Rugby
1News

Champions! All Blacks seal Rugby Championship with victory over Argentina

September 29, 2018

Relive NEWS NOW's live coverage of this Rugby Championship encounter between the All Blacks and Argentina, from Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires.

1:38pm: FULLTIME: All Blacks 35 Argentina 17

The siren goes and there's some more push and shove between the two sides. Mo'unga kicks into touch, the All Blacks have won the Rugby Championship.

1:36pm: 79 mins - All Blacks 35 Argentina 17

A Crotty intercept has the All Blacks closing in on another try! Lienert-Brown is tackled short of a second try, the All Blacks recycle but Tuipulotu spills the ball as Argentina clear.

1:28pm: 74 mins - All Blacks 35 Argentina 17

TRY!!! Anton Lienert-Brown goes over after some smart work from Richie Mo'unga.

Barrett converts again and that should be the game, and the Rugby Championship for the All Blacks.

1:25pm: 71 mins - All Blacks 28 Argentina 17

The TMO looking for a possible try, as Beauden Barrett races to claim a try. They'll check for foul play against Naholo though, after his knee made contact with Boffelli's head. Nothing in it, would be a very harsh card.

The ball's gone forward off Barrett's calf, but Cubelli gets there first. Should be no try.

1:20pm: 69 mins - All Blacks 28 Argentina 17

TRY!!! Argentina aren't lying down! A kick for the corner has the Pumas threatening. Matera goes close, before the ball is recylced to Bofelli who darts over on the left. 

Sanchez gets the kick again.

1:18pm: 68 mins - All Blacks 28 Argentina 10

All Blacks lineout. Harris throws and the All Blacks attack Argentina's line. Lavanini does brilliantly to turn the ball over though. Argentina get out of jail.

1:12pm: 62 mins - All Blacks 28 Argentina 10

Richie Mo'unga on as a sub, and straight away sparks a bit of magic. He slips through the Argentinian line, but his final pass is intercepted. Argentina clear and the All Blacks will have a lineout.

1:09pm: 60 mins - All Blacks 28 Argentina 10

TRY!!!  Argentina claim a try, but Ta'avao looks to have saved it. The TMO says it's good though? Strange decision. Cubelli the scorer, Sanchez converts.

1:07pm: 58 mins - All Blacks 28 Argentina 3

Taylor makes a high tackle on Ezcurra, and the TMO wants a look at it. Nothing worthy of a card though, Argentina lineout.

1:05pm: 56 mins - All Blacks 28 Argentina 3

TRY!!!  SBW finds Ioane inside him and the winger races away for his hat-trick, but he loses his footing! The All Blacks just five metres out, but Argentina give away a penalty. The All Blacks will take the lineout.

Taylor throws, Savea takes. The All Blacks will drive, Taylor goes at the line. The All Blacks are close, and Tu'inukuafe finds Tuipulotu who scores his first Test try! More importantly though, that's the bonus point try, which could seal the Rugby Championship.

Barrett again flawless with the boot to add the extras.

1:00pm: 53 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

Angus Ta'avao comes on for his All Blacks debut, huge moment for the Chiefs front rower. His first act in the black jersey will be a scrum. All Blacks' feed.

Savea takes the ball off the back, and finds Naholo on the blindside. Naholo runs, but loses the ball in the tackle from Sanchez. Argentina lineout.

12:56pm: 50 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

Shocking throw from Creevy and the All Blacks pounce! Argentina give away an offside penalty, before another for not being back 10m.

12:54pm: 49 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

SBW returns after his yellow card. Argentina scrum.

Huge push but a penalty goes against the All Blacks. Illegal wheeling the call. Argentina lineout on the 22. Creevy throws, and Argentina drive again. The referee playing advantage to Argentina, but the Pumas knock it on, and now there's a bit of push and shove!

Both captains urged to settle their sides down.

12:49pm: 44 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

Sanchez makes a break, but there's a nasty collision between him, Barrett and Crotty. No issue in the tackle, but Sanchez and Crotty are staying down.

The TMO saying Barrett didn't wrap the arms in the tackle, which is a ridiculous decision. Penalty for Argentina.

Sanchez goes quickly, but straight to Naholo? The All Blacks' winger knocks the ball on. We'll have a scrum to bring a bizarre bit of play to an end.

