Argentina vs. New Zealand: Score and Report from 2014 Rugby Championship Clash
New Zealand secured their third consecutive Rugby Championship after a 34-13 victory over Argentina in La Plata. Having accrued a bonus point for their four tries in the match, the All Blacks now have an insurmountable six-point lead over South Africa.
Their status as champions was confirmed by the New Zealand Rugby Twitter account:
"Champions! #ARGvNZL @AllBlacks #TeamAllBlacks pic.twitter.com/Jq6Yo7nuHC
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 28, 2014"
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Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Julien Savea and T.J. Perenara scored the tries for the visitors, as Beauden Barrett kicked an additional 14 points. Horacio Agulla scored the only try for the Pumas.
Ahead of this one, much was made of the physical test that this Argentina team would afford the world champions. The Pumas are a supremely aggressive outfit, and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen insisted that his side would have to deliver a multi-faceted performance to take victory, per Sky Sports:
"To beat the Pumas we must deliver a quality performance, full of excitement, energy, physicality and accuracy.
The Pumas have been playing very well and are a much improved side since last season. Expectations of a home win among supporters will be high.
"
Consequently, the visitors began like a side with the scent of another title win in their nostrils. And it was no surprise when they took the lead after some early pressure. A sharp line-out and a wonderful piece of play from Dagg released Smith, who finished with aplomb. His try was converted by Barrett, who slotted another two penalties to give the All Blacks a lead of 13-0 inside 15 minutes.
New Zealand were playing some astute rugby on the counter-attack, and although the hosts managed to get their first points on the board courtesy of a Nicolas Sanchez penalty, the All Blacks were keeping them at bay with some excellent kicking.
Andy McGeady of the Irish Examiner paid tribute to Barrett at the end of the first period; he was managing the game very intelligently:
The pressure again told when New Zealand scored their second try of the match. It was a role reversal to the first score, though, as Smith turned provider for Dagg to finish. Barrett naturally added the extra two points and another penalty from Sanchez took the score onto 20-6 at the break.
The second half was a much tighter affair initially, with neither team giving an inch in the opening exchanges of the match. New Zealand began to establish a spell of sustained pressure eventually, though, and they were able to break through the stringent Pumas back line in the 57th minute, as the effervescent Savea shrugged off three tacklers to go over. Barrett converted to make it 27-6.
With that score the game was all but won, but New Zealand would have been well aware of the significance of scoring a fourth try. Buoyed by the momentum of Savea's score, it didn't take long to materialise, either. It was Savea at the crux of things once again, as he offloaded to Perenara, whose score was confirmed after a look at the pass from the video referee.
Barrett's conversion moved the scoreboard on to 34-6 in favour of the visitors, but the La Plata crowd were given something to cheer about in the latter stages, as Agulla managed to notch a consolation try. Sanchez converted to make the final score 34-13, a fair reflection of the gulf in class between this formidable New Zealand outfit and an improving Argentina team.
With that win New Zealand were crowned champions, and captain Richie McCaw gave his reaction, per the All Blacks Twitter account:
Indeed, this New Zealand team are well deserved winners and once again showcased a marriage of power and poise in this clash. To get the title secured ahead of the match at Ellis Park will have been critical for McCaw and his side and now the New Zealand skipper can enjoy his 134th appearance in the iconic jersey, where he will surpass Colin Meads to become the most capped All Black ever.
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