Will Jordan scored an impressive hat-trick of tries as New Zealand crushed Argentina at Stade de France to reach a record fifth Rugby World Cup final.
The All Blacks became the first team to make it to the final of a World Cup five times with this win at a rainy Stade de France.
They scored seven tries to none for the three-time champions, who beat Ireland in a thrilling quarterfinal last week. They did this by combining tough early defence with flashy front-foot attack.
History was on New Zealand’s side going into the game; the All Blacks had won 33 of the 36 previous games between the two teams, while Los Pumas had won two and tied one.
Emiliano Boffelli scored Argentina’s first goal with a penalty kick in the fifth minute, but it wasn’t long before New Zealand’s dominance became clear.
The All Blacks missed their first chance to kick the ball in, so they went to the corner for an attacking line-out. After a few pick-and-drives, Richie Mo’unga sent a long cut-out pass that found Jordan. The winger crossed for an easy try, which the fly-half converted.
For New Zealand’s second try, Jordie Barrett ran a perfect line into the corner after Jordan passed the ball. He did this by drawing in the last defender just enough to make the pass possible.
Even though they blocked a few All Black line-outs, Los Pumas looked more and more sloppy at the breakdown and kept losing territory because they weren’t paying attention at the ruck.
Argentinians rarely put pressure on the ball, but Boffelli scored his second penalty after Juan Martin Gonzalez took out Jordan with a high ball, and Mo’unga scored the penalty to give Argentina the lead again.
When Mark Tele’a jinkered his way through four defenders on his way to the goal, All Blacks coach Ian Foster showed why he had brought him back in place of Leicester Fainga’anuku after a one-game suspension for breaking team rules.
Aaron Smith worked the ball to Frizzell on the wing, who was not being watched. The great flanker crossed for the All Blacks’ third try.
Even though Mo’unga’s conversion hit the post and went back in, with the score 20–6, it felt like the game was pretty much over.
That was proven just two minutes into the second half when Smith sniped over for a classic scrum-half’s lucky try. Mo’unga added the extra points.
The fly-half then made a quick break that put the All Blacks deep in Argentine territory. Tele’a was a tough opponent, but Frizzell showed amazing strength to force his way over for his second try.
A lot of substitutions slowed down the game, but Tele’a was there to draw three defenders in as New Zealand ran through the phases. This let Finlay Christie set up Jordan for his second five-pointer.
To make it even with Jonah Lomu, Julian Savea, and Bryan Habana, Scott Barrett got a yellow card for playing the ball in a ruck without a reason. But Jordan was there to finish off his own chip-and-chase for a third try and his eighth at the World Cup.
But Argentina didn’t give up, and at least they didn’t lose by the biggest margin in a World Cup semi-final. That honour went to New Zealand, who beat Wales 49–6 in 1987.
Photo by EPA/MOHAMMED BADRA
