New Zealand vs Argentina: Rugby World Cup highlights, scores, result

Match Result:

Aaron Smith ignited a late revival as the All Blacks overhauled Argentina to start their Rugby World Cup defence with a 26-16 victory before a record crowd at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The Pumas threatened an upset when they led 13-12 at half-time and jumped to a 16-12 advantage early in the second spell.

The All Blacks superior possession advantage was crushed in a vice-like defence.

But the gallant Pumas were worn down by the black machine in a fractious clash which saw three players yellow carded including All Blacks’ skipper Richie McCaw for the third time in his 143-Test career.

McCaw admitted that his side had to dig deep to get back into the game.

But he said: “I thought the second half was a lot more clinical.”

The All Blacks played nearly 20 minutes with a man down and with a two-man deficit for a few minutes when Conrad Smith was sent off before McCaw returned to the battle.

But any hopes Argentina had of emulating Japan’s stunning victory over South Africa evaporated in the 56th minute when halfback Aaron Smith darted around the side of a ruck for the All Blacks opening try.

It revived the world champions who followed with a try to Sam Cane. Dan Carter converted both tries and landed four penalties.

Argentina’s first half lead was built on a try by 20-year-old lock Guido Petti converted by Nicolas Sanchez who also kicked two penalties.

In the second spell Argentina were restricted to one further Sanchez penalty.

Before a capacity 89,019 at Wembley, a record World Cup crowd, New Zealand were expected to win and wanted to make an emphatic statement.

But they could not have been happy with their inability to breakdown the Argentina defence despite dominating possession and territory.

Julian Savea, who went into the match with eight tries from six previous Tests against Argentina, was starved of the ball for most of the match.

The All Blacks opening points all came from Carter penalties as Argentina, struggling for territory, were forced into a series of infringements.

The second of Carter’s four first half penalties came when Argtentina flanker Pablo Matera was yellow-carded, but it was Argentina who made the most of the one-man difference.

After Carter landed a third penalty to put the All Blacks ahead 9-0, the 14-man Argentina produced the opening try with Petti, the baby of the Pumas side, crashing over from close range.

They took the lead when McCaw was sent off for tripping Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and five-eighth Sanchez, who had converted Petti’s try, kicked a 50 metre penalty to put the Pumas ahead 10-9.

Sanchez and Carter traded further penalties before half-time and the Argentine marksmen landed his third penalty soon after the resumption to extend the Pumas lead to 16-12.

Sonny Bill Williams was injected into the game to add spark to the All Blacks’ attack and nearly paid instant dividends when he flicked the ball to an unmarked Nehe Milner-Skudder a metre from the line. But the winger dropped the ball.

However, it was a sign that the All Blacks were starting to gain an edge as they upped the pace of the game.

They regained the lead in the 56th minute with Smith’s try, Cane followed him over the line and Carter kicked both conversions.

– AAP

Match Preview

Pool C of the 2015 Rugby World Cup kicks off with a Rugby Championship rematch between virtually full-strength Argentina and a fully-fit New Zealand in London. Join The Roar for live scores and and a live blog of the game from 1:45am AEST.

The pre-tournament favourite All Blacks face the dangerous, but inconsistent Pumas of Argentina at famous Wembley Stadium.

New Zealand mastermind Steve Hansen has named a super-experienced side, with all-time Kiwi greats Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith, Tony Woodcock, and Ma’a Nonu leading a cap-rich team. Yes, there are 11 All Blacks playing in this team, but Hansen has 1211 caps in his starting XV and 316 on the bench.

There are no shocks or bolters, Hansen clearly wants to avoid any banana skins as his team takes the first step towards retaining the World Cup. Perhaps, the presence of Sonny Bill Williams on the bench in place of Malakai Fekitoa is a mild surprise.

Jerome Kaino wrested the blindside jersey away from Victor Vito in the only change from the roster of players who pounded the Wallabies at Eden Park five weeks ago, but Vito will run out in the second half, either as a lock or a flank, along with other stalwarts Keven Mealamu and Beauden Barrett.

Also, the most successful win-loss player in World Cup history, about whom odes have been sung, Wyatt Crockett, will soar and bore in the second half.

There will be no respite for the Argentines.

Hansen believes the breakdown is the key to this World Cup, so he has five loose forwards in his game day squad.

To finish chances, he has the Skud Missile, Nehe Milner-Skudder, the Bus, Julian Savea, and the irrepressible Ben Smith at the back. Give these three any openings and it could be a long, hard night for the South Americans.

It will be interesting to see Charlie Faumuina return from a neck injury up against the fearsome Argentine scrum.

Argentina will not be intimidated. For the past few seasons, games against the All Blacks, Springboks, and Wallabies have become commonplace, and Daniel Hourcade has obviously progressed in his understanding of how to play the Big Three.

The Pumas’ backline features plenty of firepower, in Joaquin Tuculet, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Imhoff and Tomas Cubelli, but they will absolutely need to score tries. Plural. They will not beat New Zealand with only one try. But can they score three? I doubt it.

Presumably, the rugged Puma pack will try to sap the All Blacks’ energy by keeping the ball in the scrums longer, even after their famed second shove. The breakdown might be a mess, and the Pumas may satisfy Wayne Barnes easier than the Kiwis. However, Sam Cane will come on in the second half, if McCaw isn’t making Barnes happy.

Look also for drop goals from Nicolas Sanchez and Hernandez, if the Pumas work their way into the red zone.

Santiago Cordero has gotten the nod on right wing ahead of Horacio Aguilla. There are almost no healthy tightheads in Argentina, so Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro starts – with Ramiro Herrera perhaps rushed back too soon on the bench, after a serious knee injury.

I think the pundit class has underestimated how much Argentina has progressed in the last four years, and playing in England, I see them troubling many top tier teams, and even making it to the semifinals. Woodcock may struggle, Read isn’t at his peak form yet, and Brodie Retallick won’t actually have a mongrel or size advantage over Tomas Lavanini.

But New Zealand will have too much firepower in the second half, and I predict they will score three tries or more, to maybe one Puma try and several goals.