The All Blacks’ 41–24 victory over Argentina was more than just another rugby win – it was a demonstration of power, creativity and resilience. Córdoba was witness to a spectacular contest, full of memorable phases, classy execution and a pace of play that kept the crowd on edge from the opening whistle to the very last touch of the ball.
A Blistering Start – Wake-Up Call for the Pumas
New Zealand took the field with a clear plan: strike fast and impose their style of play. Beauden Barrett set the tone with a pinpoint kick-off, and Sevu Reece opened the scoring after an expertly crafted move across the backline. Barrett’s conversion, which went over with a touch of luck after clipping the post, underlined the early dominance of the men in black.
Argentina, on the other hand, tried to respond with direct rugby, relying on the power of their forward pack and the inspiration of Chocobares. Their efforts soon paid off: Isgró finished off an exciting move down the right wing, igniting the home supporters. Albornoz’s conversion levelled the scoreboard.
Individual Brilliance Makes the Difference
The first half was dominated by three names: Ardie Savea, Will Jordan and Sevu Reece. Savea, in outstanding form, led the pack with intelligence, scored a try and gained precious metres in contact. Will Jordan, with his pace and explosiveness, tore holes in the Pumas’ defence, paving the way for Ratima’s try after a devastating break. And Sevu Reece, the danger man on the right wing, showed why he is one of the deadliest finishers in world rugby: two tries taken with killer instinct.
At half-time the score read 28–7 to New Zealand, the stats telling the story: four tries for the visitors and clear dominance across the park.
The Pumas’ Response – Pride and Discipline
The second half, however, showed another side to Argentina. Driven on by Pablo Matera and the inspired Albornoz, the hosts took advantage of the All Blacks’ lapses in discipline. Two yellow cards (Mayco Vivas and Billy Proctor) gave the South Americans oxygen, and they turned that advantage into points. Tries from Albornoz and Oviedo brought the Pumas back into the contest and lifted the Córdoba crowd to its feet.
Scott Barrett admitted after the match that “discipline was what kept the Argentinians alive.” He was right: a handful of poorly managed penalties and speculative passes gave the impression of premature relaxation in the New Zealand camp.
Bench Power and Killer Instinct
Even so, the All Blacks showed why they remain a world-class side. The introduction of Samisoni Taukei’aho transformed the forward pack. Within just five minutes, the fresh hooker had bagged two almost identical tries, both coming from textbook mauls. His brace was the final blow to the Pumas’ hopes, stretching the score to 41–24.
Although the closing stages were marked by another yellow card, this time for Anton Lienert-Brown, Argentina couldn’t find the resources for one last meaningful assault. Smart defending and an imperial Tuipulotu in the second row closed down every gap.
Post-Match Reactions
At the final whistle, Scott Barrett summed it up neatly: “We started well and finished well. In the second half, discipline got us out of rhythm, but we managed to make a statement of strength at the end.” Sevu Reece added that “50/50 passes and discipline are the areas we still need to work on.”
From Argentina’s perspective, there were positives to take: the ability to fight back after a disastrous first half, the strength of their forwards and the backing of the crowd, which pushed them right to the end.
Foto: PR – www.news24.com
by Honor Et Patria/ Eduard Popiea