Despite tough conditions that found out the Argentinian handling, the All Blacks made just three handling mistakes in their seven tries to none romp.
Pumas coach Michael Cheika called it after Argentina’s upset win a week ago: “They’re going to come back with every piece of artillery they have, and we’ve got to be able to work out a way to handle that and give something back.”
And while the All Blacks exploded out of the gates with pure intent everything the Pumas tried blew up in their faces – five handling errors in the opening 25 minutes and 10 turnovers in the first half in slippery conditions in Hamilton.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane led strongly and had his best performance for some time, while the all round play of Richie Mo’unga, cleverness of Aaron Smith and incisiveness of Rieko Ioane and Ardie Savea were all too hot for Argentina to handle. Thee was even a try for returning Brodie Retallick.
All Blacks great Justin Marshall noted the Pumas were a shadow of the team that won on Kiwi soil for the first time ever last weekend.
“I thought leading into this game that they may suffer emotionally to try and reach the heights they did last week and right from the opening carry they made many handling errors,” said Marshall.
“They’ve turned the ball over 10 times and also missed tackles. They’re not the same side. We have to compliment the All Blacks because their defence is putting them under pressure but some of these mistakes are not from errors they’re just from mistakes they didn’t make last week.”
While the Pumas were abject, the All Blacks came with an excellent kicking game that pulled the Pumas defence out of shape.
“Our variety in the kick and our decision making on whether to run and kick or pass has been good,” said All Blacks assistant Scott McLeod at halftime.
“The key thing is our ball carrier has been doing well and our support to that has been really quick enabling us to play on top of them.
“The wet conditions are helping as well. It’s making it hard to deal with and we’re making their ruck a bit of a nightmare.”
Ethan De Groot scored the first try in the ninth minute. Off the back of a chip kick from David Havili, Ioane drove close to the line. Aaron Smith found a charging de Groot outside of Jordie Barrett.
Kicking was integral to Caleb Clarke’s try on 19 minutes. After a kicking duel Richie Mo’unga dinked a grubber in behind the Pumas defence and Will Jordan fed to Jordie Barrett who was tackled 30 metres out. The hosts recycled quickly to the left and Ioane split the defence before sending Clarke over.
Ioane got one of his own, running off Havili’s shoulder after a dominant scrum penalty, for the All Blacks third try on 38 minutes, right after Argentina’s Tomas Lavanini was sent to the bin. So resolute a week earlier, Cheika’s team was in disarray.
The Pumas’ start to the second half was more encouraging but they couldn’t make a man advantage and succession of penalties count between minutes 55 and 59. It took a piece of desperation from Richie Mo’unga to prevent a try and then the All Blacks won a turnover and turned the screw.
On 61 minutes Jordie Barrett rounded off a superb All Blacks try that had its origins in their 22 before Ioane cut through the centre of the field. Finlay Christie and Sam Cane drove deep into Pumas territory but from the next pahase Cane was put clean through and drew the last defender before sending Barrett over.
Ardie Savea added a fifth and the Pumas were staggering. On a night when New Zealand’s stars were shining , Brodie Retallick put the seal on the result with a sixth try.
There was a fracas at the finish between the players – Pablo Matera losing his cool, while two streakers invaded the pitch to celebrate a crushing All Blacks success. From the penalty, the All Blacks went again and with 84 minutes on the clock a smiling Beauden Barrett scooted over with a seventh touch down.