All Blacks subdued after stuttering win

Black Dan Carter hurtles past Juan Fernandez Lobbe to score against the Argentinians in Buenos Aires. Picture / Reuters

BUENOS AIRES - A try on test debut would usually be enough to illicit a smile from a new All Black, but Scott Hamilton's subdued reaction encapsulated the New Zealand team's mood after they battled to victory over a combative Argentina yesterday.

Asked what he thought of his first experience of test rugby, Hamilton responded: "It was pretty indifferent".

"It was good to get a win obviously, but it came a bit harder than what we would have liked. There's no jubilation in the [dressing] shed."

Hamilton was proud to score the All Blacks' third and final try, touching down a rebound off a Pumas defender, but he took more pride in his team's defensive performance in the dying stages.

"They way we finished was good. In the last five minutes we were pretty happy to keep them out."

On a night when the weather and ground conditions conspired against sparkling back play, the Crusaders wing was solid enough around Velez Sarsfield, particularly on defence.

Hamilton, who is vying for a Tri-Nations' wing berth among the exalted company of Doug Howlett, Rico Gear, Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu, said he would always have fond memories of his first try.

"It was a bit lucky but I'll take it.

"It's clear we've got a long way to go before we have a performance we'll be happy with."

The opposition had their own reasons for frustration, having come close again only to be denied.

Veteran midfielder Felipe Contepomi in particular experienced a sense of deja vu.

On the All Blacks' last visit here, in 2001, Contepomi missed a touchfinder in the final minute across town at River Plate Stadium to give the outplayed tourists a reprieve they needed to steal a 24-20 triumph on the back of a Ben Blair break and Scott Robertson finish.

Yesterday it was the All Blacks' steely defence that kept New Zealand's unbeaten record against the Pumas intact.

Despite being reduced to 14 men for the final eight minutes (with Leon MacDonald being sinbinned) and being pinned in their own territory for most of that time, the All Blacks defensive line held.

Again it was Contepomi who had a chance to orchestrate a famous victory but when the Pumas moved the ball wide one last time he was lowered and eventually Chris Masoe snatched a crucial turnover ball for Piri Weepu to kick to safety.

"Their patience is admirable," Contepomi said after contemplating what might have been.

"It's disappointing because we were near [to victory]. They have a great defence, it was a like a black curtain, a black wave.

"You know when you play the best team in the world you don't get many chances, and we weren't quite good enough."

Although the All Blacks never settled into a rhythm, Contepomi said he never felt the visitors were on the verge of losing their composure.

"They might get frustrated but they are patient and they have the best No 10 [first five-eighths Dan Carter].

"He would never lose his head, he would know what to do," said Contepomi, a former pivot who now plays at midfield.

"One error is seven points with him and that's what happened," Contepomi said of Carter's individual try in the lead-up to halftime which reduced the Pumas' lead to 16-15.

Contepomi is nearing the end of his test career and the 29-year-old is philosophical about the prospect of never trumping his benchmark side.

"Sometime ago this [result] would have been historic for Argentina but now we are upset because we were that close and we couldn't take our opportunities.

"Our time will come one day, maybe next time."

- NZPA