Argentina vs New Zealand LIVE: Rugby Championship score and latest updates today

Argentina kick off their Rugby Championship campaign against New Zealand as the two sides meet in Mendoza. The Pumas secured an historic first away victory against the All Blacks last year, and will take plenty of confidence into their Rugby Championship opener. With the World Cup in France fast approaching, both sides have made a number of intriguing selections as Michael Cheika and Ian Foster seek to narrow down a wider squad into a 33-man group to travel to the tournament in the autumn. Foster will leave his role as head coach of New Zealand after the World Cup, with Scott Robertson stepping up to take over the national side after a period of sustained success with the Crusaders. Damian McKenzie, one of the stars of Super Rugby Pacific with the Chiefs, has earned the first opportunity at fly-half for the All Blacks, while Argentina have opted for the talented Lucio Cinti at inside centre as part of an exciting backline. Follow all the live updates from the Rugby Championship below: Rugby Championship LIVE – Argentina vs New Zealand 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! 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. A