All Blacks pleased with redemption after Argentina thumping

Sat, Aug 17, 2024, 9:12 PM
AFP
by AFP
Ardie Savea was thrilled with how his team bounced back against Argentina. Photo: Getty Images
Ardie Savea was thrilled with how his team bounced back against Argentina. Photo: Getty Images

All Blacks captain Ardie Savea was pleased with his side's response as they took down Argentina 42-10 in Auckland.

It was a vast improvement on the 38-30 loss in Wellington last week, with an explosive first-half performance pushing the hosts 35-3 ahead through five converted tries.

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It was built on a dominant display from the forwards after a long week of soul searching.

"We said all week about looking at ourselves in the mirror. For the All Blacks, we have to bring that every week," New Zealand captain Ardie Savea said.

"We can't rely on a loss to get that response.

"It was about playing in the right areas of the field. I thought Damian and 'Baz' (fullback Beauden Barrett) controlled the game really well and allowed us forwards to roll up our sleeves and get to work."

Argentina's scrum was overpowered and they weren't the same force at the breakdown in a performance punctuated by mistakes.

Their lone try came late in the match to fullback Juan Cruz Mallia, with tighter defence from the visitors levelling the second-half score at 7-7.

Pumas captain Julian Montoya, who missed the first Test through injury, said his side was outclassed.

"We weren't good enough this week. We need to try to be consistent, week in, week out and we didn't do it," he said.

"We made a lot of mistakes, we need to be better. Congratulations to the All Blacks. They were quality today."

It was New Zealand's best performance under first-year coach Robertson in his fifth match in charge.

New Zealand have now won their past 50 Tests in Auckland since their last defeat there against France in 1994.

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