Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Composed All Blacks rip Argentina apart to reach World Cup final
BEWARE the All Blacks!
It took just 49 minutes last night for the Kiwis to underline their dominance and tell the Springboks and England that it will take a special effort to stop them from winning their fourth Rugby World Cup title.
New Zealand produced an emphatic performance to dot down their fifth try with more than half an hour left in their 44-6 semi-final victory over a hapless Argentina at the Stade de France to advance to next Saturday’s final at the same venue.
They will face South Africa or the English, who square off in Paris tonight in the second semi-final (9pm kick-off).
After both SA and England came through titanic quarter-finals against France and Fiji respectively last weekend it will take something special to beat a New Zealand outfit that ripped Los Pumas apart last night.
That wasn’t down to a lack of application from the South Americans, though. In fact, Argentina enjoyed the better start and were rewarded with an early penalty by Emiliano Boffelli, but they were unable to convert those opportunities into tries.
The All Blacks created turnovers at crucial times, and once they found their rhythm with ball-in-hand, they were hard to contain.
With master flyhalf Richie Mo’unga conducting the Kiwi orchestra with his magical wand, Ian Foster’s team began to blunt Argentina’s spirited forwards via a smoothly-working lineout and combative driving maul before unleashing their red-hot backline.
Star wing Will Jordan opened the All Blacks’ tally in the 11th minute as he dived over following a lineout drive.
Then came arguably the try of the night as Argentina again coughed up possession around the New Zealand 22, which saw outside centre Rieko Ioane bursting up the middle before a sweeping move ended with inside centre Jordie Barrett rounding off on the right.
Boffelli landed a second threepointer just before half-time, but that is when the All Blacks again put their foot down.
First Mo’unga slotted a penalty, and then they launched another flowing move where wing Mark Tele’a again displayed his renowned elusiveness up the middle, and powerful flank Shannon Frizell trotted over on the right.
It was a long road back for Argentina from 20-6 down at half-time, but coach Michael Cheika would have hoped that his warriors would be able to show some fight in the second half.
But this All Black team have been improving since their opening World Cup defeat to France, and are now firing on all cylinders. They produced a trademark touchdown after half-time, with scrumhalf Aaron Smith darting through the defence from a scrum on the 22.
Points-Scorers
All Blacks 44 – Tries: Will Jordan (3), Jordie Barrett, Shannon Frizell (2), Aaron Smith. Conversions: Richie Mo’unga (3). Penalty: Mo’unga (1).
Argentina 6 – Penalties: Emiliano Boffelli (2).