The All Blacks launched their Rugby Championship campaign with a 41-24 victory over Argentina in Córdoba, despite a shaky third quarter.
Leading 31-10 at halftime, New Zealand allowed Argentina to claw back to 24-31, with Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Julián Montoya, and playmaker Tomás Albornoz sparking a strong response from the hosts. However, the All Blacks reasserted dominance through their set-piece, with Ardie Savea influential in the loose and Samisoni Taukei’aho scoring twice from lineout mauls to seal the win. While errors and discipline issues — including two yellow cards — exposed inconsistency, New Zealand’s superior skill and finishing power proved decisive.
