Five quick hits — All Blacks thrash Argentina in Rugby World Cup semifinal, Will Jordan comes close to Jonah Lomu's record
By Simon SmaleThe first Rugby World Cup finalist of 2023 has booked a spot in next week's decider, and in doing so New Zealand barely got out of second gear.
The All Blacks hammered a desperately disappointing Argentina 44-6 in a one-sided, uncompetitive semifinal at the Stade de France.
Here are the five quick hits from New Zealand's dominant semifinal victory over Los Pumas.
1. Will Jordan can't stop scoring
Will Jordan is on the cusp of achieving something pretty special.
The 25-year-old All Blacks winger notched a wonderful hat-trick against Argentina to move to eight tries for the tournament as a whole.
That is equal with Jonah Lomu (1999), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015) for the most tries scored at a single tournament — and he has one more game to play.
The Crusaders star is, by choice, a fullback, but due to the untold riches enjoyed by the All Blacks behind the scrum, he's had to make do on the wing in this side — and he's relished it.
"They played well and had to," All Blacks coach Ian Foster said of his wingers.
"I thought Will [Jordan] showed how well he finishes things off. I am delighted with the relationship they have and then you have Beauden [Barrett] who is the glue in the middle."
Jordan's first two tries were the simplest of finishes after excellent work inside him, but his hat-trick score was sensational.
Jordan received a delicate inside ball from Ardie Savea on half way and burst through a massive gap before chipping over the top and regathering the bouncing ball to score.
2. Lomu-like feat beckoned for Jordan, but Mo'unga said no
The thing is, Jordan could have already broken the record had it not been for Richie Mo'unga hogging the glory in the closing stages at the Stade de France.
Mo'unga had his former club teammate Jordan outside of him with a huge overlap but opted to tuck the ball under his arm and step inside, diving for the line himself.
That cost Jordan a shot at equalling Jonah Lomu's single-match try scoring record in a Rugby World Cup semifinal.
Lomu demolished England at Newlands in Cape Town in the 1995 tournament, scoring four tries in a 45-29 victory — including running over Mike Catt to score one of the most iconic tries in rugby history.
Perhaps Mo'unga thought Jordan should do more than simply fall over the line to equal Lomu's record.
3. All Blacks strike when it hurts most
As dominant and as good as New Zealand was, things were quite tight for a long period of the match — Richie Mo'unga was required to kick a penalty to extend the lead to 15-6 just two minutes before the break.
"It was tight. We managed to get a couple of tries early but then it was a real arm wrestle for a while," All Blacks skipper Sam Cane said after the match.
It was, but two crucial moments either side of half-time gave the All Blacks significant breathing space.
As the clock ticked over the 40-minute mark, the All Blacks held that nine-point lead, but earned a massive scrum penalty to put the foot down.
"The scrum penalty just before half-time, we were able to kick for touch. We had numerous phases and then Shannon Frizell scored right on half-time," Cane said.
They weren't done there.
Immediately following the restart, Los Pumas knocked on the kick-off and, off the back of another scrum, Aaron Smith scored.
"Those couple of minutes after half-time when Aaron Smith scored, I thought they were really crucial moments," Cane said.
Michael Cheika agreed.
"On a few important scums before the end of the first half we had good position but we lost the ball going forward. We lost possession and had a try scored against us. The same thing happened at the start of the second half.
"It went from 15-6 to 27-6. From that point it became very difficult."
You can say that again.
4. Mo'unga's difficult night with the boot
Richie Mo'unga is one of the best rugby players in the world, conducting the All Blacks backline like an unshaven maestro would a symphony orchestra.
However, one part of his game was distinctly out of tune against Argentina.
Off the tee, Mo'unga made just four of his eight kicks at goal — a far-from-perfect display from the former Crusaders number 10.
It didn't matter one bit against Argentina, given Mo'unga still managed a 50:22 and an all-round impressive performance with the ball in hand.
Against the Springboks (or England, sorry, or England) in the final though? Every point is going to matter.
5. Third time unlucky for poor Pumas
The dejected looks at full-time said it all.
Argentina was outplayed, outclassed, outgunned by New Zealand.
That is the third time Los Pumas have reached the Rugby World Cup semifinals — and the third time they have fallen short.
In 2007 Los Pumas were beaten 37-13 by a Springbok side that would go on to beat England in the final — Argentina beat a broken-hearted France in the bronze final 34-10.
In 2015 it was a Michael Cheika-coached Wallabies that inflicted a 29-15 victory at Twickenham, with South Africa claiming the bronze 24-13 at the London Olympic stadium.
Now, in 2023, the All Blacks handed Argentina a comprehensive beat down at the Stade de France.
Three semifinals. One try. No victories.
"Against a team like New Zealand the slightest mistake is fatal," Cheika said in his press conference after the match.
"They are so efficient. They converted all our mistakes into points."