Well, the All Blacks have retained the Rugby Championship & returned to winning ways after they got it done right against Argentina so here is the full match commentary:
Kia ora and welcome to live updates of the All Blacks as they take on the Pumas at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
The Pumas pushed the world champs to the limit for 70 minutes in Nelson earlier this month. Can they go one better on home soil and claim a special slice of rugby history?
Commentary will start from around 11:30am (NZ time).
Line ups:
New Zealand: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4-Samuel Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Ryan Crotty, 14-Waisake Naholo, 15-Ben Smith
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Tim Perry, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Jackson Hemopo, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown
Argentina: 1-Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2-Augustin Creevy (c), 3-Ramiro Herrera, 4-Guido Petti 5- Tomás Lavanini, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Marcos Kremer, 8-Javier Ortego Desio, 9-Gonzalo Bertranou, 10-Nicolás Sánchez 11-Matías Moroni, 12-Bautista Ezcurra, 13-Jeronimo de la Fuente, 14-Bautista Delguy, 15-Emiliano Boffelli
Reserves: 16-Julian Montoya, 17-Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18-Santiago Medrano, 19-Matías Alemanno, 20-Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21-Tomas Cubelli, 22-Matías Orlando, 23-Sebastian Cancelliere.
11:00am: A late change for the All Blacks starting side as Luke Whitelock (Who has got some problems but we have Luke Whitelock who has been struck down with food poisoning) is scratched with illness.
11:08am: Here's your updated All Blacks squad.
Both these sides love to counter-attack, we should see plenty of end-to-end action this morning.
11:20am: What began as a gloomy day in Buenos Aires righted itself just in time for nightfall and conditions seem ideal for some open, running rugby.
11:23am: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen clarifies the nature of Luke Whitelock's illness. Let's just say he hasn't left the bathroom for a while.
11:37am: A valiant effort from the local singer with the NZ anthem. Some deft camerawork to avoid revealing that he's blatantly reading the words.
11:40am: Passion in buckets as the Argentina anthem rings through the stadium. Stirring, rousing, all of that good stuff.
11:42am: Perenara leads the haka in his 50th test - Kapa o Pango is the flavour for today. Crowd soaks it up in silence.
1ST MINUTE: SBW gets his first touch from the opening kick. Penalty quickly blown for NZ and they'll move to a lineout at halfway.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Shocker of a throw by Taylor and the Pumas are on the offensive. Bomb goes up and they regain possession but the penalty goes to NZ, great work at the breakdown by Cane.
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): And another mistimed throw sails over the back from taylor, Pumas claim the ball. Sanchez charged down, recycling well but the NZ defense is up to the task.
5TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Bomb goes up and Naholo makes a meal of it, Pumas back on the attack. Ball goes wide, some quick hands release wing Delguy and they've earned a penalty right in front of the posts. Frizell pinged for offisde at the ruck. Sanchez slots it with ease to start the scoring.
7TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Taylor nails his throw this time as NZ launch....
8TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Naholo bursts through a yawning gap, holds the ball up well for Ben Smith who links with Rieko Ioane, over he goes for yet another five-pointer in the corner. And what do ya know, Barrett sends it over the black dot from the sideline. (NZ 7-3)
10TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Frizell drops one cold as NZ look to exit, Pumas edge towards the 22m...and they've got another penalty, this time for not releasing. Scott Barrett the offender. Sanzhez from close range...and he's absolutely shanked it. One of the best kickers in the world, wow.
12TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Barrett clears, Pumas return fire. Barrett crushes one out on the full. Pumas lineout at the NZ 22m.
14TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas knock-on at the lineout. NZ scrum just outside their 22m.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Barrett soars to claim the high ball and Frizell is freed on the outside, finds Ioane and they edge towards the Pumas 22m.
16TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas knock-on again from a line-out at their own 5m mark. NZ pack down with plenty of attacking options.
17TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Monster NZ scrum stopped just short, Perenara goes quickly to a storming Naholo who does brilliantly to reach out at full stretch and score. Barrett converts. (NZ 14-3)
19TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas scrum after a slick behind the back pass from Barrett edges forward. They launch from halfway...
21ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Pumas work it well through the midfield but another error kills their momentum. NZ scrum on their 10m mark.
22ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ work the wrap play from setpiece but the Pumas read it well, Crotty taken down and the ball is fumbled. Pumas will feed a scrum just outside the NZ 10m.
23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Enormous shove from the NZ pack and Perenara bursts clear but the ref pulls it back, deems the front-rows had come up. Hmmmm.
24TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas free kick for the early shove. they hoist one into the cluds and barrett does really well to claim the free kick under duress.
26TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas win the line-out and work through the phases. NZ fringe defence is punishing, lead by none other then Sam Whitelock. Slow progress here, they go wide but a poor pass is knocked on.
28TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ scrum 30m from their line. Another huge shunt from the All Blacks pack which continues to dominate its Pumas counterparts. Penalty NZ and Barrett kicks a gem of a touchfinder. NZ lineout at the Pumas 22m...
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Ball springs from the ruck after a Pumas turnover, Ioane pouces to go 30m untouched and score his second try of the day. Unfortunate for the locals after some fantastic defense. Taylor was hoved at the ruck and into the ball which appears to have forced it clear. Barrett ignore the jeers and whistles and sends another conversion right down the middle. (NZ 21-3)
32ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ make good metres from the restart, lovely interplay from the forwards as they move past halfway...
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tu'inukuafe direct as usual, Savea bounces off defenders as they enter the redzone. Turnover Pumas, they win the penalty at the ruck. Lineout back at their own 10m.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Beautiful chip and regather play from phase one by the Pumas. Sanchez through a gap, 10m from the NZ line now...
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ defense scramles well, Savea getting through a mountain of work. SBW with a crucial ball-and-all hit but the Pumas win a penalty, early tackle ruled. Pumas turn down the shot and go to the 5m lineout...
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), UH-OH...UH-OH! YELLOW CARD: More phenomenal defense from NZ on their try line. Play stalls at the ruck courtesy of Sam Cane but the ref is going back for an advantage. SBW is shown a yellow card after minimal warning. Cops one for the team there, repeated offside.
38TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas go to the lineout again, and they knock-on amid the contest from Scott Barrett. NZ rewarded for a great defensive spell.
40TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Savea off the back of a shaky scrum, barnstorming run. Pumas penalised and that may see us into the sheds. Nope, time for one last lineout for NZ, right on the 50m.
42ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas hold Savea up in the tackle and rip the ball clear, they're off on the counterattack! Pulled down at the NZ 22m line but the subsequent pass from ther ruck goes forward. And that will do us for the half.
HALFTIME - Decent first half of action both ways, Pumas have dominated possession and territory but poor execution has let them down. Meanwhile the All Blacks, taking the chances they've been afforded. Join us back here shortly for the second half.
Second half underway....
40TH MINUTE: NZ take the clearing kick from the restart and they work to halfway. Barrett hoists a non-threatening bomb and it's easily claimed.
42ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Petti finds space from the base of the ruck and the Pumas build momentum, over halfway they go...
43RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez ghosts through a gap, goes inside the NZ 22m and then is met by a brutal hit from both Crotty and B. Barrett which sends him horizontal to the deck. On review it's called a penalty, that's a really harsh call.
44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez looks for the cheeky crossfield kick and it's straight to Naholo, but Taylor knocks on from the ensuing ruck. Pumas scrum 5m out...
46TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): But there's that NZ pack again, enormous hit at the scrum and they inw a penalty to relieve the pressure. NZ work it from the lineout but Petti does really well to hold the attacking player up and win his side the loosehead feed just inside NZ territory.
48TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ scrum bulldozers forward but the ref pings them for a penalty. Pumas on the offensive, dragged down just 5m short. Advantage being played, and blown up. Bit of niggle between the two sides as Taylor has a shove. Ref wants a word and the crowd volume lifts to another level.
49TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): And another golden opportunity bungled by the Pumas as the lineout throw sails long. NZ win a penalty and Barrett takes us to a lineout at the NZ 10m.
50TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Taylor's throw is off the mark again, that's his third error. Pumas feed at the scrum but great pressure by Perenara leads to a fumble. The error-fest continues.
51ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ ring the changes and out jogs Dilworth School great Angus Ta'avao to earn his first test cap. A special moment for the big prop.
52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Ardie Savea bursts from the back of the scrum and schews up 30-odd metres before making a great offload to naholo, but the wing loses the ball in the tackle. This one is certainly not pretty viewing.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): SBW draws defenders before throwing an audacious trademark offload to free Ioane, the winger setting sail for the line but tripped by a last-ditch ankle tap. NZ win the penalty.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Sustained goal-line pressure as NZ keep it tight before Patrick Tuipulotu hits a short ball at pace and crashes over out wide. Barrett nails yet another one, you think he's been working on his kicking after Wellington? Perfect off the tee so far today. (NZ 28-3)
58TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas break clear from the restart, Sanchez the catalyst again. NZ have to scramble on defense, as they've done plenty this contest. Taylor's tackle is ruled high and the Pumas throw a lineout 5m out....
TRY ARGENTINA: Cubelli pulled down just short, they go upstairs to review it. Looks as though he's had a second effort while tackled but the ref says no double movement, try awarded. (NZ 28-10)
60TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Mo'unga into the action quickly, breaks the line but his pass wide is knocked back by a Pumas defender to save a certain try.
62ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Ioane on the inside ball but he's spilled it in the tackle, Pumas clear to halfway.
63RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Mo'unga on for Smith, by the way. Barrett to fullback. And he's back in the action again on a slick double around, frees Barrett but the next pass is off the defender's shoulder and into touch.
65TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Ta'avao anchors a monster ABs scrum to win a penalty against the feed. NZ lineout 5m out now....
67TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Edging towards the line now, the All Blacks keeping the ball tight as they pick and go. Lavanini pounces on a ruck and wins his side a penalty, impressive work by the lock.
68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Smith and Hemopo now on the park.
TRY ARGENTINA: Pinpoint grubber placed from halfway by Sanchez puts the Puimas just metres form the line, Matera pulled down just short and the quick skip pass wide puts Boffelli over the chalk. Sanchez nails the sideline conversion and it's game on. (NZ 28-17)
70TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ swiftly back on attack as they look to reply but Scott Barrett fumbles and the Pumas hoof one deep. Barrett cleans up at the back and has to scramble one into touch. Pumas throw the lineout but a poor pass is kicked deep with just one defnder at home, Barrett chases hard and the Pumas have bungled the clean up and Barrett may have got a hand on the ball to score. Upstairs they go...
71ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Looks like the defender just got a hand on the ball to force it before Barrett. It will be a 5m scrum for the All Blacks.
73RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: The NZ scrum makes mice meat of the Pumas yet again and the arm goes out for advantage, Mo'unga with a heads-up play to grubber through and he judges it perfectly for Anton Lienert-Brown to plant it next to the post. That should kill off the contest. Barrett keeps it 100. (NZ 35-17)
77TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas unable to control the ball after they breach the NZ 22m. All Blacks scrum.
78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Crotty breaks clear! Find Lienert-Brown inside and they go to ground at the Pumas 22m. Brilliant support from Cane to keep the movement alive.
79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tuipulotu knocks on and the Pumas clear, Mo'unga scoops it up and places a deft kick to trap the Pumas deep in their own corner, NZ will throw a lineout at the 22m.
80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Penalty and ball into touch, that will do it for the Rugby Championship - chalk up a 16th title for New Zealand.
All Blacks - 35 Argentina - 17
So that is my 234th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 54th of this year.
P.S. And the Springboks have won 2 in a row in the 2018 Rugby Championship (Well, with the All Blacks hoping for payback in the next game since South Africa beat them in Wellington), downing the out of control Wallabies at Port Elizabeth.
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