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Three-try blitz sets up New Zealand triumph

Title-holders New Zealand scored three late first-half tries to set up a 36-17 Rugby Championship triumph over Argentina in Buenos Aires Saturday.
 Two yellow cards to the All Blacks aided the Pumas as they staged a comeback from 29-3 behind at half-time to outscore their rivals during the second half without ever threatening to win.
 Victory moved New Zealand, who clinched the southern hemisphere title in the previous round, closer to a world-record 18 consecutive victories.
 The reigning world champions will achieve that feat if they defeat South Africa in Durban next Saturday and Australia in Auckland on October 22. New Zealand needed just 124 seconds to go ahead as Argentina flanker Pablo Matera was penalised and fly-half Beauden Barrett slotted an easy penalty.
 Argentina responded with plenty of ball-in-hand attacks and skipper Agustin Creevy was unlucky when incorrectly penalised with the try-line in his sights.
 The speed with which the All Blacks attacked whichever Puma had possession was a feature of the first quarter, as was the power of Argentine No. 8 Facundo Isa during his surges.
 When New Zealand were awarded a close-range penalty in front of the posts after 24 minutes they opted for a scrum. A second penalty in almost the same position resulted in another scrum and this time the gamble of seeking seven points instead of a safe three paid off as Anton Lienert-Brown dived over and Barrett converted.
 Argentine toil deserved some reward, though, and they trimmed the 10-point deficit by three when fly-half Nicolas Sanchez effortlessly stroked a penalty between the posts.
 Winger Israel Dagg was stopped just short of the Argentine try-line, but it would not be long before New Zealand unleashed their full attacking might with devastating effect. The first of the three tries came gift-wrapped from Pumas hooker and skipper Agustin Creevy. He overthrew at a line-out just metres close to his line, All Blacks skipper and No. 8 Kieran Read stole the ball and set in motion a move that ended with centre Ryan Crotty dotting down.