New Zealand maintain unbeaten streak with 46-24 win over Argentina
TJ Perenara scored a double for New Zealand
©PA
New Zealand 46-24 Argentina, Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Scorecard
New Zealand maintained their unbeaten run in the ongoing Rugby Championship tournament after they went on to beat Argentina 46-24 in Nelson on Saturday.
The win means New Zealand have managed to secure three bonus point victories in the tournament and have consolidated their position at the top while Argentina will remain at third.
Early pressure from New Zealand was rewarded with a fifth minute penalty goal from Richie Mo’unga but five minutes later they suffered setback when Brodie Retallick, Ngani Laumape and Ben Smith left the field with injuries and was replaced by Sam Whitelock, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie.
Smith though returned at the end of the first quarter after completing a Head Injury Assessment. Argentina seized on the momentum and went on to claim the lead when Ramiro Moyano Joya crossed over in the 16th minute and Nicolas Sanchez kicked the conversion but it was negated as winger Nehe Milner-Skudder touched down in the 18th minute that was improved by Mo'unga.
New Zealand had a slender three point lead at the end of the first quarter and soon it became eight when TJ Perenara slotted his first of the two tries close to the half-hour mark. Mo'unga missed out on the conversion but made amends with a penalty goal close to the break as the World Champions had an 18-7 lead at the end of the first half.
Argentina had a better start in the second half with Nicolas Sanchez scoring a converted try that reduced the gap to four points but New Zealand did not relent under the pressure with further tries from Kieran Read (49'), Perenara (58'), Shannon Frizell (74') and Jack Goodhue (80') while Mo'unga also managed to kick all four conversions to complete a 46-24 win for All Blacks despite a consolation try from Argentina's Emiliano Boffelli late in the game.
.jpg "New Zealand will be locking horns with England, Ireland, Japan, France and Italy in the November series")
