The All Blacks dominated the Pumas without trembling on Friday (44-6), and reached the final for the fifth time in their history.
A demonstration of mastery. Big favorite of the first semi-final, New Zealand dominated its subject, Friday October 20, to dismiss Argentina (44-6) and reach the final of the World Cup, the fifth in its history. The All Blacks, who suffered from the aggressiveness of the Pumas during the first ten minutes, gradually took control of the match, passing three tries in the first half, before consolidating their victory in control in the second period. They will try to win a fourth world title on October 28, against South Africa or England.
Under the eyes of New Zealand legends Richie McCaw and Sonny Bill Williams, and in a Stade de France with a timid atmosphere compared to the match between the French and South African heavyweights, the men in black confirmed that they had once again become the scarecrow that no one wants to face. Strengthened by the return of explosive winger Mark Telea and the tenure ofimmense Sam Whitelock, the most capped All Black of all time (152 caps), the Blacks disgusted the Argentinians throughout the game.
Argentina too quickly overwhelmed
Yet aggressive from the start, and carried by supporters – more often decked out in Lionel Messi jerseys than Pumas – noisy before calming down after the All Blacks’ first two tries by Will Jordan (11th) and Jordie Barrett (17th), named man of the match, the Argentines gradually suffered from the New Zealand wave. Dominated by the forwards, often penalized in attack and barred by the very good withdrawal of the Blacks in defense, the Pumas had to resign themselves to a team full of certainty and serenity in its fundamentals. In total, this gives seven conceded and none scored.
The mild temperature in Paris and the Marseillaise sung at the start of the game were not enough to warm up a sleeping stadium, and undoubtedly still under the influence of the frustrating defeat of the Blues in the quarter-finals. There was the impression of witnessing a demonstration of rugby by a team now sure of its strength, and which did not seem to show any real weakness in its game.
The All Blacks one step away from a fourth coronation
The pocket scrum half, Aaron Smith (1.71m), even went for his try at the start of the second half, zigzagging between the Argentines unable to control the liveliness of the New Zealanders (42nd). Opener Richie Mo’Unga, still essential to his team in the game and at the foot, added the fatal try a few minutes later (49th) to put the Pumas out of reach (34-6). Winger Will Jordan scored his hat-trick to increase the score. With eight tries in total, he equals the record for tries scored in a single edition, held by his compatriots Jonah Lomu (1999) and Julian Savea (2015), accompanied by South African Bryan Habana (2007).
Beaten from the start by France, New Zealand has only gained momentum since, alternating between humiliations (71-3 against Namibia, 96-17 against Italy and 73-0 against Uruguay), a close victory (against Ireland) and therefore a demonstration of mastery against Argentina, who could only note the gap which still separates them from a first World Cup final. world. It stops for the third time in its history at this stage after 2007 and 2015. In the final, the All Blacks will face either England, whom they have never met for the title, or South Africa, their executioner in 1995, and who will compete for a 4th world title, something no team has ever achieved.