New Zealand returned to the victory trail in the Rugby Championship after they sealed a 53-3 bonus-point triumph over Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday.
As the scoreline suggests, the All Blacks dominated proceedings for long periods and eventually scored seven tries, with Ethan de Groot, Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Ardie Savea, Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett all crossing the whitewash.
Their other points came via four conversions and two penalties from Richie Mo’unga while Jordie Barrett also succeeded with a couple of conversions. For Argentina, Emiliano Boffelli slotted a penalty.
The match started with heavy rain pelting down but, despite the atrocious weather conditions, the All Blacks opted to keep the ball in hand and were rewarded for their attacking endeavour.
Argentina were on the back foot from the outset as from the kick off Tomas Lavanini knocked on and the All Blacks were soon on the attack inside Argentina’s 22. The visitors were penalised for straying offside on defence and Mo’unga made no mistake from the kicking tee.
New Zealand’s handling was outstanding in the wet weather and shortly afterwards De Groot crashed over for the opening try after gathering a well-timed pass from Aaron Smith. The All Blacks continued to dominate and midway through the half Clarke rounded off out wide after good work from Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett and Ioane in the build-up.
Argentina struggled to build momentum as they committed a plethora of handling errors but in the 32nd minute Boffelli scored their only points via a penalty after the All Blacks infringed on defence.
Despite that score, everything seemed to be going wrong for the visitors and they were reduced to 14 men in the 35th minute when Lavanini was yellow carded for not retreating 10 metres when making a tackle on Savea, who took a quick tap penalty inside Argentina’s 22.
Just before half-time, the All Blacks launched an attack from a scrum deep inside Argentina territory and Ioane cantered in under the posts after running onto a pass from David Havili.
Mo’unga added the extras which meant the hosts had their tails up with the score 24-3 in their favour at the interval.
The All Blacks had the better of the second half’s early exchanges and extended their lead when Mo’unga added another penalty in the 46th minute, after several Pumas were pinged for offside play. The visitors needed a response and they were soon camped inside New Zealand’s 22 but, despite hammering away at the home side’s try-line, they would not be rewarded.
In the 57th minute, Argentina launched a lineout drive on New Zealand’s five-metre line but the maul was halted illegally by Fletcher Newell, who was yellow carded for his indiscretion.
Strong All Blacks finish
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the All Blacks stayed true to their attacking roots and on the hour-mark Ioane made a superb line break before his progress was halted deep inside Argentina’s half. The ball was recycled quickly before full-back captain Sam Cane offloaded to full-back Barrett, who crossed for their fourth try.
New Zealand’s continued to dominate during the game’s latter stages and further tries from Savea and Retallick followed which meant they held a 46-3 lead.
The All Blacks did not take their foot off the pedal and their half century came up in injury time when Beauden Barrett went over for their seventh and final try after Savea launched an attack off the back of a scrum deep inside Argentina’s 22.
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