New Zealand saw off a spirited Argentina side 46-24 in an utter try-fest at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on Saturday.
The victory sees the All Blacks extend
their lead at the summit of the Rugby Championship standings, having taken all
15-log points on offer thus far.
Mario Ledesma’s men, meanwhile, will take
heart from an immensely competitive display that will certainly give them a
massive confidence boost heading into the remaining three rounds.
heart from an immensely competitive display that will certainly give them a
massive confidence boost heading into the remaining three rounds.
Richie Mo’unga, who replaced reigning
two-time World Player of the Year, Beauden Barrett, in the starting XV, got the
hosts off the mark after the South American front-row were pinged for
collapsing at scrum time.
two-time World Player of the Year, Beauden Barrett, in the starting XV, got the
hosts off the mark after the South American front-row were pinged for
collapsing at scrum time.
The men in black were dealt a trio of
massive blows on the 10-minute mark after, rather bizarrely, Ben Smith, Ngani
Laumape, and Brodie Retallick all hobbled off injured following an extended
period of offensive play.
massive blows on the 10-minute mark after, rather bizarrely, Ben Smith, Ngani
Laumape, and Brodie Retallick all hobbled off injured following an extended
period of offensive play.
Still, though, both sets of players continued
to show an eagerness to put on a show with breathless non-stop attacking footy
making for a highly entertaining contest.
to show an eagerness to put on a show with breathless non-stop attacking footy
making for a highly entertaining contest.
Ramiro Moyano put his side in front after
some fantastic footwork led to Argentina’s first try, but a Nehe
Milner-Skudder-effort narrowed the gap as Ben Smith, who had passed his HIA,
was allowed back onto the pitch.
some fantastic footwork led to Argentina’s first try, but a Nehe
Milner-Skudder-effort narrowed the gap as Ben Smith, who had passed his HIA,
was allowed back onto the pitch.
The frenetic pace of the game continued when
TJ Perenara touched down, while another Mo’unga penalty ensured the hosts
maintained a slim 18-7 lead at the break.
TJ Perenara touched down, while another Mo’unga penalty ensured the hosts
maintained a slim 18-7 lead at the break.
Los
Pumas hit back just 80-seconds into the
second-forty when Nicholas Sanchez dived over from close range, his ensuing
conversion reducing the gap to four.
Pumas hit back just 80-seconds into the
second-forty when Nicholas Sanchez dived over from close range, his ensuing
conversion reducing the gap to four.
A try to Kiwi captain Kieran Read and
another successful Sanchez effort from the tee, this time from a penalty, kept
the scoreboard ticking over, but Perenara bagged his second try of the night
after a good break by Anton Lienert-Brown.
another successful Sanchez effort from the tee, this time from a penalty, kept
the scoreboard ticking over, but Perenara bagged his second try of the night
after a good break by Anton Lienert-Brown.
Emiliano Boffelli hit back again for the
visitors, but it was too little too late as further tries to Shannon Frizell and
Jack Goodhue all but ended the contest.
visitors, but it was too little too late as further tries to Shannon Frizell and
Jack Goodhue all but ended the contest.
Steve Hansen’s men next host South Africa
in Wellington, while Argentina travel to Queensland to tackle Australia.
in Wellington, while Argentina travel to Queensland to tackle Australia.
Scores
New Zealand:
Tries – Milner-Skudder, Perenara (2), Read,
Frizell, Goodhue
Frizell, Goodhue
Cons – Mo’unga (5)
Pens – Mo’unga (2)
Argentina
Tries – Moyano, Sanchez, Boffelli
Cons – Sanchez (3)
Pens – Sanchez
Teams
New Zealand:
15 Ben Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13
Jack Goodhue, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 TJ
Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett,
4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
Jack Goodhue, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 TJ
Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett,
4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
16 Nathan Harris, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Ofa
Tuungafasi, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Luke Whitelock, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi,
22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
Tuungafasi, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Luke Whitelock, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi,
22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
Argentina
15 Emiliano
Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente,
11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin
Landajo, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Tomas
Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Chaparro Tetaz, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 1
Santiago Garcia Botta
Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente,
11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin
Landajo, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Tomas
Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Chaparro Tetaz, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 1
Santiago Garcia Botta
16 Julian Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18
Gaston Cortez, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22
Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia
Gaston Cortez, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22
Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia
