Argentina 6-44 New Zealand: All Blacks ease past Pumas into 2023 Rugby World Cup final

New Zealand scores seven tries through Will Jordan (hat-trick), Shannon Frizell (two), Jordie Barrett and Aaron Smith in beating Argentina in the Rugby World Cup semi-final in Paris; England play South Africa in the second Rugby World Cup semi-final in Paris on Saturday (8pm BST)

New Zealand reached the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup when they swept past Argentina in Paris

New Zealand will compete in the fifth Rugby World Cup final in its history after an easy 44-6 victory over Argentina at the Stade de France in Paris.

Wing Will Jordan, center Jordie Barrett and flanker Shannon Frizell struck for tries for the All Blacks in the first half of the semi-final, while scrumhalf Aaron Smith, Frizell and Jordan – the latter completing his hat-trick – added four seconds. – half attempts.

Jordan also made his own piece of history by completing eight tries in a World Cup to tie the record shared by Jonah Lomu, Bryan Habana and Julian Savea.

Richie Mo’unga added three conversions and a penalty with the boot, while two penalties from Emiliano Boffelli all allowed a poor Argentina – who beat Japan and Wales to reach this stage – to score.

The match actually didn’t look good for World Rugby as it failed to rise to the occasion, especially after Ireland and France were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in last week’s epic quarter-finals in Paris. by the All Blacks and South Africa respectively.

Argentina, who were in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup after victories over Japan and Wales, were destroyed

The Pumas started with a long period of possession in the All Blacks’ 22 and eventually scored three points through Boffelli’s boot, but it was New Zealand who grabbed the opening try after eleven minutes when Jordan made a huge overlap on the right. a sharp attack.

Will Jordan scored the opening try of the match for New Zealand

Six minutes later – after another lengthy stanza of Argentina’s phase play in the All Blacks’ 22 came to nothing – New Zealand got their second try, when Barrett crashed through contact in the center and scored in the corner.

Jordie Barrett put New Zealand under control with their second try of the first half

Five minutes into the half, Boffelli reduced the deficit to six points from the tee after the All Blacks conceded penalties near their try line when under pressure, but those points were wiped out almost immediately when Mo’unga struck after a goal . Breakdown penalty against the Pumas.

Emiliano Boffelli hit two penalties, but that was all the poor Argentina team could muster

An incorrect scrum penalty against Argentina by referee Angus Gardner – as Ethan de Groot scrummed forward on his knees – gave New Zealand a final attack of the half, and they took advantage of that fortune to all but put the match beyond the Pumas when Frizell scored in the corner after a multi-phase attack.

Mo’unga missed the conversion from the post to leave the half-time score at 20-6, but just two minutes into the second period Smith broke past several Argentine defenders and struck for a brilliant solo try.

Aaron Smith scored a great try early in the second half

Five minutes later, Frizell got his second try after 18 phases of All Blacks attack in the Pumas’ 22, with Jordan scoring his second in the corner after the hour against a now beleaguered Argentina.

New Zealand’s Scott Barrett was fouled with 15 minutes to go for an unnecessarily cynical act of knocking the ball down while he was off the ground, but it was the All Blacks who would score last when Jordan’s showed excellent attacking talents to race down half the ball. pitch to collect his high notes.

Jordan showed his excellent attacking talents in his third attempt

Barrett: We know the job isn’t done yet

New Zealand center Jordie Barrett told ITV Sport after the match…

“It’s so sweet. It is new territory for this group.

“Four years ago we slipped in the semi-finals, so I’m so proud of this group.

“It is not done yet. We’re going to have a tough game regardless of who we have next week.

“It’s another week that we are very grateful for.”

What’s next?

The win means New Zealand will advance to a World Cup final for the fifth time in their history, taking on either South Africa or England at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, October 28 (8pm BST), in the hope to lift the trophy. for a record fourth time.

The defeat means that Argentina suffers a defeat in the semi-finals of a World Cup for the third time in its history. They will face England or South Africa in the World Cup third place match at the Stade de France in Paris next week on Friday October 27 (kick-off 8pm BST).