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Argentina were heavily beaten at home on Saturday. An early try was determined a non-score and following the false start, the All Blacks exploded with ferocity as they controlled the tempo of play. Argentina looked like a shadow of the team that defeated New Zealand in Christchurch in 2022.
Argentina’s false start was complicated even before the teams began the contest. Bautista Delguy was forced out of the contest. Sebastián Cancelliere received a chance to prove his worth. In his first test match in two years, Cancelliere did not do his Work Cup chances any favors.
New Zealand’s explosive opening half saw a flurry of tries. Five tries in all meant the game was over at half time, the All Blacks had the bonus point secured and held a 31-0 advantage.
Dane Coles was the first to score. Rieko Ioane burst past his opposite, Matías Moroni to make thirty meters. Quick phases saw the All Blacks advance unimpeded before Coles got the ball and finished it off.
The second started with Coles. Three minutes after his tty, he fed a 5 meter attacking lineout. The resulting maul was defended against but pace from scrum-half Aaron Smith saw eight back-to-back phases which culminated in Ardie Savea scoring.
New Zealand’s impressive start continued. Two minutes later the All Blacks were in again. This time Beauden Barrett made a break and fed for brother Jordie Barrett to go over untouched. It was game over despite only eleven minutes having been played.
The diabolical start from Argentina continued. The second quarter saw Argentina again missing out on scoring while conceding two further tries. They did have opportunities, but the execution was a far-cry from that required at this level. A bad play from Rodrigo Bruni meant a knock-on to teammate Tomás Lavanini inches out from the try line.
At the other end there were no such errors from the All Blacks. As if they were going through he motions, quick ball found its target again and again and Rieko Ioane sliced through unprepared defenders for the bonus point try.
Argentina went in to half-time 31-0 behind. This happened following one further New Zealand try. Aaron Smith scored following an attacking maul from a 5 meter lineout. Referee Angus Gardner played advantage from the lineout which saw Rodrigo Bruni yellow carded following the score. Santiago Carreras was not happy as Gardner blocked Carreras from tackling Smith.
Argentina’s scrum was hit-and-miss in the opening half. Props Thomas Gallo and Lucio Sordoni were in the thick of the action early-on in the second half. Gallo made a clean break and fed Bruni who was tackled within meters of the line. Solid recycling saw Argentina within inches before Sordoni scored from a pick-and-go.
The try was not a rest; rather, New Zealand responded swiftly through Beauden Barrett. His try saw quick hands and an impressive break from McKenzie. A second score came eventually. This time Fijian Emoni Narawa got past Nicolás Sánchez for a try down the right touchline.
Argentina were well-beaten but had the final say. Agustín Creevy scored from a lineout to maul two minutes from full-time. Los Pumas have little time for reflection. A long journey awaits with flights from Mendoza to Santiago and from there to Sydney to face Australia next Saturday. New Zealand return home to face South Africa in Auckland.
SCORING
ARGENTINA (12)
Try – L Sordroni (51′); A Creevy (78′)
Con – E Boffelli 1/2 (79′)
YC – R Bruni (39′)
NEW ZEALAND (41)
Try – D Coles (5′); A Savea (9′); J Barrett (11′); R Ioane (27′); A Smith (39′); B Barrett (56′); E Narowa (75′)
Con – D McKenzie 3/7 (12′, 28′, 39′)
TEAMS
ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Lucio Sordoni, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martín González, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Lucio Cinti, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Pedro Rubiolo, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Matías Orlando
NEW ZEALAND
1, Ethan de Groot, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Scott Barrett, 5 Josh Lord, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (capt.), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Damian McKenzie, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Emoni Narawa, 15 Beauden Barrett
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Braydon Ennor
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Angus Gardner (AU)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (AU); Jordan Way (AU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (AU)
