New Zealand opened their Rugby Championship account with a ruthless 41-12 bonus-point win over Argentina at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on Saturday.
Tries from Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and Emoni Narawa saw the visitors cruise to a maximum.
It was a clinical performance from New Zealand which sets up a possible Rugby Championship title decider with an impressive South Africa next weekend.
In stark contrast, for Argentina this was a significant step backwards as tries from Lucio Sordoni and Agustin Creevy were the only bright spots on an otherwise dismal showing.
It was the perfect opening period for the All Blacks but it almost got off to the worst possible start when Damian McKenzie was charged down near his own try-line. Fortunately for the fly-half he managed to recover and ground the ball before two looming Pumas as Argentina came close to going in front inside a minute.
That was as good as things got for Argentina though as thus followed an All Blacks stampede that saw them cross five times in the first half.
New Zealand’s first try came on five minutes when a break from Ioane saw him race over halfway before recycled ball led to Scott Barrett putting Coles over.
McKenzie was off-target with the conversion and also missed his second attempt on nine minutes, this after the All Blacks kicked to the corner before phases from the pack saw Barrett go close before Savea caught the Pumas napping to dot down. McKenzie’s wayward boot was the only blight on an otherwise fine start.
The All Blacks’ third score arrived on 12 minutes and it was a family affair as Jordie and Beauden Barrett combined from deep before the former strolled over. McKenzie’s successful conversion made it 17-0 before the Pumas finally enjoyed decent possession and field position. However, they could not get on the board.
New Zealand made them pay on 29 minutes as Ioane bust through two would-be tacklers to cross from 10 metres out, the conversion pushing the visitors 24-0 up.
🇳🇿 Rieko Ioane is having some game. #RugbyChampionship #ARGvNZLpic.twitter.com/qIqj2Ktug2
― Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 8, 2023
There was to be one further try before the break, too, with Smith darting over for a try that was compounded for Argentina by Rodrigo Bruni being sin-binned.
Argentina would manage to prevent any further damage being done to the scoreboard before Bruni returned to the fray and in fact crossed shortly after, with Sordoni going over from the back of a ruck for a much-needed try. Emiliano Boffelli was wayward with the conversion with the lead cut to 26 points in favour of New Zealand.
The home fans’ joy was shortlived, however, as the outstanding McKenzie showed his class with ball in hand to set up Beauden Barrett for a try that made it a 31-point buffer.
While the second period was not as fruitful as the first, New Zealand would continue to build on their lead as a well-worked try was finished by debutant Narawa on the right wing.
But Argentina would wrap up the scoring late on when the talismanic Creevy crashed over for a converted try that at least gave the Pumas something to build on ahead of facing the Wallabies next Saturday.
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