New Zealand retain Rugby Championship with 10-36 win over Argentina

by Matthew Wood Sunday 1 October 2017

Kieran Read led from the front for New Zealand

©PA

Argentina 10-36 New Zealand, Estadio Jose Amalfitani
Scorecard

Kieran Read contributed with a double as New Zealand completed a 10-36 victory over Argentina at Estadio Jose Amalfitani on Saturday to retain the Rugby Championship title.

An intense start to the innings saw Beauden Barrett and Nicholas Sanchez exchange penalties but Read scored his first try in the game in the sixth minute as New Zealand took a three point lead.

Damian McKenzie (15') and Waisake Naholo (19') scored further tries but a sin-bin to Tomas Lavanini saw Read go past the line for the second time and Barrett slotted all the three conversions to help New Zealand gain a 3-29 lead at half time.

The game was hampered by infringements as New Zealand lost Matt Todd and Read temporarily on either side of restart and Argentina made a brief comeback with a touchdown from Juan Manuel Leguizamon to reduce the gap to 19 points.

Replacement David Kaetau Havili slotted New Zealand's fifth try in the game in the added minutes as Steve Hansen's men complete a resounding 10-36 victory.

New Zealand have won all five games in the tournament that took them to 24 points - 11 above Springboks while Argentina's winless tournament continued.