The All Blacks have all but secured the 2020 Tri-Nations crown after crushing Argentina 38-0 in Newcastle.
New Zealand’s five-try shut-out on Saturday night will leave the Wallabies and Pumas going through the motions in next week’s final match of the tournament.
The All Blacks jumped five points clear on the competition table after two tries in three minutes from replacement Will Jordan midway through the second half secured victory at McDonald Jones Stadium.
To snatch the trophy, the Wallabies will have to beat the Pumas by 101 points in Sydney.
Alternatively, the Pumas must defeat the Wallabies by 93 points after conceding four second-half tries on Saturday night.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane said he got the response he was looking for from a team reeling after successive defeats, including a shock loss to the Pumas in Sydney two weeks ago.
“Extremely satisfying,” he said.
“There’s no hiding that we’ve had a tough three weeks. We felt the pain of the loss (to the Pumas).
“I’m proud of the way that we were able to stay patient and got there in the end.”
The Pumas were their own worst enemy.
“We were not clinical. Too many errors when we got the ball,” said Pumas captain Pablo Matera.
“Some silly mistakes in defence as well.”
After losing to Argentina and Australia, the All Blacks entered the game on the back of two straight defeats for the first time since 2011.
A third consecutive slip-up would have placed coach Ian Foster under immense pressure to keep his job.
But Jordan’s tries came after hooker Dane Coles crossed for the only five-pointer of the opening half to give the All Blacks a 10-0 lead at the break.
Ardie Savea and Patrick Tuipulotu put the icing on the cake for the All Blacks after the inspired and previously unbeaten Pumas were unable to win for the late Diego Maradona.
The All Blacks paid tribute to Maradona when Cane laid a New Zealand No.10 jersey on the field before the start of the game.
As the All Blacks lined up to perform the haka, Cane stepped out, walked toward midfield and laid down the jersey – with Maradona’s name and number on it – as Argentine players stood arm-in-arm and watched.
Several Argentine players nodded in acknowledgement of the gesture.
Maradona died on Wednesday of a heart attack at age 60 in a house outside Buenos Aires where he had been recovering from a brain operation on November 3.
BrewsterBandit
Roar Rookie
Strong second point, but he is habitually "lucky".
Harry Jones
Expert
As a tragic Stormer fan, I can confirm that Foster bears a resemblance to Coetzee. Hope (for NZ) that’s wrong.
Android-angler Cartman-brah
Roar Rookie
Hope people don't hate me too much for this, but in Foster they have their very own Alistair Coetzee.
Harry Jones
Expert
Ben Smith was ‘lucky,’ too. For ages! :laughing:
Harry Jones
Expert
Pumas (as Jaguares) have been steeped in a Saffa style for a few years, courtesy of the conference system. You see it in Petti, Kremer, Matera, and their hookers. They need bigger locks and better props; sort of obvious, but hard to fill. Good team, on their day. Attack is a bit stilted, but defense is monumental.
Harry Jones
Expert
Will Jordan looked like he was at 2X JB speed on a video game
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Full count
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Go the pumas.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
2 lucky tries when the pumas were on their knees.
Cogs
Guest
As a Kiwi, Argentina is the success story of the tournament - I was very happy Argentina beat the All Blacks, it means no longer will people think "they may get close but they'll never beat NZ" - it's good for the game and wonderful for Argentina. I was very happy for them. Sure the All Blacks flexed their muscle but I will always remember the dancing after Argentina beat NZ. Wonderful!
Coker
Roar Rookie
Not as physical as Smith.
CPM
Roar Rookie
the Wallabies and Pumas going through the motions in next week’s final match It is obvious that the Pumas decided to throw this match in order to rest their best and target a win in their final match against the Wallabies. Asking their best to play four in a row shows the unfairness in the schedule which was clearly drawn up to favor NZ and Aus.
INT
Guest
Your first point is a real gem. You should consider emailing the Pumas Management directly.
Fox
Roar Guru
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Android-angler Cartman-brah
Roar Rookie
The ABs are like carrots and peas again. Not 100% there yet but certainly moving in the right direction. Just worried about players playing out of position. Playing JBarret at wing is like searching for a piece of hay in a stack of needles.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
All Blacks pretty much in a no win situation.. Win convincingly they are playing a Puma B team.. Don't win convincingly knives are drawn....for me strangely enough Argentina will take more lessons not just from this game but the comp as a whole. 1. They now know that to join the others at the top, they have to develop squad depth.. Its the new norm in Rugby and ain't going away.. 2. They have taken a page from the Bok play book and focused on aggressive, affirmative defence as a cornerstone of their game plan, tested it at this tournament and came out smiling. 3. Despite a pretty convincing loss, have used the opportunity to look at other players. I'm not sure the ABs learnt terribly much from this match that they didn't already know.
yes the fact Arg had no shots at goal was a major achievement by the ABs
Is that a full count or just some names you know of? 3 so far shows how hard it is...mind you like Phillips, Smith may not get there
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Wonder how the A team will fair vs WBs
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Ben Youngs, Gregan, Genia, and Phillips got 99