Menu

          ESPN

          • scores
          • NFL
          • NBA
          • MLB
          • NHL
          • Soccer
          • WNBA
          • Golf
          • More Sports
            • Boxing
            • NCAA
            • Cricket
            • F1
            • Gaming
            • Horse
            • LLWS
            • MMA
            • NASCAR
            • NLL
            • NBA G League
            • NBA Summer League
            • NCAAF
            • NCAAM
            • NCAAW
            • NWSL
            • Olympics
            • PLL
            • Racing
            • RN BB
            • RN FB
            • Rugby
            • Bananas
            • Sports Betting
            • Tennis
            • TGL
            • UFL
            • WWE
            • Professional Wrestling
          • Editions
          • Where to Watch
          • Fantasy
          • Watch
          • Rugby

          • Home
          • Scores
          • Tables
          • Tournaments
          • Countries
          The Rugby Championship 2021
          ArgentinaArgentinaARG
          13
          18/09FT
          36
          New ZealandNew ZealandNZL
          • Emiliano Boffelli(52')
          • Emiliano Boffelli(53')
          • Emiliano Boffelli(8', 44')
          • Patrick Tuipulotu(5')
          • TJ Perenara(26')
          • Tupou Vaa'i(42', 78')
          • Samisoni Taukei'aho(46')
          • Jordie Barrett(6', 28', 44', 79')
          • Jordie Barrett(13')
          • SummarySummary
          • ReportReport
          • CommentaryCommentary
          • Match StatsMatch Stats
          • Player StatsPlayer Stats
          • LineupsLineups
          • TableTable

          All Blacks back on top of the world after win over Pumas

          • Reuters
          Multiple Authors
          Sep 18, 2021, 05:35 PM ET
          • Copy Link
          • Email
          • Print

          New Zealand snatched South Africa's world number one ranking and placed one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy after subjecting Argentina to a second successive thrashing within a week in Brisbane on Saturday.

          The All Blacks' 36-13 bonus-point victory in front of 38,000 at Lang Park extended their lead to 10 points over second-placed South Africa in the Rugby Championship table while knocking Argentina and Australia out of the tournament.

          South Africa, beaten 30-17 by Australia in the first match of Saturday's double-header, will need to defeat New Zealand twice and pile on the tries in their last two matches to earn bonus points to have any hope of stealing the silverware.

          Rieko Ioane of the All Blacks makes a break Chris Hyde/Getty Images

          The scale of the Springboks' task was underlined as a second-string All Blacks team ran over five tries to notch their fourth win from four matches in a dominant campaign.

          "We obviously made a few changes and to keep our performance going with the new combination was pleasing," All Blacks coach Ian Foster said.

          "We didn't change a lot of our game plans ... I was delighted with the way we got through that."

          Lock Tupou Vaa'i grabbed a brace of tries, while Patrick Tuipulotu, scrumhalf TJ Perenara and hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho also scored five-pointers as the All Blacks continued their rampaging form after hammering the Pumas 39-0 on the Gold Coast last Sunday.

          Tupou Vaa'i of the All Blacks scores a try Jono Searle/Getty Images

          It could have been much worse for Argentina as Foster's side missed out on three tries in the first half and another in the second.

          Two early tries were cancelled due to forward passes and a third to Rieko Ioane was ruled out before halftime after the centre lunged over illegally when brought down under the posts.

          Young scrumhalf Finlay Christie blew the fourth when he fumbled the ball forward a metre out from an undefended line.

          Rugby on ESPN

          Love Rugby? Australian users can personalise their ESPN experience by downloading the App. Get live scores, news and videos ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.

          ‱ Download ESPN from Google Play Store
          ‱ Download ESPN from iTunes App Store
          ‱ Get Rugby news and more in your inbox
          ‱ Head to ESPN's Home of Rugby
          ‱ Global game: Solving Rugby's key issues

          The injury-hit Pumas slumped to their fourth successive loss after opening defeats away to South Africa, but it was a better performance by Mario Ledesma's side.

          The All Blacks took a 24-3 lead into the second half but Pumas winger Emiliano Boffelli grabbed a 51st minute try and his conversion shaved the deficit to 16 points.

          But New Zealand defended strongly in the last quarter before Vaa'i cantered over unmarked three minutes from the siren for his second try as a tired defence surrendered.

          Foster said the All Blacks would celebrate the win but was unfazed about the world number one ranking.

          "It doesn't feel like you're ever going to be at the top until you beat the team that's at the top so let's just wait and see," he said.

          • Terms of Use
          • Privacy Policy
          • Your US State Privacy Rights
          • Children's Online Privacy Policy
          • Interest-Based Ads
          • About Nielsen Measurement
          • Your Privacy Choices
          • Contact Us
          • Disney Ad Sales Site
          • Work for ESPN
          • Corrections
          GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos.
          Copyright: © 2026 ESPN Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved.

          Standings

          Rugby Championship
          RTeamGPPDP
          1SOU6+5719
          2NZL6+819
          3AUS6-1311
          4ARG6-5210
          Full Table

          The Rugby Championship 2021 News

          • Springboks in box seat after thumping Pumas

            South Africa are poised to retain the Rugby Championship title after a thumping 67-30 victory over Argentina in Durban.

          • Wallabies blow Bledisloe hopes with Auckland defeat

            The Wallabies' wait to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup will continue for another year after they failed to end their winless drought at Eden Park, falling to the All Blacks in heartbreaking fashion 33-24.

          • Springboks inflict All Blacks' record defeat

            New Zealand suffered their heaviest ever defeat as they were beaten 43-10 by South Africa in Wellington.

          • Ill-disciplined Wallabies fall to Pumas in Championship

            The Wallabies' Rugby Championship hopes have been brought crashing back down to earth as Argentina survived a late fightback from an ill-disciplined Australia side to claim a 28-26 victory.

          • 'Didn't want to draw': Wallabies in 86th-minute thriller

            The Wallabies have turned down three opportunities to kick a match-tying penalty and instead scored an 86th-minute winner in their latest Houdini Test act.

          • All Blacks down error-prone Boks to stay top of Rugby Championship

            New Zealand scored two early tries and kept an error-prone South Africa at bay to win a rugged arm-wrestle 24-17 Saturday and stay top of the Rugby Championship.