Argentina vs. New Zealand: Winners and Losers from Rugby Championship Clash

New Zealand secured the Rugby Championship with a bonus point-win, 34-13, over the Pumas in La Plata, per ESPNScrum.com

It was more workmanlike than wondrous from Steve Hansen’s men, which, barring that display in Auckland against the Wallabies, sums up their tournament.

Sobering, then, for everyone else, that a New Zealand team not at its dazzling best have wrapped this title up before the last weekend.

Still, there were some eye-catching performances from the men in black.

Here are the winners and losers.

Winner: Keven Mealamu

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Veteran hooker Keven Meallamu was promoted to the starting line–up after Dane Coles left camp to be at the birth of his first child.

And the 100–cap man proved he still has what it takes at the highest level with a rumbustious performance. He garnered plenty of praise from the watching media, the New Zealand Herald’s Chris Rattue among them:

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In his first test start of the year, Mealamu tore into the fray like a man refreshed and was bang on with his line–out work. Perhaps a 35-year-old tight forward can get a new lease of life. Maybe Mealamu is more comfortable starting tests these days, rather than trying to conjure up impact performances on slower legs. Whatever the reasons, and with the unheralded Nathan Harris waiting in the wings, Mealamu came out swinging.

For what it's worth, I thought Mealamu was outplayed by his opposite, because the Pumas' captain Agustin Creevy was sensational around the field in a well beaten side. But Mealamu was up there with the best and the hooker debate could even be back on. Coles, with terrific acceleration and an unusual array of skills for a front–rower, has his nose well in front and is a success story of the season. But Mealamu ain't taking this lying down anymore.

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Winner: Beauden Barrett

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With Aaron Cruden suspended and Dan Carter injured, Beauden Barrett had another chance to move himself up the pecking order at No. 10.

Whether he managed that or not will come down to Steve Hansen’s preference once all his choices are fit, but he at least erased the poor kicking form that dogged him when these two sides met in Napier.

He finished the night with a perfect six from six off the tee.

With ball in hand he once again demonstrated his ability to put players into space and ran the line well.

A tougher test awaits in South Africa next week, which will go some way further to showing us how effective he can be as the starting fly-half for this team.

Winner: Malakai Fekitoa

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Malakai Fekitoa may well have done enough to prove he is the man to fill the No. 12 shirt to face South Africa next week.

The Highlanders centre displayed excellent distribution skills in Argentina, never more so than the fast hands that set Israel Dagg free for his try in the first half.

He has the fast feet and power aplenty, but the question marks over his passing and game-intelligence have lingered, with Ryan Crotty the man seen as more capable of playing the traditional inside centre role.

Fekitoa could, with this display, have done enough to challenge that perception.

Losers: Pumas’ Poor Defence Lets Them Down

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The All Blacks can slice anyone open with good front–foot ball, but it did seem all too easy for Israel Dagg to zip through those wide channels on two occasions that led to tries.

The Argentine defence sank to a new low in the second half when three players failed to bring down Julian Savea as he marauded his way over the line.

Jonah Lomu in his pomp used to mow down tacklers with his size and speed, and Savea has plenty of both, but from a standing start he should have been halted.

Losers: Schedule Unkind to Punch-Drunk Pumas

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Argentina largely acquitted themselves well during this tournament, and may still get that first win when Australia travel to them next weekend.

But they will always be on the back foot unless the match schedule is addressed.

They began with a trip to South Africa before having to fly home again to host the same side. They then flew to New Zealand and Australia before another long haul journey home for two remaining fixtures.

Until last weekend, New Zealand and Australia had done no more than cross the Tasman to play each other.

For the junior partner in this foursome, and with one eye on helping a nation grow into an even more competitive top–tier team, surely this fixture list needs to be revised.