![](https://eu-cdn.rugbypass.com/webp-images/images/team-images/logos/png/811.png.webp?maxw=50&comp=90&v=1725422260)
All Blacks v Pumas: ABs’ best Test under Razor, Argentina pay for mistakes
New Zealand have bounced back from last weekend’s shock loss with a clinical 42-10 win over Argentina at their fortress, Eden Park. The All Blacks scored their first try in the sixth minute and never looked back as the hosts ran riot.
Damian McKenzie, Ardie Savea, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett all scored first-half tries as the hosts ran away with a commanding 35-3 half-time lead. The match was all but won by that stage with the All Blacks looking the best they have all year.
While the Kiwis took the foot off the gas during the second term as they called on the bench to make an impact, it doesn’t take away from how good this team looked for the majority of a Test somewhat affected by the wet weather.
Here are some takeaways.
That’s more like it from Razor’s All Blacks
That match was over by the 30-minute mark. The All Blacks led 21-3 and later took a commanding 35-3 lead into the sheds at half-time. It was relentless, dominant and highly entertaining as the All Blacks put on a masterclass on a rainy night in Auckland.
With coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson at the helm, this was the best the All Blacks have looked during their new era in 2024. The two wins over England weren’t convincing, and the New Zealanders were always expected to beat Fiji by a comfortable margin in San Diego.
But last weekend’s loss to Argentina was enough to sound the alarms. While the likes of South Africa and Ireland have hit the ground running this year with some promising performances this year, New Zealand looked like they’d taken a step backwards.
They needed to bounce back, and there’s no better venue to do that at than Eden Park. It’s well-known that this venue is a fortress for the All Blacks, and that was certainly the case on Saturday as they recorded a one-sided demolition of a Pumas outfit that had no answers.
With two Tests coming up against Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks in South Africa – which is discussed below – the All Blacks needed a strong performance going into those fixtures. It’s confidence they need if they’re going to have a chance of matching it with the world champs.
Ardie Savea looked like the world’s best player once again, Beauden and Jordie Barrett were quite brilliant during passages of this Test, and the forwards laid the foundations with their physicality and dominance up front.
It was a bit doom and gloom talking about the All Blacks after last weekend’s loss, but that’s well and truly in the past now. It was almost a perfect performance, and that’ll no doubt put a smile on the faces of every person who considers themselves an ABs fan.
Argentina made to pay for careless mistakes
If you’ve read this far then you know the score. It wasn’t pretty for Argentina and the team’s supporters, and gives them plenty to work on and address before playing two Tests against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies on home soil.
Los Pumas looked like a completely different side compared to the 23 that recorded a famous win over the All Blacks in Wellington. That day, Argentina were clinical and passionate, and they certainly made the most of their opportunities on a famous August evening.
While it’s definitely worth noting the conditions in Auckland were pretty miserable at times as rain poured down from the heavens, that doesn’t justify or explain such a significant difference in how both teams played in Auckland as opposed to Wellington.
New Zealand were sensational, but Argentina certainly have themselves to blame for allowing the hosts to run away with it. Whether it was careless mistakes, schoolboy errors or missed tackles, the visitors were never in the fight.
Halfback Gonzalo Bertranou gave away the ball during the first half after being warned by the referee to ‘use it.’ Bertranou, instead, tried to position the ball in a more favourable position within the breakdown and was made to pay for that error.
That led to a scrum penalty, and that was followed by Ardie Savea’s try.
Later, Argentina set up for a rolling maul in the 20th minute. Los Pumas looked strong as the forwards grouped together about five metres out from the All Blacks’ try line, but it was blown up by the referee with the hosts awarded an attacking scrum.
Argentina also had two exit kick attempts charged down in the 23rd minute. They were left to scramble in a state of desperation from well inside their own 22.
They also missed 10 tackles during the first half.
So, the takeaway is this: it was 21-3 before the 25-minute mark. When you’re playing against an All Blacks side at Eden Park, history shows it’s almost impossible to win. Compound that with a poor performance, Argentina never gave themselves a chance.
All Blacks forwards seized their chance to finally scrum
Rugby fans had to wait an hour for the first scrum in last weekend’s Test at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. In a match as tense as that one, the brief break in play after a Cortez Ratima knock-on was almost enough to celebrate – especially for the front rowers.
Both sets of starting props were deprived of their opportunity to showcase their strength at the set-piece. All Blacks Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax had both left the field by the time the referee called for the first scrum just before the 60-minute mark.
It was certainly unusual.
“No one wants to see that do they? It was a bit like watching league there for a while,” New Zealand assistant coach Jason Ryan told reporters before the second Test.
“Probably when we got into the shed, you could tell the tight-five were a little bit fresher and I could feel that we were going to change gears a wee bit, but we didn’t.
“We want to scrummage though… we want to actually scrummage, especially when both teams have got the ball.
“There’s been some conversations had there and we’re looking forward to the contest.”
But it was a different story when the two teams went head-to-head for a second time in Auckland on Saturday evening.
Let’s thank the rugby Gods for that.
On a rainy night at the All Blacks’ world-famous rugby fortress, Eden Park, supporters toughing it out in the cold were rewarded for their bravery early on. Inside the first 15 minutes, the opposing forward packs came together for a moment of brute force.
The All Blacks won a penalty advantage at the first scrum and repeated their dominance at the second scrum in the 22nd minute. New Zealand dominated the next two and were unfortunate not to win more penalties for their efforts.
