All Blacks beat Pumas to clinch silverware

Winger Rieko Ioane scored two tries as the All Blacks claimed a third straight Rugby Championship crown with a 35-17 win over Argentina.

Rieko Loane

New Zealand's Rieko Loane crossed for two tries in the Rugby Championship win over Argentina. (AAP)

The All Blacks have overcome another staunch Argentina challenge to win 35-17 in Buenos Aires and clinch the Rugby Championship with a round to spare.

Winger Rieko Ioane scored two of New Zealand's five tries as they did enough to maintain their historic unbeaten record against the improving Pumas.

It also handed the All Blacks the SANZAAR silverware for a third successive year, achieving it before next week's final-round encounter against the Springboks in Pretoria.

Coming off a shock 36-34 home loss to South Africa, the visitors dominated the scrum and were more clinical with their finishing in an otherwise-even contest at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.

As with the 22-point win over the Pumas in Nelson earlier this month, the All Blacks were flattered by the final scoreline.

Ioane's double, which took him to 20 tries from 19 Tests, came against the run of play as the visitors opened up a 21-3 halftime lead.

Five-eighth Beauden Barrett landed all five of his conversions in a return to goalkicking form after a forgettable return against the Springboks.

The pick of a mostly second-string pack was No.8 Ardie Savea, a late call-up to start in place of Luke Whitelock who was ruled out through illness.

Coach Steve Hansen lauded Savea's display in an unfamiliar position and was largely satisfied with the team's response to their Springboks setback.

"At times we played some good footy and at other times we didn't play that great," he said.

"But Argentina are a difficult side to play against, and particularly here. Five tries and we got the Rugby Championship so you can't complain too much."

Pumas five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez opened the scoring with a penalty before the Ioane was put in space for his first try.

Fellow-winger Waisake Naholo doubled the lead with a close-range try before Ioane had his second when he pounced on a spilled ball and was untroubled in a 30m dash to the line.

The All Blacks defended fiercely for long periods, including a 10-minute period without Sonny Bill Williams, who was shown a 37th-minute yellow card for his team's repeat offending.

New Zealand reserve lock Patrick Tuipulotu crossed against the run of play before Argentina threatened a late surge when reserve halfback Tomas Cubelli and fullback Emiliano Boffelli scored in quick succession.

Anton Lienert-Brown had the final say when scoring off a neat grubber from fellow-reserve back Richie Mo'unga.

Argentina will seek to avoid the wooden spoon when they host last-placed Australia in Salta, having downed the Wallabies 23-19 on the Gold Coast two weeks ago.

Cubelli lamented their slow start.

"The first half, we were not the team we've been for the whole year and I think the All Blacks handled the pressure after losing in New Zealand," he said.

"During the second half we brought more energy but we have a lot of things to work on before the game against the Wallabies."


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Source: AAP


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