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New Zealand gained revenge over Argentina in the Rugby Championship. In game two between the teams, the All Blacks dominated on Saturday in Hamilton. The 53-3 win was a powerful response to the 25-18 loss seven days earlier in Christchurch. A different outcome in Hamilton sees the teams now with two wins and two losses each in the 2022 Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks played with speed and with purpose. With sharp passing and bodies on the line, the home side won the majority of the early collisions. The opening quarter concluded with New Zealand leading 17-0. It was game over at that point.
Richie Mo’unga opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a penalty. He would add goals in the 11th and 21st minutes. Both were from tries. First, slick hands culminated in a try to loose head prop Ethan de Groot. Second, a man over saw space for Rieko Ioane who had a try assist with Caleb Clarke scoring a second try in as many weeks.
Argentina looked to hit back. The South Americans turned down a penalty kick at goal to kick for the corner. New Zealand defended the maul and Argentina lost possession after juggling a pass.
The next opportunity was taken. This time Argentina went for the points with Emiliano Boffelli making it a 17-3 scoreline in the 33rd minute. He landed the penalty from a challenging angle and while receiving boos from the crowd.
New Zealand won a penalty from kick-off. Thomas Gallo entered from the side of a ruck. The All Blacks kicked for the corner and set-up a maul. Argentina defended but referee Nic Berry called advantage for three separate penalty offenses. The result was a yellow card to Tomás Lavanini; a world-record 19th in his career.
The home side were also across the line as former Tonga u15 captain Samisoni Taukei’aho touched down in the try zone. The try was disallowed though as tight head prop Tyrel Lomax had knocked-on several phases earlier.
A try did come as the one-man-advantage saw Rieko Ioane gliding past Matías Moroni. The try from a five meter scrum made it a 24-3 lead with two minutes remaining in the half.
Argentina started the second half with fourteen men and with a new play-maker. Santiago Carreras did not return after going down following a late tackle from Sam Cane. Benjamín Urdapilleta came on for his first cap since RWC 2019.
Los Pumas made a good start to the second half. On attack Urdapilleta made a break into the New Zealand 22. Argentina were unable to retain possession. On defense, Mallía won a turnover to end a New Zealand raid. The first points went to Mo’unga who landed a simple penalty.
Minutes later Mo’unga kicked for the corner rather than for goal. It was the 5th consecutive Argentine penalty without New Zealand committing one. New Zealand were inches from scoring but Pablo Matera won a turnover penalty.
Back at the other end of the field, Argentina missed a scoring opportunity. A loose ball resulted in a score against the run of play. The best player of the match, Ioane broke clear again. This time he found Jordie Barrett who was over for the try. Another followed with Ardie Savea scoring four minutes later. Replacements Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett added further tries as New Zealand won by 50 points.
The Rugby Championship will resume on Thursday, September 15 with New Zealand facing the Wallabies in Melbourne, Australia. Argentina play at home against South Africa in Buenos Aires on Saturday, September 17.
SCORING
NEW ZEALAND 53
Tries – E. de Groot (10′), C. Clarke (19′), R. Ioane (38′), J. Barrett (61′), A. Savea (67′), B. Retallick (74′), B. Barrett (80’+4′)
Cons – R. Mo’unga 4/4 (11′, 20′, 39′, 62′), J. Barrett 2/3 (75′, 80’+5′)
Pens – R. Mo’unga 2/2 (3′, 47′)
YC – F. Newell (57′)
ARGENTINA 3
Pens – E. Boffelli 1/1 (33′)
YC – T. Lavanini (35′)
TEAMS
NEW ZEALAND
1 Ethan de Groot (17 George Bower 52′), 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho (16 Dane Coles 63′), 3 Tyrel Lomax (18 Fletcher Newell 52′), 4 Sam Whitelock (3 Tyrel Lomax 60′-67′), 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell (19 Brodie Retallick 59′), 7 Sam Cane (capt.) (20 Dalton Papali’i 64′), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith (21 Finlay Christie 52′), 10 Richie Mo’unga (22 Beauden Barrett 63′), 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 David Havili (23 Quinn Tupaea 69′), 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan, 15 Jordie Barrett
ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo (17 Mayco Vivas 69′), 2 Julián Montoya (capt.) (16 Santiago Socino 63′), 3 Joel Sclavi (18 Eduardo Bello 48′), 4 Guido Petti (19 Matías Alemanno 48′), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Santiago Grondona (20 Juan Martín González 48′), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Tomás Cubelli (21 Gonzalo Bertranou 48′), 10 Santiago Carreras (22 Benjamín Urdapilleta HT), 11 Santiago Cordero (23 Lucio Cinti 69′), 12 Matías Orlando, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistants: Jordan Way (Australia) & Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
