The All Blacks have withstood a ferocious comeback from the Pumas to win 41-24 in Cordoba and go to the top of the world rankings.
Hours after the Wallabies roared back from a 0-22 deficit to win 38-22 against the Springboks in Johannesburg, Scott Robertson and company may have wondered if a similar upset was on the cards at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes this morning.
The visitors had controlled the first half with their accuracy and efficiency to take a 31-10 halftime lead following a yellow card (professional foul) for prop Mayco Vivas.
But a yellow card for centre Billy Proctor just before the hour mark, which came in the middle of two converted tries for Tomas Albernoz and Joaquin Oviedo, had the All Blacks in trouble.
The Pumas were suddenly playing with an intensity that the All Blacks couldn’t match, and, with skipper Scott Barrett replaced by Patrick Tuipulotu and Robertson changing his entire front row, the visitors’ final quarter struggles in last year’s Rugby Championship may have been front of mind for the coaching group.
However, with Ardie Savea standing up superbly as captain in Barrett’s absence, the All Blacks took back control via their pack, and in particular their lineout drive, which reaped two tries for replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho to make the game safe.
And while the All Blacks finished on a high by continuing their domination of the Pumas’ lineout – they stole or disrupted three in a row at the end – their discipline was again a bugbear.
Moments after centre Anton Lienert-Brown, who replaced Proctor, was penalised for tackling a player on the ground, he was sinbinned for making head contact when attempting to tackle Argentina second-five Santiago Chocobares, the All Blacks finishing the Test with 14 men.
The six-tries-to-three victory takes the All Blacks to the top of the Rugby Championship table on points difference after the Wallabies’ remarkable win at Ellis Park. It also allowed them to overtake the Springboks as the No.1 side in the world.
But there will be big questions for Robertson to ponder.
Right wing Sevu Reece, with two tries in the first half, was one of New Zealand’s better attacking weapons, along with fullback Will Jordan, but Rieko Ioane’s form on the left may be a concern and there should be scrutiny on Proctor in the No.13 jersey after his difficult Test.
Halfback Cortez Ratima had a try in the first half in what was an up and down match for him, with No.8 Savea also crossing the line.
It was another Jekyll and Hyde performance from the home side, who looked sensational when playing with momentum but were too often guilty of failing to adhere to the basics when not.
It seemed that the All Blacks’ attacking intentions would be too much for them – Reece scored his second try more than two minutes after the halftime siren – but a lull after the break invited the Pumas back through the front door.
They could not stay with the All Blacks, however, and that will come as a huge disappointment to head coach Felipe Contempomi.
Argentina have beaten the All Blacks three times since 2020 - but all away from home.
The precious victory on home soil remains out of touch and they will need to improve significantly to grasp their next opportunity in Buenos Aires next Sunday NZT.
All Blacks 41 (Sevu Reece 2, Samisoni Taukei’aho 2, Cortez Ratima, Ardie Savea tries; Beauden Barrett 4 cons, pen)
Argentina 24 (Rodrigo Isgro, Tomas Albornoz, Joaquin Oviedo tries; Albornoz 3 cons, pen)
Halftime: 31-10
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