Argentina vs New Zealand LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction after All Blacks begin with big win

New Zealand produced a scintillating first half performance to kick start the defence of their Rugby Championship crown with a cruise to victory against Argentina . The visitors scored five tries in the first 40 minutes in Mendoza as their pace, power, accuracy and ambition proved too much for the hosts in a 41-12 win. Dane Coles got things started after a neat offload from Scott Barrett, whose brothers Beauden and Jordie would later combine for a brilliant coast-to-coast score. Argentina rallied a little after the interval, with prop Lucio Sordoni marking his international return with five-pointer, but the All Blacks were always in control. Debutant Emoni Narawa crossed late on as the All Blacks matched South Africa, who had earlier put Australia to the sword in Pretoria, with a bonus point win. The two sides meet in Auckland next week, with the encounter likely to decide this year’s Rugby Championship winner, with the annual southern hemisphere showpiece shortened to only three rounds due to the World Cup. Follow all the live updates from the Rugby Championship below: Rugby Championship LIVE – Argentina vs New Zealand FULL TIME! ARGENTINA 12-41 NEW ZEALAND TRY! Argentina 5-41 NEW ZEALAND (Emoni Narawa try, 77 minutes) TRY! Argentina 5-36 NEW ZEALAND (Beauden Barrett try, 58 minutes) TRY! ARGENTINA 5-31 New Zealand (Lucio Sordoni try, 52 minutes) HALF TIME: ARGENTINA 0-31 NEW ZEALAND TRY! Argentina 0-24 NEW ZEALAND (Rieko Ioane try, 30 minutes) TRY! Argentina 0-17 NEW ZEALAND (Jordie Barrett try, 12 minutes) TRY! Argentina 0-10 NEW ZEALAND (Ardie Savea try, 9 minutes) TRY! Argentina 0-5 NEW ZEALAND (Dane Coles try, 6 minutes) KICK OFF! Next up in the Rugby Championship… 22:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle We’re straight back amongst things next weekend – a crucial round two of the Rugby Championship sees Argentina head to Sydney to face a battered and bruised Australia, while New Zealand host South Africa in an eagerly-anticipated encounter. Round two (15th July): New Zealand v South Africa – Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland (8:05am BST) Australia v Argentina – CommBank Stadium, Sydney (10:45am BST) FT: Argentina 12-41 New Zealand 22:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle Still plenty to come from New Zealand, too, a couple of engine room centurions sure to be back in over the summer, and Will Jordan an almost certain starter once fit again. Does Damian McKenzie get more of a run at ten, though? He was excellent today, shaking off his first clearing kick being charged down to knit everything together neatly. Oodles of options for Ian Foster, though I think he has now found a permanent partnership in the centres. Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane just give the All Blacks so much variety in midfield. FT: Argentina 12-41 New Zealand 22:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle And how nicely does that tee up next week’s likely decider between New Zealand and South Africa in Auckland? Remember, we’re down to just three Rugby Championship rounds this summer with attentions squarely on the business to come in France later in the year. FT: Argentina 12-41 New Zealand 22:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle All rather ominous from the All Blacks, that, powering out of sight in the first 40 minutes before moving back down the gears in the second half. It was great to see Argentina come out with some extra intensity – they were much better after the interval, but will rue a flat first half as the visitors blew them away. New Zealand, World Cup outsiders? Not on that evidence. FULL TIME! ARGENTINA 12-41 NEW ZEALAND 21:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle TRY! ARGENTINA 12-41 New Zealand (Agustin Creevy try, 82 minutes) 21:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle Agustin Creevy has the final word! He’s a popular scorer, the veteran hooker, pumping a fist as the crowd leap to their feet. Argentina’s maul creates a crater for their former captain, Creevy felled just short but extending his left arm like a chameleon’s tongue to make sure of the score. Argentina 5-41 New Zealand, 80 minutes 21:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle Mateo Carreras’s nose is the colour of some of the Mendoza’s vineyards finest produce as the wing bangs his schnoz on the back of Richie Mo’unga. He’ll be patched up quickly – the wing’s hard work has earned a penalty and a chance for a last home hurrah. The hooter blares as Argentina kick a subsequent penalty to the corner. The crowd lift the noise, hoping to be sent home a little happier… TRY! Argentina 5-41 NEW ZEALAND (Emoni Narawa try, 77 minutes) 21:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle A first try in an All Blacks shirt for Emoni Narawa! A sliver is all he needs! A fatiguing Argentina’s edges are tested by New Zealand’s twin ball-handlers, Damian McKenzie flicking smartly out to Caleb Clarke to put the left winger in space. Back to the other side, and Richie Mo’unga spots Finlay Christie tied up, the replacement fly-half stepping in at the base. McKenzie is alive to it, too, filling in for Mo’unga at first receiver to swiftly sweep the ball into Narawa’s hands. It’s a combination we’ve seen plenty this season for the Chiefs – Nicolas Sanchez tries in vain to force the wing out but over he goes for a debut score. