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NZL vs ARG
The Rugby Championship
Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand
vs
Argentina
42
FT
10
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 42 - 10
That wraps things up from this one, but thanks for joining us on Tribe. This is Ryan Nixon (@NewYorkNixon) signing off.
As for the All Blacks, this performance will take some of the heat off them from last weekend. A number of players in particular stepped up, with Perenara and McKenzie among those, while Blackadder was another who responded strongly following some criticism last week. They've got a tough trip to South Africa ahead though, and you'd imagine The Rugby Championship outcome will hinge on whether they can pull off a pair of away wins.
Argentina never really got themselves into the game, and looked rattled early by the physicality and pressure from the All Blacks. They were more assured in the second half, with impact off the bench from Lautaro Bazan Velez and Tomas Albornoz, but their task was always a difficult one given the score. It's a result that will disappoint them, failing to back up last week's heroics, and they'll now head home in preparation to face the Wallabies.
The key to the All Blacks performance was a vastly improved display up front in terms of physicality, with Tamaiti Williams, Ethan Blackadder, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i and Tupou Vaa'i setting the tone on both sides of the ball. That dominance up front, and especially at set piece, gave the backs room to play, and Damian McKenzie and TJ Perenara were excellent in directing the team around the park. Argentina had no answer, and with Damian McKenzie's goalkicking also on song, the score quickly blew out.
So the All Blacks bounce back in convincing fashion, with a rampant first half display all but determining the result by halftime. The second half never reached the same heights, as the game was blighted by handling errors and ill discipline, with both sides having to settle for a single try apiece. That first half will be the headline though, as despite horrid weather conditions, the home side went ballistic. Their handling was sublime, they were physically dominant, and their set piece ensured that the Pumas never got a look in.
80+3'
A loose pass is claimed by Ratima, and after a brief entertainment of trying to chase one more try, it's then pumped to touch.
80+2'
Argentina grab the resulting lineout, and they start to build phases around the 22.
80+1'
Argentina - bravely I'd suggest - choose the scrum option as time expires. After a reset, the scrum is finally cleared, and the Pumas will try their best to launch something from their own half. A Matera chip is claimed by Tele'a, but they go back to a penalty for Taylor pushing a player on the ground.
80'
Another collapsed scrum, and it's another All Blacks penalty. They'll have a chance to finish things on a high, but the kick to the corner goes dead!