Two months to the day before the start of the 2023 World Cup in France, New Zealand reassured itself by beating Argentina at home, a few hours after South Africa’s demonstration against Australia, for the first Rugby Championship day on Saturday. The All Blacks, who will open the World Cup on September 8 against host country France, did nothing for the “Pumas”, winning with a river score (41-12) at the foot of the Andes, in Mendoza .
Less than a year after a surprise home defeat to the Argentines, Ardie Savea’s teammates recited their rugby on the first of three days of this Rugby Championship. The format of the competition bringing together the best nations of the southern hemisphere has been halved this year due to the World Cup.
Coach Ian Foster’s team, which had a more than mixed year in 2022, beaten twice in Ireland (23-12 then 32-22) and held in check in England (25-25), quickly broke away, scoring three tries in the first quarter of an hour. Work upwind, long flights from the Barrett brothers, everything happened to make the “Pumas” suffer, who ended up reacting to 17-0, but were too clumsy to unlock their counter, in front of 41,000 spectators.
Without some of their executives like Brodie Retallick or Sam Whitelock, spared before the reception of South Africa next Saturday in Auckland (09:05), the Blacks were able to work against the indiscipline of the South Americans. Holder surprised at the opening, the N.10 of the Chiefs Damian McKenzie tried to show himself in the animation, even offering a try to Beauden Barrett (57th), despite an approximate success on the foot (3/7). The young Fijian winger naturalized from New Zealand Emoni Narawa (23) took advantage of the Argentinian flaws to score his first try in the jersey hit with the silver fern.
The Argentinians saved the honor with two tries, including one after the siren scored by veteran Agustin Creevy (38). In addition to the Blues, the New Zealanders will find Italy, Uruguay and Namibia in their pool at the World Cup.