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 75 minutes 21:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle The scrum will also be reason for Foster to smile. Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Nepo Laulala pick up where Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax left off, leaving Argentina’s replacement front row on the turf and winning a penalty. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 73 minutes 21:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle Sam Cane has been excellent today. The All Blacks captain has led from the front, rock solid defensively throughout. Ardie Savea hasn’t maybe been at his boisterous best but that back row trio has worked very competently together – you wonder if Scott Barrett at six might be the option when Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock return, but it’ll please Ian Foster to see his skipper fitting back in so smoothly after missing last autumn’s European tour. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 71 minutes 21:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle A rare glimpse of Mateo Carreras in a bit of room, the dynamite left wing kept quiet by New Zealand. He threatens to zip between Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tu’ungafasi, but the replacement props do just enough to keep the will-o’-the-wisp from weaving away. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 68 minutes 21:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle A roar from the crowd as ex-skipper Agustin Creevy steps in for the current wearer of the armband, Julian Montoya also warmly applauded as he leaves the field. Creevy is now only two games away from a century of appearances – he’ll be at Sale next season, backing up Luke Cowan-Dickie , after the desperately sad demise of London Irish. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 67 minutes 21:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle Tupou Vaa’i has plenty of spring and shows it at the front of that lineout, up like a power forward to collect off the glass. Another decent platform for attacking is squandered by Argentina. Emoni Narawa, largely quiet on debut, makes a firm tackle as Argentina run back a kick towards his wing. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 65 minutes 21:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle That’s just a really entertaining passage of test rugby. Argentina work all sorts of different ideas in phase play, swapping in and out their three playmakers to try alternative lines of inquiry. New Zealand, though, hold firm, shifting from side to side but keeping their forward momentum, like Space Invaders. Eventually, Argentina run out of steam on the right. Jordie Barrett sticks his head into a cranny between two tired forwards attempting to clear, winning a holding on penalty. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 63 minutes 21:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle Changes coming thick and fast – New Zealand have switched in a new front row, while Richie Mo’unga is on for Beauden Barrett, with Damian McKenzie sliding into the backfield. Tupou Vaa’i appears to be out there, too. Argentina swap one Matias for another – Orlando has taken over from his Newcastle teammate Moroni. Argentina 5-36 New Zealand, 60 minutes 21:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle A roar from the home crowd as Argentina pinch a lineout at the front. Santiago Carreras has gone to the wing, with Emiliano Boffelli staying at full back and trying to offerhimself as a second playmaker beyond Nicolas Sanchez. Nifty stuff from the trio, all working together to create space. Carreras finds Boffelli, who jabs an intelligent angled kick down the right. Out it tumbles about ten metres from the All Blacks line. New Zealand bring on Finlay Christie for Aaron Smith, while Tomas Lavanini is replaced by Pedro Rubiolo in the Argentina pack. Santiago Grondona is on, too, for Juan Martin Gonzalez. TRY! Argentina 5-36 NEW ZEALAND (Beauden Barrett try, 58 minutes) 21:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle A silkily smooth set piece strike! Pretty patterns from the All Blacks. They’ve been setting that move up all day, Jordie Barrett taking on the rumble off Damian McKenzie’s left hand with Rieko Ioane in the sidecar. Barrett assesses his options at the line and pulls back behind his centre partner, with a looping McKenzie’s extra pace valuable as he arcs around. Through he scythes to Matias Moroni’s outside, with Beauden Barrett accelerating up alongside him one lane over to finish things off. Argentina 5-31 New Zealand, 56 minutes 21:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle Stern edge defence from Argentina, drifting perfectly to both snatch Beauden Barrett’s ankle and prevent him getting the pass away. They steal the ball, too, but fumble an offload and miss out on a chance to launch a counter. Argentina 5-31 New Zealand, 54 minutes 21:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle Argentina bring on Nicolas Sanchez for Sebastian Cancelliere. Santiago Carreras will go into the back three. That’s not the best start from the veteran fly-half, though, a horrible hack of a kick that gives New Zealand ideal attacking position on the left. TRY! ARGENTINA 5-31 New Zealand (Lucio Sordoni try, 52 minutes) 21:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle He’s had a tough time at the set-piece but Lucio Sordoni marks his international return with a try! Argentina have come out fighting in this second 40, energy, effort, intensity and animosity as they bid to right a few first half wrongs. Thomas Gallo, who got that all started up on halfway, takes the tap off the floor and almost scores himself, Matias Alemanno moving it half-a-foot closer before laying it back for Sordoni. The tighthead squashes it down between New Zealand limbs and Argentina are on the board. Argentina 0-31 New Zealand, 50 minutes 21:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle Off goes Thomas Gallo! He’s got a habit of this sort of thing, the mobile loosehead, busting out of a tackle and making a break, combining with the returing Bruni. Argentina five metres short. Rieko Ioane kills the momentum with an astute defensive read, but Josh Lord is soon whistled. Argentina 0-31 New Zealand, 49 minutes 21:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle Outstanding from Ardie Savea. He’s just so, so strong over the ball, in with pinching paws as two clearers try to shift him unsuccessfully. Jordie Barrett hacks a kick out off an Argentina body, before the All Blacks make a better job of clearing their lines after Taylor hits the mark with his first throw. Rodrigo Bruni returns from the sin bin. Argentina 0-31 New Zealand, 47 minutes 21:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle Back-to-back Barrett blunders, changing bind as he swims up the side of an Argentina maul. The hosts kick down to the New Zealand 22. Argentina 0-31 New Zealand, 46 minutes 21:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle A score seems certain to come as New Zealand build the phases inside the Argentina 22, Damian McKenzie playing flat to the line and pulling the strings expertly. But a sharp blast of Angus Gardner’s whistle brings things to a half – Scott Barrett had removed an Argentina jackaler by the neck and is rightly pinged. Dane Coles takes leave; Codie Taylor offers similar experience at hooker off the bench. Argentina 0-31 New Zealand, 44 minutes 21:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle The All Blacks scrum has been in top working order today. Ethan de Groot makes marmalade out of Lucio Sordoni as the Argentina tighthead continues to struggle on his test return after three years out of the international fray. Argentina 0-31 New Zealand, 43 minutes 21:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle Matias Moroni is thrown into the Argentina back row, the centre stepping in with Rodrigo Bruni off the field. Pablo Matera shifts over to number eight and has to plough a lone furrow as the rest of his packmates are forced into reverse gear, Matera doing quite superbly to bash his way out of danger. There’s momentary excitement from the Mendoza crowd as Argentina hurry after a fly-hack, but there was a knock-on in the tackle to force the ball free, and back we will come. Argentina 0-31 New Zealand, 41 minutes 21:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle The All Blacks begin to threaten almost immediately. Scott Barrett pulls back blindly at the line, a trademark of his, to find Damian McKenzie, before Sam Cane wriggles out of a tackle. Beauden Barrett tries to copy his brother, seeking a looping McKenzie, but their connection is less clean. Knocked on. Second half… 21:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle Argentina take an age to re-emerge, leaving the All Blacks waiting for a good couple of minutes as Michael Cheika and Julian Montoya lay down some last instructions. Can they produce something better after the interval? Damian McKenzie gets proceedings restarted. HT: Argentina 0-31 New Zealand 21:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle That first half score was Rieko Ioane’s 34th for the All Blacks. One more and he’ll be into the top ten all-time, level with John Kirwan – how high can he climb? The centre is only 26 and has developed an all-round game to suggest he’ll outlast many of New Zealand’s past scoring phenoms. Doug Howlett’s tally of 49 tries could well be in danger. Ioane’s partnership with Jordie Barrett just looks better and better. You’d have to think those two are now very much inked in for the World Cup. HT: Argentina 0-31 New Zealand 21:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle Argentina will play most of the first ten minutes of the second half with 14, too, as Rodrigo Bruni parks his posterior on a pew and serves his time in the sin bin. This is the second biggest half-time lead they’ve given up against the All Blacks, which reflects both that they’ve been on it and how well New Zealand have switched things on after that early fright. HT: Argentina 0-31 New Zealand 21:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle Cripes. The All Blacks have found frightening form in Mendoza to blow away Argentina in the first 40. Pace, power, accuracy, variation – it’s all been there from New Zealand to cut the hosts to ribbons. It might all have been different if home hands had got to the ball first after Damian McKenzie was charged down inside the first 30 seconds, but thereafter it’s been one way traffic as the All Blacks accelerated away and cruised out of sight. HALF TIME: ARGENTINA 0-31 NEW ZEALAND 20:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle TRY! Argentina 0-31 NEW