The All Blacks moved to number one in the 2022 Rugby Championship after their comprehensive win against Argentina on Saturday. The All Blacks lead Australia, South Africa and Argentina by only one log point, however, the big margin of their win against Argentina could prove vital at the end of the season.
In the first Rugby Championship test of the weekend, New Zealand took full revenge for their previous loss to Argentina by scoring a half-century. Redemption rugby from the All Blacks paralysed Argentina who was denied any sniff of opportunity in a seven-try 53-03 win for New Zealand in the Rugby Championship Test in Hamilton on Saturday.
Wet weather rugby from the All Blacks, pressure applied through kick-chasing and superior offensive tackling unsettled Argentina. They were a shadow of the side that won the first Test, lacking the intensity in the face of a committed home side. Improved discipline by the All Blacks also denied Argentina the goal-kicking chances of the first Test while there was more dominance at the breakdown.
Thereafter the Springboks won their first Test in Australia since 2013 when they beat the Wallabies by 24-08 at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, outscoring the hosts by four tries to one for a bonus point and to keep alive their hopes in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
The victory, after leading 12-3 at halftime, was the perfect way to bounce back after last week's defeat in Adelaide. The bonus point victory was not only the Boks' first in Australia in nine years but in fact their first win in Sydney since 1993.
The Springboks dominated territory and possession and scored two tries and a conversion in the first half, while the Wallabies could only reply with a sole penalty goal. The visitors then added 12 more points in the second half through two more five-pointers and one conversion, while interestingly, they never attempted one penalty kick at goal for a gutsy and convincing win.
