Argentina v New Zealand All Blacks: Rugby Tri-Nations – live!
All Blacks #AllBlacks
6.00am EST 06:00
A challenging few weeks for New Zealand rugby ends on a high. The Tri-Nations is all but secured with a comprehensive bonus point victory over Argentina, and only an Australian miracle next week can deny them silverware.
It was a performance set up by a muscular showing from the All Blacks pack, eager to show the unexpected defeat a fortnight ago was an aberration. The lineout was flawless, the scrum ferocious, and the breakdown relentless as black jerseys controlled territory and tempo. Savea and Ioane in particular caught the eye.
The backline was less fluent and for an hour the scoreline did not reflect New Zealand’s dominance. Time again there was poor decision making or execution from Smith, Mo’unga or an outside back. The All Blacks attempted, and failed to profit from, a large number of low percentage attacking kicks when patient rugby was perhaps a more prudent approach. But the points did come eventually, and in a rush, with Will Jordan stealing the limelight in a two-try cameo off the bench.
It was a chastening night for the much-changed Pumas. The defence was typically resolute – despite the final score – but whenever they took possession they coughed it up soon after with countless handling errors. The adrenaline and unity of purpose that carried them through two matches deserted them in game three. Their valiant tour has one more stop next week against Australia.
That’s all from me for tonight, thank you for your company. See you next weekend.
5.46am EST 05:46
Argentina 0-38 New Zealand
Much more like it from the All Blacks. Dominant from go to whoa.
5.45am EST 05:45
TRY! Argentina 0-38 New Zealand (Tuipulotu 80+6)
Both sides keep the ball alive way after the final siren and with tired bodies staggered across McDonald Jones Stadium Patrick Tuipulotu dances through for one final try.
5.39am EST 05:39
Yellow Card! Lomax, 80
80 mins: Finally the scrum occurs and New Zealand run off the back but Sotutu is tackled just short of the line. The All Blacks head right but Mo’unga can’t find space out wide and is lucky to remain in touch. The ball remains alive and is recycled for a series of phases in midfield and eventually Rieko Ioane finds enough of a gap to scamper over for one final score.
Or is he? No. The referee and touch judge are not happy with some work by Lomax at an earlier clear out with the substitute diving in with a swinging arm to the head of the Argentina defender. Instead of a try it’s a yellow card to the New Zealand No.18.
5.35am EST 05:35
79 mins: Another scrum goes down, this time with a raised arm New Zealand’s way. What do the ABs do with the advantage? A 5m scrum of course.
5.34am EST 05:34
78 mins: The scrum is set, then reset, allowing the clock to tick over. In the background the raucous Argentina fans can be heard cheering on their side, in superb voice despite the scoreline.
5.33am EST 05:33
76 mins: Savea leads the charge following an attacking lineout. Lomax pounds his way towards the line, then Tu’inukuafe has a pop, but the man with the Craig Stadler moustache is held up and New Zealand go back for the 5m scrum.
5.30am EST 05:30
73 mins: The scoreline now more accurately reflects the way the game has been played tonight. After all the introspection of recent weeks the All Blacks should end the series on a high, and end the Tri-Nations as champions.
5.28am EST 05:28
TRY! Argentina 0-31 New Zealand (Jordan 71)
And another one to Will Jordan! Argentina had space on their left if they could get the ball through hands, but Jordan was alert to the threat, stepped out of the line to intercept and clung on to the chance – just – before accelerating like an F1 car and scorching the earth en route to the right corner.
Mo’unga nails another magnificent touchline conversion.
Will Jordan dives over in the corner for another try. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Updated at 5.37am EST
5.26am EST 05:26
TRY! Argentina 0-24 New Zealand (Jordan 69)
That’s the bonus point for the All Blacks. Argentina won their own lineout ball near halfway but as they spun the ball through hands from right to left the defensive line rushed up with purpose and forced a loose pass that hit the deck in front of the alert Jordan who gathers and sprints under the posts.
