All change but Kiwis still pound the Pumas

NEW Zealand ruthlessly took their chances to outscore the Pumas six tries to three in a match that was much tighter than the scoreline suggests.

The Pumas contested the issue fiercely before two late tries saw the score get a little ugly and could have – should have – scored more tries themselves.

Wing Ramiro Moyano – a stand out all night – had a brilliant counter-attacking effort disallowed on half-time when his foot was adjudged by the TMO to have grazed the touchline in goal and they also squandered a couple of chances during a strong start to the second half.

That will both frustrate and encourage the Pumas but what will annoy coach Mario Ledesma was the two tries New Zealand scored – one in each half – that came from aimless clearance kicks from Nicholas Sanchez who, in other respects, enjoyed a fine game.

After back-to-back wins over Australia in their opening two Rugby Championship games New Zealand made seven changes and within ten minutes both Brodie Retallick and Ngani Laumape were off injured for good and Ben Smith was undergoing an HIA.

There was plenty of disruption for Steve Hansen’s team to deal with but, as ever, the All Blacks strength in depth was impressive

Richie Mo’unga made an assured Test debut, calling the shots and kicking his goals, while local Nelson Bay flanker Shannon Frizzell enjoyed an eye-popping game and put a marker down for the future.

The All Blacks star man, though, was scrumhalf TJ Perenara who scored two tries and saved another couple of scores with his clever and tenacious covering.

Elsewhere there were tries for Nehe MilnerSkudder, Kieran Read, Frizzell and a fine effort from Jack Goodhue courtesy of a delightful nolook pass from replacement scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.

Argentina’s tries came from Moyano with a sensational in an out run from halfway and a sharply taken effort by Nicholas Sanchez in the second half.