New Zealand vs Argentina live: Score and latest updates from Rugby Championship 2022

Well, I already regret questioning New Zealand's decision to change their front-rowers. Their scrummaging dominance has continued.

However, they have kicked their latest set-piece penalty to touch and have been collared for setting up a maul illegally. 

Oh wow. Argentina are in front! It's a pretty weird try, it must be said, but they will not mind at all - and why should they.

New Zealand fumbled the restart and the ball bobbled to Juan Martin Gonzalez, the London Irish blindside flanker, who looked around and then pulled clear to score from 20 metres. Boffelli lands the touchline conversion brilliantly.

Mo'unga punishes Matera.

A frustrating moment for the Pumas. New Zealand pile on the pressure following some lovely interplay between their forwards - Ardie Savea feeding Shannon Frizell before an offload to George Bower. 

Argentina appear to have escaped by Matera is penalised for a late tackle on Mo'unga, his former Crusaders colleague.

Jordie Barrett goes wide from about 60 metres. New Zealand change their entire front row. Interesting call. Taukei'aho had been particularly prominent. 

Argentina pound away on the edge of New Zealand's 22. After making inroads initially, they are repelled thanks to some decisive and industrious defence from the hosts.

Santiago Carreras attempts a dart from first-receiver and coughs up possession. That is then compounded as New Zealand clear and force a penalty on the chase. Jordie Barrett is going to have a pop from range.

We're off again, and Argentina have a penalty from the restart to follow a good carry from Tomas Lavanini

 A very interesting, if slightly bitty first half. Argentina have soaked up a lot of pressure, making 72 tackles to New Zealand's 42 by Opta's first count, but are well in this game thanks to the boot of Boffelli.

Another accurate attempt from the Edinburgh man and that's the break. Compelling sparring between the sides.

Sam Whitelock is doing a bit of a number on Argentina's line-out. There's more uncertainty, so Montoya goes short to Matera at the front.

The Pumas get out of jail because Matera is tackled before receiving the ball. Boffelli is going to kick again.

A great strike from around 50 metres out and the Pumas are back to within a score. They've got a penalty from the restart as well. 

That's the Montoya that Leicester supporters know. He pounces over Will Jordan to earn a penalty and Boffelli's tee is on.

What a try. It's an archetypal counter-punch from the All Blacks that punishes an Argentina error. And it's really slick.

Montoya's throw sails over the line-out. Taukei'aho gathers and passes into the backline where Savea feeds David Havili. Rieko Ioane gets his hands on the ball and fixes two defenders. Jordie Barrett hits the line, carves through and sends Clarke in at the corner. Mo'unga converts as well. 

Orlando, one of two Newcastle centres playing for the Pumas, is buffeted backwards in a two-man tackle from Savea and Taukei'aho.

Indeed they do. The hosts are a couple ahead as we reach the half-hour mark.

It's a charge from Ardie Savea that gains momentum. He marches beyond Julian Montoya - no easy task - and up to the 22. Another direct carry on the following phase earns a breakdown penalty. 

This direct approach is very Joe Schmidty, and New Zealand should go ahead here.

All Blacks in possession around halfway and cycling through phases. Argentina are absorbing pressure well though...

A harum-scarum passage is ignited by Mo'unga's break from his own half, which follows a quick line-out after a poor grubber from Matias Moroni.

Argentina scramble well but concede another scrum penalty. They've been second best there so far, but are holding on. Scott Barrett is pinged for coming in at the side as Thomas Gallo jackals.

Argentina make their territorial pressure tell. More direct phase-play ekes out an offence from New Zealand and Bofelli capitalises.

There's a penalty for a high tackle on Matera from the restart, too. This is composed stuff from the Pumas.

Boffelli knocks on in pursuit of the Argentina restart and the Pumas are splintered at the ensuing scrum.

Caleb Clarke gets a charge after New Zealand go to touch but the attack breaks down and Argentina counter, wining a penalty of their own. Santiago Carreras sets up a line-out in the All Blacks' 22.

That's a clinical, muscular pushover from New Zealand and Samisoni Taukei'aho benefits. The hooker, excellent against South Africa at Ellis Park and gradually establishing himself, scores.

Mo'unga cannot convert but that will settle some nerves for the All Blacks.

The All Blacks find some fluency in their phase-play and it is enough to earn a penalty that they kick to the corner...

It's a lovely strike from Emiliano Boffelli

Matias Orlando, the Newcastle centre, punches a hole from a line-out to initiate Argentina's first meaningful attack and New Zealand creep offside in phase-play. It'll be the Pumas with a chance for the first points now.

Richie Mo'unga's long-range penalty attempt is pulled wide but the All Blacks will build again from a line-out maul following Argentina's clearance.

Ah, that's another kicking gaffe from Mo'unga. His up-and-under is spooned up in the air and the Pumas gather.

Scott Bearrett rises to gather the kick-off on his home ground and New Zealand clear. They'll have an early opportunity too after the Pumas botch their first sequence in possession and then ship a penalty for offside.

The man in the middle today is Nika Amashukeli, from Georgia. He was in charge of Ireland's win over Italy in the Six Nations. Hopefully today is a little less controversial were laws and cards are concerned... 

We've had the anthems and the haka. We're ready to go. Pablo Matera was marching around his teammates grinning after the haka, by the way.

Argentina XV: 15. Juan Cruz Mallia, 14. Emiliano Boffelli, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Matias Orlando, 11. Lucio Cinti, 10. Santiago Carreras, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 1. Thomas Gallo, 2. Julian Montoya (captain), 3. Joel Sclavi, 4. Matias Alemanno, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 6. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. Pablo Matera.

Replacements: 16. Santiago Socino, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Eduardo Bello, 19. Guido Petti, 20. Santiago Grondona, 21. Tomas Cubeli, 22. Tomas Albornoz, 23. Santiago Cordero.

New Zealand XV: 15. Jordie Barrett, 14. Will Jordan, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. David Havili, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 9. Aaron Smith; 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Sam Whitelock, 5. Scott Barrett, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (captain), 8. Ardie Savea.

Replacements: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. George Bower, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Tupou Vaa'i, 20. Akira Ioane, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Stephen Perofeta, 23. Quinn Tupaea.

Are the All Blacks back? Their victory in Johannesburg was certainly stirring, and has encouraged New Zealand Rugby sufficiently to confirm that Ian Foster will be head coach until the 2023 World Cup. But even their most ardent supporters will have retained a hint of cynicism on the back of a fraught sequence of five losses in six Tests.

Two more coaching changes have fascinating potential. Joe Schmidt, the former Ireland honcho, has taken charge of New Zealand’s attack. His reputation has been built on exacting strike-moves and relentless phase-play. Ignite the All Blacks in those areas and they will be a force to be reckoned with in France next year. Jason Ryan, Foster’s new forwards coach, appears to have had a very quick impact as far as maul defence and scrummaging steel goes.

Argentina are the visitors to Christchurch and arrive on the back of a superb win of their own. They dispatched Australia 48-17 a fortnight ago, a flurry of points coming from astute kicking and free-flowing support play. Michael Chieka’s Pumas will be hopeful of ruffling more feathers and Pablo Matera, their totemic back-rower, is returning to what has been his home patch with the Crusaders. Do not forget that Argentina turned over New Zealand to win 25-15 in November 2020.

There is some significant team news, with Beauden Barrett ruled out and replaced on the bench by a potential debutant in Stephen Perofeta, a like-for-like deputy as far as his ability to cover fly-half and full-back.