New Zealand bounce back with 42-10 win over Argentina in Auckland

New Zealand 42-10 Argentina, Eden Park

New Zealand came up with a six-try performance as they trounced Argentina 42-10 in the second round of the Rugby Championship at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

The win will be a huge relief for the All Blacks after they were defeated by the Pumas in the opening round of the competition in Wellington last weekend.

The opening try for the All Blacks came in the 6th minute when Jordie Barrett sent a perfectly weighed grubber kick for Damian McKenzie to touchdown in the 6th minute and he also followed with the conversion to make it 7-0.

Argentina responded back in the 11th minute as Tyrel Lomax was penalised for a no-arms tackle and Santiago Carreras kicked the penalty goal to open the account for the visitors.

The home side responded back in the 16th minute when when they kicked a penalty to the corner and from the resulting line out, Ardie Savea forced his way over the line for their second try and McKenzie also followed it with a conversion to make it 14-3.

The third try came at the start of the second quarter as Caleb Clarke went untouched in the corner for their third try and McKenzie kicked his third straight conversion to give Scott Robertson's men a 21-3 lead before the fourth try came around the half hour mark as TJ Perenara fed Will Jordan, who went his way over the line and McKenzie improved to extend their lead to 25 points.

Any chance of a Argentina comeback was out off as New Zealand secured their fifth try at the end of the opening half as Beauden Barrett collected a perfectly aimed pass from McKenzie to touchdown and once again the fly-half was spot on with the conversion to make it 35-3 by the end of the opening half.

The All Blacks were the quickest to get off the block in the second half as Jordan completed his second try as he collected a deft pass from Jordie Barrett and once again McKenzie kicked the conversion from the tee to make it 42-3.

With nine minutes left in the game, Argentina launched an attack into the New Zealand 22 with Santiago Chocobares and Joel Sclavi setting up Juan Mallia over the line for a consolation try but the All Blacks will be relieved to get back to winning ways and more importantly reviving their Rugby Championship campaign.

New Zealand will be heading to Emirates Airline Park for their third round clash against South Africa to be played on 31st August while Argentina will face the Wallabies at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi on 1st September.

Team line up:

New Zealand XV: B Barrett; W Jordan, R Ioane, J Barrett, C Clarke; D McKenzie, TJ Perenara; T Williams, C Taylor, T Lomex, T Vaa’i, S Darry, E Blackadder, D Papali’i, A Savea (c).

Reserves: A Aumua, O Tu’ungafasi, F Newell, J Lord, S Cane, C Ratima, A Lienert-Brown, M Tele’a.

Argentina XV: JC Mallia; M Moroni, L Cinti, S Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, G Bertranou; T Gallo, J Montoya (c), L Sordoni, M Kremer, P Rubiolo, P Matera, JM Gonzalez, J Oviedo.

Reserves: I Ruiz, M Vivas, J Sclavi, F Molina, T Lavanini, LB Velez, T Albornoz, B Delguy.