Mo’unga kicks the extras.
Will Jordan makes a break to score under the posts. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Updated at 5.36am EST
5.25am EST 05:25
68 mins: New Zealand win their own lineout ball on halfway and run the ball for the first time in a while. Four phases of Smith feeding runners is ignited by a superb inside ball to J Barrett on the burst. There’s a sniff of a try but Argentina cling on in the tackle and a breakdown later the Pumas have the turnover.
5.21am EST 05:21
66 mins: Caleb Clarke has gone to the bench. Another promising showing from the youngster tonight. He has the speed and skills of an outside back but the power and industry of a flanker. Serious talent.
5.19am EST 05:19
65 mins: The lineout is secured and the forwards get to work, pummelling the short side, but yet again – and this is beyond me why – New Zealand’s playmakers run out of patience way before they needed to and Mo’unga kicks from right wing to left, only to watch the ball sail over Clarke’s head and into touch. Some very questionable decision making in attack tonight. Why the rush?
5.17am EST 05:17
64 mins: Superb kick and chase down the right flank for New Zealand ends with Savea nailing Boffelli and inviting the All Blacks to kick for the corner.
5.16am EST 05:16
63 mins: The game is slowing down, as you might expect in this heat, with players coming on and off at regular intervals. New Zealand are increasingly comfortable kicking for territory while Argentina are starting to run out of defence. Of course, they don’t get very far, because as soon as they look to mount a threatening attack someone drops the ball near contact. Many of these errors have been unforced but Akira Ioane has been on the scene for enough to suggest his presence is a factor.
5.14am EST 05:14
60 mins: A rare win for Argentina at the scrum with substitute Tu’inukuafe penalised. That allows the Pumas to attack off lineout ball on halfway and go through multiple phases for the first time in an age. Guess how it ends? That’s right, loose carry without much provocation. It’s been a poor, poor night in attack for Mario Ledesma’s men.
5.09am EST 05:09
57 mins: That attack doesn’t last long because for the umpteenth time tonight New Zealand go high to the sky and fail to come down with possession. I remain perplexed why they are persisting with this strategy, especially against a tiring defence.
5.07am EST 05:07
55 mins: A couple of handy kicks gain Argentina some territory – they’ve had precious little of it all night. The All Blacks cover their backs and kick handily themselves to force the Pumas to attack from well inside their own half. They try, but after a couple of phases following a bomb they’re penalised at the breakdown and B Barrett turns defence into attack with a huge boot.
5.05am EST 05:05
TRY! Argentina 0-17 New Zealand (Savea 53)
Huuuuuuuge scrum from the All Blacks against the feed, driving Argentina backwards on their 10m line, winning the penalty in the process. New Zealand’s forwards have really flexed their muscles tonight.
They kick the free ball to the corner, secure the lineout and off the back Savea FINALLY crashes through the line and dives over. After all that huffing and puffing the way home is as simple as you could get.
Mo’unga dabs over the easy extras.
Ardie Savea crashes through to score. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Updated at 5.16am EST
5.01am EST 05:01
51 mins: Argentina have a defensive scrum 10m from their own line, but New Zealand are all over them. When the hurried ball comes out it’s hacked clear, only to be returned with interest by the rampaging Clarke. With momentum the All Blacks execute phase after crisp phase through the left edge and a try has to come this time, surely. But it doesn’t! From the breakdown on the line Smith just has to pop it into Clarke’s hands, but for some reason double-pumps and the youngster runs ahead of the pass and knocks on. Deary me, that was the clearest butchered try of the night, but the fourth or fifth in total.
4.58am EST 04:58
47 mins: New Zealand are scrummaging with menace and look eager for a blue collar try. The set-piece is set, then reset, then there’s a pause while Paulos and Smith have words. When Smith finally feeds Savea picks and goes off the back and reaches the line before he’s held up. The ball gets recycled to the right, then the left, but Argentina have bodies everywhere and corral the attack into touch.
