Argentina 15-54 New Zealand, Rugby Championship
All Blacks crush Pumas to claim title
ESPN Staff
September 30, 2012
Date/Time: Sep 29, 2012, 20:10 local, 23:10 GMT
Venue: Estadio Ciudad de La Plata
Argentina 15 - 54 New Zealand
Attendance: 38327  Half-time: 8 - 32
Tries: Camacho, Landajo
Cons: Hernandez
Pens: Hernandez
Tries: Jane 3, Nonu, Savea 2, AL Smith
Cons: Carter 3, Cruden 2
Pens: Carter 2, Cruden
Try time for New Zealand's Cory Jane, Argentina v New Zealand, The Rugby Championship, Estadio De La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 29, 2012
All Blacks winger Cory Jane dives over to score one of his three tries against the Pumas
© Getty Images
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Story of the Game

  • Man of the Match: New Zealand will not have to look too far for someone to take on the captaincy and the role of talisman when Richie McCaw takes his sabbatical - Kieran Read looms large as an ideal candidate on both fronts. He produced another all-action display in La Plata and was often the driving force behind his side.
  • Key Moment: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino's blistering break in the early moments of the game splintered the All Blacks defence and led to a try for his team-mate Martin Landajo but only served to sting the visitors into action who had four of their own tries before the break.
  • Hero of the Game: Cory Jane grabbed his first hat-trick for the All Blacks and did it in some style with his third score in particular underlining what an elusive and deceptively strong runner he can be.
  • Villain of the Game: It is hard to pick on a side that was so out-played so let's point the finger at the All Blacks for silencing the home crowd and nullifying what could have been a key part of the Pumas' armoury.
  • Talking Point: Just when Argentina were looking at home in the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks delivered a reminder that they are some way short of being able to produce the consistent excellence offered by the world champions. Will they be able to re-group in time for the visit of the bruised and battered Wallabies next weekend?
  • Play of the Game: New Zealand's performance was littered with slick team moves but the build-up to Cory Jane's first try stands out with Kieran Read making a telling break, stepping a defender and delivering a one-handed off-load to his winger for the score in the corner.

New Zealand wrapped up the inaugural Rugby Championship title with a 54-15 thrashing of Argentina at the Estadio De La Plata in Buenos Aires.

The All Blacks underlined their status as the world's best side by delivering a master class of total rugby at the Pumas' expense with returning fly-half and No.8 Kieran Read at the heart of proceedings. The hosts had threatened a major upset with the opening try of the game through scrum-half Martin Landajo but they were soon swept aside by a rampant New Zealand with winger Cory Jane leading the way with a hat-trick of tries.

Fellow speedster Julian Savea also grabbed a brace with scrum-half Aaron Smith and centre Ma'a' Nonu the other beneficiaries of a dominant display that silenced a passionate home crowd and eventually brought them to their feet in appreciation.

Argentina enjoyed a lively start to the game, but the pace the All Blacks played at took its toll. Half-back Martin Landajo had an outstanding game for the home team while full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino and centre Marcelo Bosch were dangerous runners.

While there was intent in the home side, their defences were less effective in the dry weather conditions and they were unable to produce the quality exhibited in their first game in Wellington.

Showing a much greater willingness to run the ball than in Wellington, Argentina had early reward when scoring the first try of the game after a clean lineout take. Argentina created space for Amorosino to race onto the ball at speed. He evaded McCaw's cover tackle and raced ahead to be taken by wing Julian Savea. However, the ball was cleared quickly for Landajo to race away to score in the eighth minute.

However, the lead was short-lived as Argentina paid the price for not getting support up the sideline for a clearing kick by Juan Martin Hernandez as the quick throw was taken creating room for wing Cory Jane to take the ball forward on the flank. The ruck developed and from the base inside centre Ma'a Nonu acting as half-back ran straight up the middle to split the defence and pass to half-back Aaron Smith for the try under the posts in the 15th minute.

Carter showed he was over his recent calf injury with a stunning break through the midfield soon after and was just stopped when his ankles were clipped but in the resulting play Argentina was penalised and Carter landed the penalty goal. Back on attack, the All Blacks dropped two players from a lineout to create the close quarter diversion and left wing Jane ran across in support to be tackled on the right.

From the ruck the ball was cleared to Read running onto the ball at full speed. He cut back to the short side and found Jane on the sideline with his pass for the wing to score on his opposite flank. Hernandez landed a 26th-minute penalty goal to post 100 points in Test matches but from the restart Carter landed his second penalty goal to extend the lead to 20-8

In the 30th minute the All Blacks avoided punishment after an attempted chip kick by flanker Liam Messam was caught by Argentina and moved to the right but the ball spilled loose in a tackle and Savea was able to toe it ahead, kick it again over the line and win the race to the touchdown.

Savea was in again after a classic All Blacks build-up with the ball moved left and right in sweeping moves across the field. Read was again prominent, along with Nonu, in getting the ball over the advantage line and with quick clearance Carter was able to put the charging Savea over in the corner.

Argentina started the second half with an impressive display of forward power as they took advantage of several penalty opportunities conceded by the All Blacks and finally in the 47th minute wing Gonzalo Comacho burst away from a ruck to score.

But that merely served to boost the All Blacks' appetites. At a penalty conceded by the Pumas, they kicked for the corner then executed their own rolling maul with firstly McCaw taking the ball to the line and then prop Tony Woodcock. When the ball was released Savea came back on the cut, held his feet and flicked the pass to Jane who scored.

Just to prove their control and dominance the All Blacks put all their substitutes on by the 55th minute and from a lineout straight afterwards, replacement Aaron Cruden ran through a gap, flicked the ball to Nonu and he raced away to score.

The final touch came in the last minute when Jane completed an intercept try to record a hat-trick. Only one more game remains for the side, against the Springboks in Pretoria, in a week.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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