The semi-final of the Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and Argentina offered a one-sided match, with a clear domination of the All Blacks. The Pumas were never able to compete with the New Zealand team, who scored seven tries during the match. The French public, few in number in the stands, quickly expressed their dissatisfaction, replacing the chants with whistles.
From the start of the match, the All Blacks showed their desire to score tries rather than take penalties. This strategy paid off, with a first try scored by Will Jordan in the 11th minute. The Argentines, despite opening the score from a penalty, did not succeed in putting their opponents in difficulty.
The New Zealanders continually put pressure on the Pumas, scoring on every incursion into their camp. Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell notably scored tries allowing the All Blacks to take a 20-6 lead at half-time.
In the second half, the Argentines continued to be dominated by the All Blacks. Scrum half Aaron Smith scored a try after some great individual action, making the score 34-6. Despite their defensive efforts, the Pumas failed to reverse the trend. The All Blacks continued to play their game, with a hat-trick from Will Jordan which marked his eighth try of the competition.
This unbalanced semi-final did not really allow us to assess the level of the New Zealanders, who are now preparing for their fifth World Cup final. On the other hand, she highlighted the shortcomings of the Pumas, who lacked the resources to compete with the All Blacks.
New Zealand will also benefit from an extra day of rest before the final, as the second semi-final between South Africa and England will be played the following day. The All Blacks will thus have the opportunity to perfect their preparation and gain momentum to win the world champion title.