A combination of flawed All Blacks attacking and superb desperate Argentina defence, has kept this scoreline interesting. On another night this would be a cricket score.
4.55am EST 04:55
44 mins: After clearing to halfway New Zealand win lineout ball before inviting Clarke to hammer the line at pace. He draws defenders before possession is recycled for Lienert-Brown who streams clear. A try looks inevitable but the flying All Black is hauled down, then B Barrett is scragged, and despite men on the overlap the ball doesn’t reach them. At the breakdown Cane and Whitelock try to barge over but the Pumas hold firm. Eventually a penalty is conceded and New Zealand come again with a 5m scrum.
New Zealand have left plenty of points out there already.
4.52am EST 04:52
42 mins: New Zealand make a bit of a mess of the restart with Clarke and S Barrett colliding but Mo’unga boots clear. Argentina win their own lineout then peel off the back for a beautiful move from the middle out to the right. They pierce the line again to make it just 10m out with momentum – and there’s another dreadful handling error! Gah!
4.51am EST 04:51
41 mins: We’re back underway at McDonald Jones Stadium. Can Argentina mount a comeback?
4.47am EST 04:47
“Do you think the whistleblowers know how to allow the game to flow? E.g. if the ball has passed front/second rowers’ feet shouldn’t they rule that the ball is in play and get it out,” emails a frustrated Michael. “Are they judged by the assessors as having done well if they ‘ping’ every infringement?”
It is a lottery sometimes, isn’t it? If it helps, even some of the best referees are confused by it all.
4.45am EST 04:45
“Ian Foster is a good Waikato man, as was John Mitchel. Neither have proved themselves. By admission I am a Waikato boy haling from Hamilton,” emails River. “Ian and Scott seem out of their depth. The lack of changes in this Argentina game illustrate a lack of contingency plan.”
It has been an underwhelming start to Foster’s reign. It struck me early in that opening draw against the Wallabies that the strategy was so kick-focussed, as if he was too preoccupied with the opposition instead of saying “we’re the All Blacks, can you match it with us?” That loss of aura has continued throughout the Tri-Nations.
4.39am EST 04:39
Half-time: Argentina 0-10 New Zealand
New Zealand regroup quickly following Mo’unga’s blunder and Clarke breaks the line with his massive legs pumping through would-be tacklers. A penalty advantage is called but the All Blacks keep going through the phases on the right wing and by the time they need the referee’s help the advantage is over. Argentina hack clear and the race is on to capture the loose ball as it bobbles beyond halfway. It lands in Kiwi hands and half-time is called.
The All Blacks are ten points to the good. The margin should be more.
4.36am EST 04:36
39 mins: Mo’unga smashes the 25m penalty from almost dead in front into the left-hand upright! Huge let-off for Argentina.
4.35am EST 04:35
39 mins: Argentina’s clearing kick is weak inviting yet another All Blacks attacking set-piece. The lineout is solid, as is the resulting drive, and as they break to spread their wings a penalty advantage is called, and soon accepted.
4.33am EST 04:33
38 mins: The All Blacks reload and after a couple of slow phases go aerially again, and for the umpteenth time the ball comes down Argentina’s way. It looks from afar as though a little more patience and a little less bombing would benefit New Zealand in attack.
4.32am EST 04:32
36 mins: The attacking lineout set-piece is executed perfectly but B Barrett can’t pierce the defensive line on the left wing. New Zealand keep the ball alive and are happy to go through the phases, working the ball one way then the other around the 22. They’re lucky to survive a scrubby pass out to Coles on the right touchline but they regather and head beyond the tenth phase. Argentina remain disciplined in defence, forcing the ABs into more expansive rugby with cutout passes and finally a chip and chase from Mo’unga, but Moyano is in the right place at the right time and clears. The Pumas are superb defensively.
4.29am EST 04:29
34 mins: New Zealand steal the Argentina lineout on halfway and Savea’s run soon earns an advantage. Mo’unga kicks the penalty to the 22.