ZEALAND (Aaron Smith try, 39 minutes) 20:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle Double trouble for Argentina – Aaron Smith snipes over and there’s a yellow card coming too! Perfectly executed by New Zealand, the lineout throw accurate, the take secure, the maul brawny and beefy. Rodrigo Bruni is already going to the bin for an infringement so Smith feels happy to extract, getting a bit of help from an out-of-position Angus Gardner, the referee inadvertently blocking off the Argentine fringe defence and allowing the scrum-half to scurry in untouched. Argentina 0-24 New Zealand, 38 minutes 20:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle Discipline is really becoming an issue for Argentina. Julian Montoya isn’t happy that Angus Gardner looks poorly upon his turnover attempt, the hooker protesting that he kept his feet securely when contesting. The Australian referee disagrees, and warns Montoya that his team’s conduct must improve. Argentina 0-24 New Zealand, 37 minutes 20:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle Loose from Matias Moroni. Rodrigo Bruni snaffles a sharp turnover at a midfield breakdown and there is acres of space beyond the All Blacks defensive line, but a slice sails out on the full to hand possession back in the softest possible manner. Argentina 0-24 New Zealand, 36 minutes 20:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle A call to the cobbler is required as a broken boot allows both sets of players to take on some fluids. But soon it is normal service resumed, New Zealand awarded a penalty as Matias Alemanno is deemed not to have made enough of an effort to vacate from the bottom of a ruck pile. Argentina 0-24 New Zealand, 33 minutes 20:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle Mangled! My word that is a mighty hit from Sam Cane, picture perfect technique to rearrange Sebastian Cancelliere’s ribs as the wing hits a short line on Santiago Carerras’s inside and end the Argentina attack before it has even begun. Aaron Smith whoops and hollers, as well he might, at his captain’s tackle. TRY! Argentina 0-24 NEW ZEALAND (Rieko Ioane try, 30 minutes) 20:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle A beautiful bit of footwork and Rieko Ioane darts through! A fourth score for New Zealand and again it’s nicely taken. Argentina initially had done well, a couple of burly bouncers throwing first Jordie Barrett and then Shannon Frizell out through the front entrance. But the All Blacks just keep asking different questions – Damian McKenzie moves a little wider at first receiver and stalls his feet to create a kink in the defensive line, taking a tonking as he releases a pass. Ioane in one movement takes and steps off his right, the deftest of shimmies to make the most of a half-gap before surviving the cover defender’s challenge and reaching for the line. McKenzie converts. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 28 minutes 20:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle Nope, the officials are satisfied that Rodrigo Bruni’s outstretched arm was part of the natural wrap of a tackle. Fair enough, you’d say, though I fancy the number eight’s extended left limb might have been more deliberate than he’d care to admit. Just a scrum, then, eight metres out and wide on the left. Loads of ground for the Argentina backline to cover. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 28 minutes 20:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle Now then – this could be interesting. A crosskick from Damian McKenzie lands in Jordie Barrett’s hands, and Caleb Clarke then tries to flick an offload infield to Beauden Barrett, who looks sset to canter in. An Argentina hand gets in the way – that looked deliberate on first view… Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 26 minutes 20:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle Every time the All Blacks attack it feels like Argentina are merely hanging on. New Zealand are winning the gainline virtually every carry, with Thomas Gallo’s tackle off the ball on Ethan de Groot gifting the visitors another penalty. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 25 minutes 20:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle Here come New Zealand. Ardie Savea beats three to escape from his own territory and a penalty is then pounded down into the Argentina 22. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 23 minutes 20:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle Argentina are beginning to find their groove. Lovely interplay between backs and forwards as thehy work to the edge, a huge fend from Matias Moroni getting rid of Ardie Savea before Rodrigo Bruni ploughs a more direct path. A try-saver from Damian McKenzie again! Superb scramble defence from the fly-half to save his Chiefs teammate, Emoni Narawa seemingly beaten by Moroni as the centre heads for the corner but McKenzie arriving just in the nick of time! Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 22 minutes 20:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle New Zealand survive! Variation from Argentina, throwing to the tail and bringing Pablo Matera rampaging around, but Damian McKenzie retrieves his axe and chops him down. There’s still an excellent scoring opportunity as Argentina’s forwards win the race around the corner, but Rodrigo Bruni can’t cling on to a pass at his thighs with few fortifications in front of him. