The All Blacks and Pumas kicked off the unprecedented double-header action on the Gold Coast, displaying some brilliant moments of rugby. A "struggling" All Blacks were their own worst enemy, however, they scored a convincing bonus-point win with 39-00.
The All Blacks started slow and made a lot of mistakes on defence and attack, however, as the game continued they started to control the game. The halftime score of 22-00 did flatter the All Blacks.
Two yellow cards to Argentina did not help their cause in the 2nd half. Several penalties were conceded upfront by Argentina making it easy for the All Blacks to dominate. Resolute defence by Argentina managed to keep the score "respectable" although the All Blacks did manage to score 5 unanswered tries.
09:38 Rieko Ioane scored the All Blacks 1st try after continued pressure by the All Blacks. A bit of good luck for the All Blacks as an Argentinian had knocked a loose pass by Beauden Barrett into their in-goal area where Ioane pounced on it (07:00).
20:00 It was a very physical start to the game with Argentina frustrating the All Blacks for the first 10 minutes. The All Blacks thereafter took control of the match, however, they did not convince as they made several unforced errors.
33:47 Beauden Barrett converted the All Blacks 1st penalty to stretch their lead (10-00).
36:47 Sevu Reece ducked under the defence of Argentina to go over for the All Blacks second try (17-00).
42:20 Pablo Matera (Argentina) off with a yellow card.
42:50 The All Blacks mauled Dalton Papalili over for the All Blacks 3rd try (22-00).
40:00 The All Blacks are in control of the game but could have buried Argentina early. They are not the clinical team that we got used to a few years ago.
45:45 Beauden Barrett magic puts Luke Jacobson away for an easy try at the end (29-00).
60:00 The All Blacks started to play a much more "direct" type of rugby which made them look a lot better, however, this change in tactics suited the defence of Argentina which is a lot more comfortable against direct play.
65:39 Carloe Muzzio (Argentina) was sent off with a yellow card.
69:05 Luke Jacobson scored from the back of a dominating All Black scrum. Argentina never stood a chance with a 7-man scrum to stop a very good All Blacks scrum (36-00).
77:35 Beauden Barett converted the All Blacks' second penalty (39-00)
Scorers:
All Blacks: Tries: Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Dalton Papalili, Luke Jacobson (2). Conversions: Beauden Barrett (4). Penalties: Beauden Barrett (2).
New Zealand: 15. Jordie Barrett, 14. Sevu Reece, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. David Havili, 11. George Bridge, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. TJ Perenara, 8. Luke Jacobson, 7. Dalton Papalii, 6. Akira Ioane, 5. Scott Barrett, 4. Brodie Retallick (c), 3. Nepo Laulala, 2. Asafo Aumua, 1. Karl Tu’inukuafe. Replacements: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Joe Moody, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Tupou Vaa’i, 20. Ethan Blackadder, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Rieko Ioane.
Argentina: 15. Juan Cruz Mallia, 14. Bautista Delguy, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Jeronimo De la Fuente, 11. Santiagio Cordero, 10. Nicolas Sanchez, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 8. Rodrigo Bruni, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Pablo Matera, 6. Pablo Matera, 5. Matias Alemanno, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Santiago Medrano, 2. Julian Montoya (c), 1. Facundo Gigena, . Replacements: 16. Facundo Bosch, 17. Carloe Muzzio, 18. Enrique Pieretto, 19. Tomas Lavanini, 20. Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso, 21. Gonzalo Garcia, 22. Santiago Chocobares, 23. Emiliano Boffelli.