12:44pm: 41 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

We're back for the second half, Beauden Barrett kicks off to get things back underway.

12:32pm: HALFTIME - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

Perenara cleverly slowing down play as much as he can, time all but up in the first half. We will have one last scrum though. Perenara feeds, and Ardie Savea takes it off the back.

Taylor tries to go wide, but is hit high as Argentina give away a penalty, Barrett clears the ball and the All Blacks will have a lineout. 

Taylor throws short to Frizell and the All Blacks will have a crack before the break. Argentina steal the ball and will counter! Sanchez puts Petti through and Argentina make good ground. Lavanini does well, but Kramer knocks the ball on to bring the first half to a close.

12:28pm: 39 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

Argentina take the lineout, but they knock the ball on and the All Blacks' defence holds again! Scott Barrett forcing the mistake. Codie Taylor stays down with a shoulder issue. 

The All Blacks take a scrum.

12:26pm: 38 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

Creevy throws, and Argentina drive. Another advantage as Argentina go wide to Sanchez. Argentina close, Sanchez has another go but Ioane makes the tackle.

The referee stops play, this will be a yellow for the All Blacks, it's Sonny Bill again, NZ down to 14.

12:24pm: 36 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

Argentina with a great chance now! Sanchez and De La Fuente both make brilliant runs, the Pumas less than 5m away.

Boffelli has a run, but SBW is called for offside. The All Blacks are warned for their last infringement, Argentina go for the lineout.

12:22pm: 34 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

The All Blacks run the ball again, Naholo goes wide before the ball moves back in field. Tu'inukuafe offloads to Barrett, before Ardie Savea goes wide. 

The All Blacks hunting the tryline at will now, but Matera does brilliantly to win a penalty! Argentina get out of jail. Elsewhere, Creevy is down injured, but gets straight back up when he knows he has to throw a lineout.

12:19pm: 31 mins - All Blacks 21 Argentina 3

TRY!!!  The Pumas are penalised at the scrum, and Barrett finds touch with a brilliant kick. All Blacks lineout on the 22. Scott Barrett claims and the All Blacks drive. Argentina have stolen the ball, but are forced into touch.

Taylor throws again, Frizell claims. SBW hits the line, before Barrett goes wide to Ben Smith, he's tackled. Perenara has a run, but the All Blacks have lost it.

Hang on a minute - Rieko Ioane has stolen the ball back, and races away to score! The referee wants to check with the TMO, Taylor has connected with Delguy, but was pushed by the Argentinian defender? The try will stand! 

Barrett with the kick from the left touchline, and gets this one again!

12:11pm: 26 mins - All Blacks 14 Argentina 3

Argentina have a scrum, and the All Blacks look to have won it! But the referee penalises for the front row driving. Argentina will have another feed.

The All Blacks give away a short arm penalty, but Argentina go too early. Sanchez instead takes the free kick, and Barrett takes the mark with Boffelli chasing.

12:06pm: 21 mins - All Blacks 14 Argentina 3

Scrum for Argentina, and the Pumas look to run the ball from their own set piece. Bofelli loses the ball in the tackle though, All Blacks' scrum now.

12:03pm: 19 mins - All Blacks 14 Argentina 3

TRY!!!  Another lineout error from Argentina, and the All Blacks have a five-metre scrum. Perenara feeds, and the All Blacks drive!

Perenara goes to Naholo at first-receiver, who reaches out and scores! Brilliant effort. Hang on, possible knock-on against Perenara. No issue though. Barrett nails the conversion too.

11:59am: 16 mins - All Blacks 7 Argentina 3

Barrett goes for a distance kick into the Argentina corner, but gets it wrong to give the Pumas a lineout just shy of the All Blacks' 22. Great work at the lineout from the All Blacks to force a knock on from Argentina, first scrum of the night, NZ feed. 

Perenara feeds and goes down the blindside, stabbing a kick through for Ioane, claims of a high shot from the All Blacks as Bertranou goes to the air. Barrett claims and the All Blacks go wide. Boffelli stays down. Crotty kicks through for Naholo to chase, but the ball squirts over the touchline.

11:55am: 12 mins - All Blacks 7 Argentina 3

Argentina look to hit back straight away, the referee has the arm out against Scott Barrett, and the Pumas opt for another kick at goal.

Sanchez with his second of the match, but he's missed! Shocker.