New Zealand as a collective thrived on what the forwards did at crunch time. It was all one-way traffic in the opening 40 as the hosts grew in confidence before punishing Los Pumas with points on the scoreboard.
However, it must be said that Argentina had the last laugh before the half-time break. New Zealand’s Tamaiti Williams was penalised but the visitors failed to make the most of it, which was their Achilles heel during this Test.
New Zealand are still strong underdogs for South Africa
The All Blacks’ record from five Tests this year paints a positive picture of the direction of this team. With new head coach Scott Robertson leading the way, the men in black have claimed victories in four of five starts so far in 2024.
Last weekend’s loss to Argentina was a sour way for ‘Razor’ to debut as a coach in The Rugby Championship, but New Zealand bounced back with a five-star display in Auckland. But it doesn’t get any easier – they’ll need to be a lot better.
The Springboks are the two-time defending Rugby World Cup champions. They dispatched the Wallabies with ease 33-7 in Brisbane last weekend, and at the time of writing, they’re favoured to knock off Australia again in Perth.
South Africa always poses an intimidating challenge, but facing them on their turf makes it that much tougher for any side seeking victory. New Zealand will have their work cut out for them in upcoming Tests in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Going off the Springboks’ first win over the Wallabies, the world champions have gotten better on the back of their second-consecutive run to Webb Ellis Cup glory. Every player from one to 23 understands their role and is very effective in ensuring that it’s done.
New Zealand will take plenty of confidence out of this win but backing that up away from home against South Africa is so incredibly tough. They’ll believe they can silence the Ellis Park crowd in two weeks but they’ll certainly start as underdogs.
Enter now to stand a chance of winning tickets to all three British & Irish Lions Tests vs Australia!
You can also enter our ticket giveaway to win tickets to watch them take on Argentina in Dublin for the first time ever!
The arrogance of abusing retiring players and opponent supporters after the final whistle will be addressed. Arrogance never before seen at a RWC match. For the good of the game that will be addressed. You will be humbled in Dublin.
Enjoy the rest of your summer until the arrogant all blacks and all their arrogant fans come to break your hearts again.
Actually I was having a good exchange of information with another poster until you interjected with abuse which you have continued in your reply calling me a 'Stain' on the Irish Nation. Only one trolling on this thread is you. Happy to talk rugby even discuss your wooden spoon avoiding fixture with a resurgent Italy in Rome.
What a boring match, really unfortunate with the weather.
Still no change in the way the All Blacks are playing, this result laid bare and stark the massive problem Razor has in front of him, and being able to get away with the same simple direct style because of the weather has only made it harder.
Just like clock work. A good old fashioned black lash. You can never count NZ out, this tournament is far from decided. The top two sides in the world heading for a hum dinger. Biggest test match on the planet. Good luck to both teams!
Top two sides in the World. NZ score 1-1 in two tests versus Argentina in NZ! God bless your arrogance. Think NZ scrape the top 4 still? You can never count SH arrogance out! (apologies to Australia and Argentina, not including you)
Supposedly Ad hominem attacks are bad form.
But sometimes it's a waste of time attacking the argument.
Let's just say Terry 24 and JPM are c u n ts block them and move on
What a cowardly, hypocritical post that is. Just because you don't have the wit to attack the argument doesn't mean you gte to perosanlly ab use people. a$$hole!
What a chicken shit response!
Are you that thin skinned that you can't take criticism of your team without resorting to personal attack.
Check the mirror, the muppet show is on son!
New Zealand are going to win the World Cup.
should have won the last one.
Hope your right but that's miles away. Reading the comments in this thread a lot of people have not moved on from RWC. I am an ABs supporter we have moved on I mean s..t happens. SA won it, period you are the champs. Looking forward to taking on the mighty Boks in the republic, who look even better than last year. Should be a great couple of tests, so glad my team stepped up last night. Nothing beats an AB vs Bok series, looking forward to it! I would say we are underdogs for once. Never under estimate either of these teams though.
No Ireland are! How dare you say that the Poor All Blacks will win the world cup.
NZ dominated the set pieces and nullified any platform Argentina got from theirs.
Argentina needed to strike back mid first half but errors kept handing the initiative back to NZ with severe consequences. Hats off to NZ though the errors came from their pressure.
A few issues with the ref. The 5 second rule scrum in the first half that lead to a NZ try.
He must give warning before giving that decision. Its deep in the Argentinian 22. In the context of the match it is a major major punishment. Give the palyer a shout: 'youve got 5 seconds only' etc. At about 72 mins I counted Perinara taking 9 seconds in the NZ 22. If you are that harsh with Argentina, you must punish NZ too.
Secondly, the yellow was a yellow no question. High tackle resulting in head contact. End of story. Luke Pearse decision last week was very strange. High tackle, head contact, end of story. I heard Pearse putting his oar in from the sidelines again. Keep it simple, keep it safe.
The first half performance will concentrate SA minds as to what NZ can do if you let them play or are off the boil.
No he doesn't half is perfectly able to count to 5 himself once the ball is available.
There was no head contact, what are you talking about? He caused the head to wiplash and trigger the mouth gaurds concussion alarm, thats why he went to the bin. Same last weak when the player headbutted Blackadder. Luckily that game he didn't make contact with Blackadders head.
The Springboks never underestamate the greatest rugby playing nation in the world. These are the matches we have been looking forward to since last year and they will be epic.