New Zealand vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby Championship result and final score as All Blacks crush Pumas
New Zealand secured revenge for defeat in Christchurch last week with a dominant victory in the Hamilton rain
New Zealand thrashed Argentina in Hamilton today 53-3 with an All Blacks performance of old, scoring seven tries to none with the Pumas thoroughly out-classed in the wet. New Zealand played the percentages well but it was their execution and accuracy that made the difference in inclement conditions.
“Obviously massively important,” said captain Sam Cane after the match. “We were under a bit of pressure. This week we were in the game rihgt from the start and were able to turn that into points. I thought our defence was outstanding. Our discipline, too. I’m pleased with the way we kept it on for the full 80. I just love the attacking mindset. It’s awesome. We are really stoked to be able to put out a performance that we are proud of at home. We hadn’t really done that this year.
“There’s always massive pressure and we put it on ourselves too. It was just a nice reward for the hard work we have been putting in and getting everyone to see it.”
Re-live the Test between the All Blacks and the Pumas with our live blog below.
Siya Kolisi steps from right foot to left and back again, closing his eyes in thought and prayer as he readies himself at the head of the South African squad. In the Wallabies’ dressing room, Reece Hodge takes a deep breath, while Rob Valetini (on his birthday) takes a deep glug of water.
Australia vs South Africa
Fireworks, flames and flashing lights illuminate the newly-opened sporting amphitheatre in the Sydney suburbs, green and gold livery giving the full stands a history lesson with footage of some of Australia’s past greats. This should be a lot of fun.
Australia vs South Africa
It’ll be fascinating to see how South Africa play with Damian Willemse at ten. He looked one of the hottest prospects in the world as an age-group fly-half but he’s played a lot of rugby elsewhere since, and his natural running game may not be the most natural fit if South Africa wish to slot him into the Handre Pollard role. I’d expect to see a few tweaks to their system, with Willie le Roux likely to play a crucial role as always, stepping up into the line to assist Willemse with playmaking duties.
Australia vs South Africa
There were 41,906 people packed into Allianz Stadium yesterday for opening night, with the Sydney Roosters providing double delight for their home fans with both the men’s and women’s sides victorious. The Australian players sounded excited to get amongst things in their gleaming new home, which has a busy first week in the job - the Matildas play Canada in a friendly on Tuesday and the NRL final will be hosted at the ground next weekend.
Team News - South Africa
The South African selection is rather more intriguing. Handre Pollard has arrived in Leicester after being jettisoned from the Springboks’ camp after an injury, which necessitates a new fly-half: enter jack-of-all-trades Damian Willemse, plenty familiar with the position after starring at ten at schoolboy and junior level.
Willemse is joined in the halves by Jaden Hendrikse with Faf de Klerk left out, while Lukhanyo Am is another sent home due to injury – Jesse Kriel will try to fill the hole vacated by perhaps the best pure outside centre in the world. On the wing, a debut for Canan Moodie, the tall teenager mature beyond his years who becomes South Africa’s second youngest men’s Test cap.
Up front, injury has also struck Pieter-Steph du Toit, so up steps Franco Mostert, while Jasper Wiese and Steven Kitshoff are preferred to Duane Vermeulen and Ox Nche respectively. Of note elsewhere is the presence of Deon Fourie providing front row cover for Malcolm Marx, who starts – the Stormers veteran isn’t truly a hooker any more, preferring to ply his trade on the flank, but needs must, and a player who had to battle for years for an international chance will take every opportunity he gets.
South Africa XV: S Kitshoff, M Marx, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, L de Jager; F Mostert, S Kolisi (c), J Wiese; J Hendrikse, D Willemse; M Mapimpi, D de Allende, J Kriel, C Moodie; W le Roux.
Replacements: D Fourie, O Nche, T Nyakane, K Smith, D Vermeulen; C Reinach, F Steyn, W Gelant.
Team News - Australia
It’s a familiar looking Australian side named by Dave Rennie after such a positive performance in Adelaide seven days ago. The starting lineup remains intact, while there’s just a single alteration to the Wallabies’ bench – Sydneysider Jake Gordon is preferred to Tate McDermott as the replacement scrum-half.
“It’s great to be able to have some consistency in selection with the team that played last week earning the right to wear the jersey again in Sydney,” Rennie said on Thursday. “While rapt with last week’s effort, we’re well aware of the challenge a wounded Springbok poses and the intensity we will require again on Saturday night.”
Australia XV: J Slipper (c), F Fainga’a, A Alaalatoa; R Arnold, M Philip; J Holloway, F McReight, R Valetini; N White, N Lolesio; M Koroibete, H Paisami, L Ikitau, T Wright; R Hodge
Replacements: D Porecki, S Sio, T Tupou, D Swain, R Leota, P Samu; J Gordon, A Kellaway.
Michael Hooper to miss remainder of Rugby Championship
Australia captain Michael Hooper will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship at least as he continues to deal with the issues that cut short his involvement in the recent tour of Argentina, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said on Thursday.
The openside flanker pulled out of the team and flew home from Argentina on the eve of the Rugby Championship opener, telling Rennie he was not in the right frame of mind to play his 122nd Test.
Rennie said he had been in frequent contact with Hooper but did not want to share too much from their conversations out of respect for the 30-year-old’s privacy.
“We’re not looking to include him in the rest of the Rugby Championship and then we’ll make decisions beyond that,” Rennie told reporters after naming his team for today’s game.
“We’re certainly not looking to rush him back in, but he’s on the improve.”
Australia captain Michael Hooper to miss rest of Rugby Championship
Australia captain Michael Hooper to miss rest of 2022 Rugby Championship
On to Australia vs South Africa...
We’ll have plenty more reaction to New Zealand’s win over the rest of the weekend, but it’s another jam-packed Saturday of Rugby Championship action, and there’s a new arena filling nicely in Sydney. Allianz Stadium hosts rugby union for the first time with the Springboks in town and out for revenge against the Wallabies...
F/T: New Zealand 53-3 Argentina
A decisive dismantling from New Zealand, and that’ll make Ian Foster feel rather better about the direction of his side. He challenged those that fell short last week to improve and to-a-man they did. I thought the centre partnership of David Havili and Rieko Ioane had probably their best game in partnership, while Cane certainly led from the front. They may be having a bad year but this remains a very, very talented side - and they showed that today.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane reacts to a fine New Zealand victory
“Obviously massively important. We were under a bit of pressure. This week we were in the game rihgt from the start and were able to turn that into points.
“I thought our defence was outstanding. Our discipline, too. I’m pleased with the way we kept it on for the full 80. I just love the attacking mindset. It’s awesome. We are really stoked to be able to put out a performance that we are proud of at home. We hadn’t really done that this year.
“There’s always massive pressure and we put it on ourselves too. It was just a nice reward for the hard work we have been putting in and getting everyone to see it.”
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