11:53am: 9 mins - All Blacks 7 Argentina 3

TRY!!!  Bertranou botches his clearance, All Blacks lineout on the 10m line. Huge pressure on Taylor. This time he goes to Savea at the front. The All Blacks move the ball to Naholo who makes a burst upfield!

He draws in his man before finding Ben Smith outside him, Smith draws in the final man before finding Ioane outside him - and Ioane scores! Lethal from the All Blacks, their first real attack, and of course Ioane scores to celebrate his new NZ Rugby deal in style.

Barrett with the kick, and he's got it! 

11:50am: 6 mis - All Blacks 0 Argentina 3

Penalty!  Another terrible lineout from Taylor, but the ball goes back to Barrett who kicks. Argentina can attack now. Sanchez kicks but Sam Cane is there again with a chargedown. Argentina being forced backwards as the All Blacks look for the counter-ruck.

Bertranou kicks from the back of the ruck and Naholo spills the ball, Argentina can attack! The ball goes right to Delguy, who makes a run.

Referee has the arm out for an advantage, Tu'inukuafe the culprit for not rolliing away. Sanchez will take the shot at goal.

11:47am: 2 mins - All Blacks 0 Argentina 0

Taylor throws, but it's an absolute shocker as Argentina win possession back. Creevy drives forward before Sanchez goes to the air. Ben Smith loses out to Bofelli, but he doesn't release to surrender a penalty. Sam Cane the hero for the All Blacks.

11:45am: KICK OFF - All Blacks 0 Argentina 0

Sanchez kicks off, SBW claims it, but Matera is penalised for challenging in the air. Barrett to find touch early on.

11:44am

TJ Perenara leads the haka ahead of his 50th Test, the All Blacks are looking in the mood this morning, kick off not far away!

11:35am

Huge cheers and pyrotechnics greet Argentina's arrival! This could be a special night for the hosts. Time for the anthems.

11:34am

The All Blacks are given a healthy reception by the Buenos Aires crowd. The weather is absolutely attrocious, raining all day with more expected throughout the match. The Pumas making the All Blacks wait before they hit the field.

11:25am

Steve Hansen's side are back in the sheds. Argentina meanwhile, can sniff blood in the water. The Pumas know that they might not ever get a better chance for that first win over the All Blacks then they do this morning.

10:27am

Good morning, but there's some late breaking news coming through. Luke Whitelock ruled out with injury. Ardie Savea comes into the starting side at number eight, while Jackson Hemopo comes onto the bench.

PRE MATCH

Beware the wounded All Blacks. After a 36-34 defeat to South Africa in Wellington two weeks ago, the All Blacks will want to bounce back in convincing fashion, targeting a demolition of Argentina in front of their own fans.

However, Argentina won't be easy-beats by any means, coming into this match off the back of an impressive 23-19 win over Australia on the Gold Coast, targeting a first-ever victory over New Zealand.

Steve Hansen has resisted the urge for full-scale changes, with only injuries affecting what would be a full-strength side.

Captain Kieran Read is rested ahead of next week's trip to South Africa, seeing Sam Whitelock take the reigns as skipper.

Jordie Barrett finds himself on the sidelines, with Waisake Naholo coming onto the left wing, Ben Smith moves to fullback in his place. Elsewhere, prop angus Ta'avao will make his debut from the bench.

TEAMS

All Blacks:  15. Ben Smith, 14. Waisake Naholo, 13. Ryan Crotty, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. TJ Perenara, 8. Luke Whitelock, 7. Sam Cane, 6. Shannon Frizell, 5. Scott Barrett, 4. Sam Whitelock (c), 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 2. Codie Taylor, 1. Karl Tu'inukuafe.

Replacements : 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Tim Perry, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Ardie Savea, 21. Aaron Smith, 22. Richie Mo'unga, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.

Argentina: 15. Emiliano Boffelli, 14. Bautista Delguy, 13. Jeronimo De La Fuente, 12. Bautista Ezcurra, 11. Matias Moroni, 10. Nicolas Sanchez, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 8. Javier Ortega Desio, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Pablo Matera, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Ramiro Herrera, 2. Agustin Creevy, 1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Replacements: 16. Julian Montoya, 17. Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Matias Alemanno, 20. Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21. Tomas Cubelli, 22. Matias Orlando, 23. Sebastian Cancelliere.

SHARE ME

More Stories