Champions All Blacks overwhelm Pumas
NEW Zealand were superb in the first half and sloppy in the second as they overcame Argentina 36-10 in Buenos Aires on Saturday in the Rugby Championship.
Assured of retaining the title before the kickoff after South Africa and Australia drew earlier in the day, the All Blacks were awesome at times as they built a 29-3 lead in 28 minutes.
But they became ragged after half time and the much-improved Pumas kept them scoreless until new cap David Havili scored a last-gasp try.
The score by the substitute wrapped up a bonus-point victory that lifted New Zealand to 24 points with one round remaining in the southern hemisphere championship.
South Africa host the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday after being humiliated 57-0 in New Zealand.
Apart from Havili, skipper Kieran Read (two), Damian McKenzie and Waisake Naholo scored tries for New Zealand.
Playmaker Beauden Barrett kicked four conversions and a penalty to top the competition scoring charts this season with 67 points.
Veteran Juan Manuel Leguizamon celebrated his 80th cap for the Pumas with a try and Nicolas Sanchez slotted a conversion and penalty.
It was the fifth title for New Zealand since Argentina joined the competition in 2012 and the Tri-Nations Championship became the Rugby Championship.
“I am proud of the boys who defended brilliantly at times,” Read said in the Argentine capital.
He said leaving some stars at home and giving starts to fringe players worked for a team that woulf be chasing a third consecutive world title in Japan in 2019.
“It was good for the less experienced boys in the team to sample playing in one of the toughest atmospheres in world rugby.
“Overall, it was a performance to be proud of and we now look forward to facing the Springboks in Cape Town.”
Four players received yellow cards during a fiercely fought match in which Argentina were seeking a first win over New Zealand after a draw and 24 losses.
Pumas forwards Tomas Lavanini and Ramiro Herrera and All Blacks Matt Todd and Read spent time in the sin bin.
New Zealand were ahead inside four minutes as Barrett slotted a penalty.
Sanchez levelled within a minute from a penalty, but any belief among the 40 000 crowd that it was going to be an even contest soon disappeared.
A mix of All Blacks brilliance and Pumas errors allowed the visitors to score four tries and Barrett played a key role in two.
Argentina began to claw back into the game before a penalty against them ended the half.
They were finally rewarded on 54 minutes when Leguizamon went over.
Sanchez converted, but the South Americans could not add to their total, leaving dynamic Havili to have the final say.