New Zealand vs. Argentina: Score, Report from 2015 Rugby Championship Clash

New Zealand made a confident start to the 2015 Rugby Championship as they beat Argentina 39-18 at Christchurch's AMI Stadium in the tournament's opener on Friday.

Favourites for the autumn's World Cup in England, the All Blacks were convincing en route to a bonus point, although Argentina did enjoy a period of dominance in the second half in which they scored two tries.

Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu, Charles Piutau, Kieran Read and Codie Taylor all scored for the Kiwis, with 14 points coming from the boot of Dan Carter, while Agustin Creevy responded with both the Pumas' tries.

Rugby World confirmed the result:

The visitors held their own early on in Christchurch, the two teams exchanging penalties in the opening minutes.

On 13 minutes, Carter nudged the Kiwis ahead with a second successful penalty, and skipper McCaw added the opening try five minutes later.

After a prolonged period of attacking from the All Blacks, they won a lineout, and McCaw powered over the try line with help from flanker Read, the captain lodging yet another tournament score, per Opta:

Argentina looked to be heading to the break just five points down, but with one minute until half-time, Nonu jinked through the visitors' defence and went over for the All Blacks' second try.

The pain was piled further onto the Pumas just after the break as New Zealand produced a brilliant team try, spreading it through hands before Piutau crashed over in the corner.

It looked as though the Pumas may be set for a hiding as Read went over in the 49th minute, having stripped the ball from Argentina and powered home to make it 32-6.

However, Argentina rallied impressively, and Creevy scored two almost identical tries in five minutes as he rumbled over the line twice from lineouts.

The Argentinian pack were working brilliantly well, but despite bringing the score back to 32-18, they could not engineer a miraculous comeback.

In fact, the All Blacks took control again having conceded two tries, and debutant Taylor went over from a ruck to seal things at 39-18 with eight minutes to go.

It was an impressive and physically daunting performance from the All Blacks who continue to enhance their status as the team to beat come the World Cup, and the defending champions will not be overcome easily.