New Zealand 41-24 Argentina: All Blacks climb top of World Rankings with comfortable win in their Rugby Championship opener

New Zealand kicked off their Rugby Championship campaign in style last night, beating Argentina 41–24 in Córdoba in a match that combined early dominance with a gritty fightback from the hosts.

The All Blacks hit the ground running, showing their trademark pace and precision in the opening half.

Cortez Ratima opened the scoring after just six minutes, finishing off a slick move that started deep in their own half. Winger Sevu Reece was electric early on, dotting down twice as New Zealand raced to a 31–10 lead by halftime.

It looked like the game was done and dusted before the break. Argentina were struggling to keep up with New Zealand’s tempo, and defensively, they couldn’t plug the gaps fast enough.

Second Half

But to their credit, the Pumas came out swinging in the second half. Fly-half Tomas Albornoz sparked the comeback with a well-taken try, and moments later Joaquin Oviedo powered over from close range to cut the deficit to just seven points. The crowd erupted — and for a while, it looked like an upset might be on the cards.

That hope didn’t last long.

New Zealand turned to their bench for calm and control, and they got it. Replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho crashed over twice in the final quarter, both tries coming off well-organised mauls as the All Blacks reasserted their dominance. From there, they shut the game down with clinical efficiency.

While the final scoreline — 41–24 — reflects New Zealand’s overall superiority, Argentina can take heart from a second-half surge that rattled the All Blacks more than the score suggests.

Sevu Reece was arguably the standout, with his two tries and constant threat out wide, while Will Jordan was back to his slippery best in the backfield.

Taukei’aho’s impact off the bench was massive, giving New Zealand the muscle they needed to slam the door shut.

The win also lifts New Zealand back to No. 1 in the World Rugby rankings — the first time they’ve topped the table since 2021.

For Argentina, there are positives to build on, especially in attack, but they’ll need a more complete 80-minute performance next week.

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