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 21 minutes 20:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle Julian Montoya is a pretty skilful chariot rider, and likes what he sees initially. New Zealand infringe to ensure he does not progress all the way to the line. Back into the corner. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 19 minutes 20:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell make a crunching double hit on Tomas Lavanini – the only issue being that the lock is not carrying the ball. Penalty for Argentina, which is poked up into the New Zealand 22. They rather need a score here. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 17 minutes 20:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle Josh Lord gets hands on the ball the Argentina lineout falters again, the lock’s fumble at least allowing the home side to set a scrum. Stable as the front rows hold parity, and Gonzalo Bertranou sweeps away. A half-charged kick causes Caleb Clarke a couple of problems, but an attempted toe ahead from an Argentine boot flies out on the full. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 16 minutes 20:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle That’s just about New Zealand’s first error in possession, Caleb Clarke adding an extra pair of midfield hands off his blindside wing but Emoni Narawa too tight on the right. A pass flies into touch on the hop. Argentina 0-17 New Zealand, 15 minutes 20:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle Argentina look a little unsure of what has hit them, the hosts so close to a score in the opening seconds but now rapidly slipping out of the contest. A knock-on in the air at the restart brings about a New Zealand scrum penalty, Ethan de Groot driving through Lucio Sordoni. TRY! Argentina 0-17 NEW ZEALAND (Jordie Barrett try, 12 minutes) 20:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle A Barrett brothers beauty! What a start from New Zealand! They are prepared to play, enjoying a flat, fast track and beginning to accelerate up into top gear. Aaron Smith gets a call from his blindside with Argentina narrowing up and over-folding, the scrum-half’s typically sharp pass allowing Jordie Barrett to rush on and capitalise. Barrett the younger flicks to elder brother Beauden, who evades a chaser and scuttles up the touchline. Draw, pass, gallop – Jordie Barrett is over for the All Blacks’ third inside 12 minutes. Damian McKenzie finally finds his range. TRY! Argentina 0-10 NEW ZEALAND (Ardie Savea try, 9 minutes) 20:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle Ardie Savea squeezes over! Yep, the All Blacks are on it. They draw penalty advantage with a maul drive and then play away, keeping things tight and tidy as the forwards do the damage around the corner. Sam Cane’s nifty inside pop leaves Scott Barrett only inches short and Savea burrows effectively from there. Two bad misses off the tee from Damian McKenzie, but New Zealand are up and running. Argentina 0-5 New Zealand, 7 minutes 20:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle Almost another breakaway score! A high hoist is not particularly well handled by the Argentina backfield, allowing Emoni Narawa to scoop up and put his foot down. Argentina are penalised on the defensive scramble; New Zealand prod into the right corner. TRY! Argentina 0-5 NEW ZEALAND (Dane Coles try, 6 minutes) 20:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle New Zealand strike early! That’s what the All Blacks can do. They spread it after Scott Barrett’s steal, Damian McKenzie getting it out into Rieko Ioane’s hands. The centre blazes a trail with his sprinter’s speed, picking on a forward caught wider than he’d like. Ioane connects with Emoni Narawa, the wing keeping the momentum going with a nifty weave inside. Shannon Frizell pops for Scott Barrett at the line, and the lock frees the arms to tee up Dane Coles for the score. Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 4 minutes 20:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle Not the best attacking idea from Argentina, rushing to a marked blindside and then lifting an aimless chip ahead. Damian McKenzie is back to gather and claim a mark. And Scott Barrett then pinches Argentina’s lineout. Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 3 minutes 20:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle And there’s an early error from the Barrett brothers, Beauden looking to bring Jordie back on his inside as the full-back arcs towards the left touchline, but the ball hits the deck. Knock-on, Argentina feed, 40 out from the New Zealand line. Gonzalo Bertranou to put the ball in on his 50th cap. Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 2 minutes 20:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle Caleb Clarke takes a high kick nicely as New Zealnad regain possession on their own ten-metre. Ardie Savea delivers a punching carry up the right but Ethan de Groot is deposited on his derriere, the prop upright in the carry and perpendicular soon after. No try! Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 1 minute 20:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle Damian McKenzie, you lucky boy. The All Blacks fly-half slams his attempted clearance straight into Pablo Matera’s raised arms, and both Matera and Matias Moroni lunge after it ready to ground. McKenzie just, and I mean just , gets his hand to it first. A real fright first up for New Zealand, though. Argentina 0-0 New Zealand, 1 minute 20:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle Charged down! Have Argentina scored straight away? The TMO will have a look… KICK OFF! 20:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle Santiago Carreras gets us underway in Mendoza. Argentina vs New Zealand 20:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle A typically passionate rendition of the Argentine national anthem, tears in the eyes of the ever emotional Tomas Lavanini, and plenty of energy right down the line as his teammates psych themselves up for battle. The crowd are up for this, too, but fall silent for the Haka, led by Aaron Smith, New Zealand’s scrum-half rising tall as his teammates kneel around him. Right, we’re ready to go. Argentina vs New Zealand: Match Officials 20:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle An all-Australian officiating team today. Referee: Angus Gardner ARs: Nic Berry & Jordan Way TMO: Brett Cronan Argentina vs New Zealand 20:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle It looks a lovely day for some rugby in Mendoza, bright blue skies to greet the players. It’s got an old school feel, the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, a running track around the outside and a cramped corridor out to the playing surface. The walk from the dressing rooms includes crossing a sports hall. Argentina vs New Zealand: Lucio Sordoni returns 19:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle Traditionally, Argentina’s strength was always scrummaging, the Pumas sides of yesteryear building around set-piece power. Not so this group – if anything, you could term prop depth as a bit of a weakness in Michael Cheika’s squad. It’s good, then, to see Lucio Sordoni back to start. It’s been a tough old trot for the tighthead since his last test in 2020, a 14-month lay-off stalling the career of an emerging young front-rower. But Sordoni is back in form and enjoying the delight of Glasgow, initially joining Franco Smith’s side on a short-term deal but impressing to earn a longer stay in the Scottish city. If he can solidify things at scrum-time, he’ll have a real shot at a World Cup spot at the very least. Argentina vs New Zealand: Emoni Narawa debuts 19:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle The race for a starting All Blacks back three spot at the World Cup looks like it could be incredibly tight, particularly if one of Beauden Barrett or Damian McKenzie ends up occupying the 15 shirt, thus pencilling Will Jordan in as a likely wing starter. The coming force is Mark Telea, the slippery-as-an-eel Blues man, but Emoni Narawa also had a standout Super Rugby Pacific season and gets his first opportunity today. He should enjoy having McKenzie out there with him, the pair combining superbly throughout this year for the Chiefs, but will be tested defensively by Mateo Carreras, quick-as-a-hiccup and in flying form at Kingston Park as a member of Newcastle Falcons’ growing contingent of Argentines. Argentina vs New Zealand: All Blacks XV beats Japan 19:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle A bit of news from earlier today, with an All Blacks XV kicking off a short tour with a win over a Japan XV. It was scratchy early on from New Zealand’s second string but solid after the interval to pull away and record a 38-6 victory – they face the Brave Blossoms proper in Kumamoto next weekend. Argentina vs New Zealand: Back five battle key 19:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle Argentina may be without Marcos Kremer, but it’s still a fearsome five at the back of their pack. The hallmark of both of their big wins last year was how that unit was able to impose itself physically, Pablo Matera and Juan Martin Gonzalez particularly impressive as the All Blacks were knocked offf in Christchurch. They will spy a chance here to do something similar to a New Zealand pack lacking Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock’s gnarl and snarl. Sam Cane has re-found form this year, which is timely given the respect he commands as a leader in this All Blacks side, but it still feels like he needs a big performance or two over the next few weeks to cement himself in the side for the World Cup given how Dalton Papali’i came on last year. ‘When you think about collisions, loose forwards are involved in a lot of those on both sides of the ball,’ Cane said on Friday. ‘Not just the loosies, they’ve got a big, physical forward pack. They pride themselves on set-piece dominance and they’re big bodies, they know how to carry hard and tackle hard. ‘It’s a challenge we’re looking forward to as a forward pack. It’s no secret that rugby games are often won up front up so it’s gonna be good.’ Argentina vs New Zealand: Lucio Cinti gets an opportunity at centre 19:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle These have been a difficult couple of months for Lucio Cinti, the Argentina back’s future plunged into uncertainty after London Irish’s demise . Thankfully, Cinti has quickly picked up a new contract, and should have plenty of fun at Saracens next season. His selection in the centres today is intriguing – he has a little bit of experience in midfield, but much of his senior career post starring on the sevens circuit has come on the wing, where his height and speed are mighty valuable. His