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          The Rugby Championship 2021
          New ZealandNew ZealandNZL
          39
          12/09FT
          0
          ArgentinaArgentinaARG
          • Rieko Ioane(10')
          • Sevu Reece(37')
          • Dalton Papali'i(43')
          • Luke Jacobson(46', 70')
          • Beauden Barrett(11')
          • Jordie Barrett(45', 48', 70')
          • Beauden Barrett(34')
          • Jordie Barrett(78')
          • SummarySummary
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          All Blacks keep Pumas scoreless in dominant Rugby Championship win

          • AAP
          Multiple Authors
          Sep 12, 2021, 08:27 AM ET
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          New Zealand have consolidated top spot in the Rugby Championship with a commanding 39-0 victory over Argentina on the Gold Coast.

          Caught off guard in a shock first-ever loss to the Pumas in the corresponding fixture last year, the All Blacks shut out the South Americans in a ruthless display this time around.

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          Despite making six changes to his starting side, Ian Foster's men piled on five unanswered tries to notch their third straight bonus-point win, having crushed the Wallabies in their first two games of the tournament.

          Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Dalton Papalii and Luke Jacobson, who bagged a double, all crossed in the opening game of Sunday's double-header at Cbus Super Stadium.

          New Zealand's Beauden Barrett runs the ball during the Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on the Gold Coast, September 12, 2021 Matt Roberts/Getty Images

          Brothers Beauden and Jordie Barrett added four conversions and two penalty goals between them to round out the drubbing.

          "We can be incredibly proud of that performance," said stand-out stand-in All Blacks captain Brodie Retallick after leading the team for the first time.

          "To keep them at zero, defensively, we really had to break them down.

          "We found a lot of space with the Wallabies the last few weeks but we had to wear the Pumas down with our set piece and with our carries.

          "So we can be proud of that effort."

          The All Blacks camped themselves inside the Pumas' territory for much of the first half, but only had one try to show for their dominance until producing a 15-point blitz late in the section.

          Argentina defended valiantly before the floodgates opened with Reece's five-pointer in the 37th minute, followed by Papalii's driving maul try four minutes after the halftime siren when the Pumas were down a man.

          New Zealand's Beauden Barrett runs the ball during the Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on the Gold Coast, September 12, 2021 Matt Roberts/Getty Images

          Pablo Matera was yellow-carded for a breakdown infringement and the All Blacks punished the Pumas in the flanker's absence.

          With rugged centre David Havili and Ioane running amok, the All Blacks snuffed out any hopes of an Argentine second-half fightback with their fourth try seven minutes after the interval.

          No.8 Jacobson was the beneficiary of Beauden Barrett's scything run and brilliant flick pass as New Zealand's lead blew out to 29-0.

          Argentina were reduced to 14 men for a second time when veteran prop Carlos Muzzio was sin-binned after referee Nic Berry lost patience following a succession of penalties against the Pumas.

          The All Blacks again made them pay, with Jacobson doing it all himself for his second try that completed the scoring.

          "It's a tough defeat," said"Argentina captain Julian Montoya.

          "We must see what we have done wrong ... we must be hard on ourselves."

          With two big losses to South Africa as well, Argentina remain empty-handed ahead of their return bout with New Zealand on Saturday in Brisbane.

          Australia's heart-stopping 28-26 victory over the world champion Springboks in Sunday night's second Test leaves the Pumas as the only winless team in the tournament.

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          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.