fullback Israel Folau was guilty of pulling the hair of Boks wing Dillyn Leyds in Bloemfontein, an act of foul play which deserves a sanction.
