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New Zealand opened their Rugby Championship defense by beating Argentina in a tight encounter in Buenos Aires. In the first hit-out for both countries in this RWC year the All Blacks came out on top 20-16, doing so despite being kept scoreless in the second half.
The match would ultimately be won in the opening half via an interception. Brodie Retallick saw it coming as he snatched a pass out of the air from Nicolás Sánchez and ran over 40 meters to score.
The score would be the game’s second try and the first was also scored by New Zealand. It came from Ngani Laumape who barged over after Aaron Smith took a quick penalty to catch Argentina off-guard.
Laumape’s try made it a 7-6 game after Argentina had landed two early penalties for a 6-0 lead. With Retallick’s try New Zealand went 20-9 ahead at half-time in what had been a tightly-fought opening half.
Los Pumas came out as the better team in the second half. Seven minutes after the resumption they would be back in the match with a try coming to Emiliano Boffelli. He out jumped specialist Ben Smith to claim the high ball and dot it down. Sánchez added the conversion.
Good work from the forwards would see Argentina able to fight their way back into range of further scoring opportunities. Penalties would result though Sánchez would miss a regulation shot at goal.
With the scores at 20-16 in the final corner it was make or break for both. New Zealand needed to hold out Argentina while Los Pumas needed to get over the try line once more. They would do so via Jerónimo de la Fuente only for replays to show Ramiro Moyano had a foot in touch.
A nervous final minutes had Argentina in position to score a match-winning try. They would go close only to be held off with the full-time whistle seeing New Zealand securing the win 5 meters out from their own try line.
New Zealand have no time to celebrate while Argentina also do not have the time to think about what might have been. Both teams are to fly to Oceania for round two of the Rugby Championship. New Zealand host Australia in Wellington, while Argentina face Australia in Brisbane.
SCORING
ARGENTINA 16
Tries – E. Boffelli (47′)
Cons – N. Sánchez 1/1 (48′)
Pens – N. Sánchez 2/3 (2′, 21′), E. Boffelli 1/1 (7′)
NEW ZEALAND 20
Tries – N. Laumape (18′), B. Retallick (39′)
Cons – B. Barrett 2/2 (19′, 40′)
Pens – B. Barrett 2/2 (23′, 37′)
TEAMS
ARGENTINA
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (17 Mayco Vivas 57′), 2 Agustín Creevy (16 Julián Montoya 48′), 3 Juan Figallo (18 Santiago Medrano 48′), 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini (20 Tomás Lezana 64′), 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Marcos Kremer (19 Matías Alemanno 71′), 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Tomás Cubelli (21 Felipe Ezcurra 72′), 10 Nicolás Sánchez (22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 77′), 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Matías Moroni, 15 Emiliano Boffelli (23 Joaquín Tuculet 60′)
NEW ZEALAND
1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi (17 Atunaisa Moli 60′), 2 Dane Coles (16 Liam Coltman 65′), 3 Angus Ta’avao (18 Nepo Laulala 60′), 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Patrick Tu’ipulotu (19 Jackson Hemopo 57′), 6 Vaea Fifita (20 Luke Jacobson 57′), 7 Sam Cane, 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith (21 Brad Weber 68′), 10 Beauden Barrett, 11 Jordie Barrett (23 Braydon Ennor 68′), 12 Ngani Laumape, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Sevu Reece, 15 Ben Smith
Not used: 22 Josh Ioane
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Angus Gardner (ARU)
Assistants: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Alex Ruiz (FFR)
TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)
