New Zealand vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby Championship result and final score as All Blacks crush Pumas
New Zealand secured revenge for defeat in Christchurch last week with a dominant victory in the Hamilton rain
New Zealand thrashed Argentina in Hamilton today 53-3 with an All Blacks performance of old, scoring seven tries to none with the Pumas thoroughly out-classed in the wet. New Zealand played the percentages well but it was their execution and accuracy that made the difference in inclement conditions.
“Obviously massively important,” said captain Sam Cane after the match. “We were under a bit of pressure. This week we were in the game rihgt from the start and were able to turn that into points. I thought our defence was outstanding. Our discipline, too. I’m pleased with the way we kept it on for the full 80. I just love the attacking mindset. It’s awesome. We are really stoked to be able to put out a performance that we are proud of at home. We hadn’t really done that this year.
“There’s always massive pressure and we put it on ourselves too. It was just a nice reward for the hard work we have been putting in and getting everyone to see it.”
Re-live the Test between the All Blacks and the Pumas with our live blog below.
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 18 minutes
The greasy surface isn’t helping counter-attacking runners, David Havili visibly making sure of every step even as he spots a potential fissure in the Argentina chase. It is concreted over before the hopping Havili can bust it open.
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 16 minutes
Timely turnover from Pablo Matera! That was the story last week for Argentina, finding a crucial jackal just as New Zealand were beginning to build, and their number eight executes perfectly here with the two All Blacks’ clearers a little slow in support of the carrier. Penalty to the visitors.
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 15 minutes
Bish, bash, bosh! Aaron Smith escapes Santiago Grondona on the blindside from the scrum and finds Caleb Clarke, who is well marked but introduces Tomas Cubelli to the Hamilton turf, the scrum-half guilty of going much too high. A penalty to New Zealand at the ruck and Richie Mo’unga advances his side up the left touchline.
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 14 minutes
The home side are putting plenty of pressure on aerially - again it is from Argentina hands that the ball tumbles forward after a contestable kick.
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 13 minutes
Argentina mishandle once more, this time in the air, and Ardie Savea is soon swatting bodies form him as he carries with menace. The All Blacks go to the air having had some early joy with the boot, and a hack from Argentina of a bouncing ball hops into touch.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 10-0 Argentina (Ethan de Groot try, 11 minutes)
Big Ethan de Groot crashes over! That is what the All Blacks can do. A shimmy from Rieko Ioane makes a metre or two and keeps the momentum high, and then Aaron Smith can pick his runners. The Argentina defence are distracted by the rather faster-arriving Jordie Barrett on the short line, but one wider is loosehead De Groot, who collects in a half-hole and has enough force behind his charge to move within reach of the line. He plants it down, Richie Mo’’unga adds the extra two.
New Zealand 3-0 Argentina, 10 minutes
More scrum joy for the All Blacks and they have the advantage now, too. David Havili chips...and back in the hands of Rieko Ioane after Will Jordan challenges in the air. Here come New Zealand...
New Zealand 3-0 Argentina, 8 minutes
The players are having to battle to hang on to the bar of soap ball, both of Argentina’s carriers in their attacking movement nearly fumbling as they take contact. A kicking exchange ends with a fumble, too, Santiago Carreras rushing forward but unsecure in the catch, and eventually New Zealand punt for touch just inside the Argentina half.
Thrown quickly! Argentina don’t fancy slowing things down and hurl the ball infield, but a long kick over the head of Caleb Clarke from Carreras trickles over the dead ball line. New Zealand scrum inside the opposition half.
New Zealand 3-0 Argentina, 6 minutes
Early supremacy for New Zealand at the scrum but nothing penalisable from Argentina, according to referee Nic Berry. Richie Mo’unga finds a bit of space between the Argentina backfield, who scramble back and clear to about halfway.
The All Blacks’ lineout to the tail is a good’un, and away they play. Jordie Barrett joins between 13 and 14, fending away Matias Moroni but hurrying an offload to Will Jordan, who can’t grasp it.
New Zealand 3-0 Argentina, 4 minutes
New Zealand make a mess of their restart drill, now, allowing a leaping Emiliano Boffelli to contest and fortunate that the wing can’t get more than a couple of fingers on the drifting drop kick.
Aaron Smith clears upfield to Boffelli, who finds a jinking Juan Cruz Mallia. Mallia is held, and Argentina condense their play too much as they explore the left and make a second handling error. It could be that sort of night.
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