New Zealand 57 Argentina 22
Fly-half Beauden Barrett grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck just when he needed to as the All Blacks scored three tries in 10 minutes in the second half to beat a combative Argentina 57-22 in their Rugby Championship clash in Hamilton.
Barrett, who scored a first-half try and kicked six conversions, broke the game open just as the Pumas looked like they could cause a major upset while trailing 24-22 with about 30 minutes remaining. Coach Steve Hansen, however, then went to his bench earlier than expected and the home side scored five unanswered tries to earn their third successive bonus point victory after two comfortable wins over Australia.
“It was a real Test match, we really had to work really hard for it,” said the All Blacks captain Kieran Read in a pitchside interview. “We certainly came out with some intent and they matched it, and that’s exactly what you want, games against quality sides. It was a good game.”
Unlike two weeks ago when the Wallabies seemed more intent to spoil the game rather than play it, the Pumas took the home side on, with Facundo Isa, Pablo Matera and Agustín Creevy driving through the middle and then stretching them out wide. Their high tempo, possession-based approach also ensured they did not allow the All Blacks to counterattack as the home side found themselves under immense pressure and gave away numerous kickable penalties.
Fly-half Nicolás Sánchez slotted over four penalties, while winger Santiago Cordero finished off a beautiful movement early in the first half.
The All Blacks, however, looked just as dangerous when they did get their hands on the ball with Julian Savea, Barrett and Ben Smith all crossing for first-half tries, which the fly-half converted while Israel Dagg slotted a long-range penalty.
Sánchez narrowed the gap 10 minutes into the second half with another penalty but Barrett and the bench then took over as the injection of fresh blood upped the intensity. “That bench was outstanding for us,” Read added. “We’ve got a squad of 32 who can come on and do a job, the 23 was needed … and they did a great job.”
Barrett used his pace to twice break the line and put Ryan Crotty over before Charlie Faumuina finished off a team try sparked by the fly-half inside his own half to blow the score out to 38-22 with quarter of the game remaining. Crotty and Ben Smith both added their second tries before Luke Romano crossed to give the All Blacks a scoreline that flattered the home side.
Meanwhile, the British and Irish Lions coach, Warren Gatland, was back in his native Hamilton to watch the All Blacks win, and said that he believes Aaron Smith is the best player in the world at the moment and the All Blacks would be a far less daunting prospect without their scrum-half.
“To be honest I think they’ve taken the game on to another level,” Gatland told New Zealand’s Sky TV. “I think there’s one player in particular, in my opinion, who is the driving force and the key, and that is Aaron Smith. I just think he’s the best player in the world at the moment. You take him out of that All Black team and they might be a little vulnerable, he’s pretty special.”
Gatland said he was hoping to watch all of New Zealand’s remaining Tests in the Championship and the one-off third test against Australia in Auckland that follows. “It’s a huge honour to be asked to lead the Lions again,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it, it’s going to be a massive challenge but hugely exciting.”
