All Blacks exact revenge with big win over Argentina in Auckland

AUCKLAND – The message from the All Blacks and their captain Ardie Savea was clear – they must win every Test, regardless of the opponent, occasion or venue.

On Aug 17, New Zealand rode a first-half try blitz to a 42-10 victory over Argentina in the Rugby Championship at Auckland’s Eden Park to avenge last week’s shock 38-30 loss to Los Pumas in Wellington.

Savea, Damian McKenzie, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett all crossed to give the team a 35-3 lead at half-time, despite teeming rain and strong winds at the spiritual home of Kiwi rugby.

Jordan added his second try soon after the break to drive home the advantage but the Pumas managed to stem the flood of tries before scoring one of their own through Juan Cruz Mallia in the 72nd minute.

Fly-half McKenzie converted all six All Blacks tries with a perfect night from the kicking tee as New Zealand extended their 30-year unbeaten run at Eden Park to 50 Tests. “Very happy to get the win and respond the way we did,” said skipper Savea.

“We said all week about looking at ourselves in the mirror. We’re the All Blacks, we’ve got to bring that every week and not rely on a loss to get that response from us.

“It is (a proud moment), but we shouldn’t just rely on Eden Park. We want to win every week, every stadium, wherever we are. We’re grateful to get the win.”

The All Blacks had clearly learnt the lessons of last week’s defeat and took a big step up in precision, execution, game management and physicality in difficult conditions.

Argentina’s rush defence was unpicked by a Jordie Barrett chip that sent McKenzie over for the first try in the sixth minute and No. 8 Savea barged over for the second 11 minutes later.

A smart interception by lock Tupou Vaa’i laid the groundwork for winger Clarke’s score in the 24th minute and a brilliant offload from scrum-half T.J. Perenara sent Jordan in for his first try on the half-hour mark.

There was still time for Beauden Barrett to run a superb line and cut through the defence on a McKenzie pass for the fifth try, which sent the Pumas into the break 32 points down with only a Santiago Carreras penalty on the board.

The electric Jordan, making his first start of the season after coming back from injury, forced his way over the line for his 33rd try in 33 internationals shortly after the break.

Argentina then tested the New Zealand try-line defence through several phases but replacement prop Joel Sclavi knocked on in the process of touching down for what would have their opening try.

Fullback Mallia finally got the Pumas over the line under the posts eight minutes from time and replacement New Zealand hooker Asafo Aumua was shown a yellow card to leave the home side short-handed for the last five minutes.

“We weren’t good enough this week, we need to be more consistent, week in, week out,” Argentina captain Julian Montoya said.

“But I’m proud of the team that we went to look for the game until the last minute. But against this team, you can’t give them one half.”

The All Blacks next head to South Africa for two Tests against the world champion Springboks, while Argentina host Australia in La Plata and Santa Fe in their next two matches in the Southern Hemisphere championship.

In the later Test on Aug 17, the Boks maintained their perfect start to the Rugby Championship when they ground out a 30-12 win over Australia in a scrappy contest at a rain-drenched Optus Stadium in Perth.

Aphelele Fassi and Marco van Staden both scored tries and Malcolm Marx crossed twice in the second half, as a much-changed South African side backed up their far more convincing 33-7 victory over the Wallabies last weekend.

Australia fared better in the physical contest than they had in Brisbane a week ago but rarely threatened the South Africa try line and had to settle for four penalties from the boot of fly-half Noah Lolesio. REUTERS, AFP