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Agence France-Presse

Champions New Zealand scored three late first half tries to set-up a 36-17 Rugby Championship triumph over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Two yellow cards to the All Blacks aided the Pumas as they staged a comeback from 29-3 behind at half-time to outscore their rivals during the second half without ever threatening to win.
Victory moved New Zealand, who clinched the southern hemisphere title in the previous round, closer to a world record 18 consecutive victories.
The reigning world champions will achieve that feat if they beat South Africa in Durban on Saturday and Australia in Auckland on October 22.
Watch: Argentina v New Zealand


New Zealand needed just 124 seconds to go ahead as Argentina flanker Pablo Matera was penalised and flyhalf Beauden Barrett slotted an easy penalty.
Argentina responded with plenty of ball-in-hand attacks and captain Agustin Creevy was unlucky when incorrectly penalised with the try line in his sights.
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The speed with which the All Blacks attacked whichever Puma had possession was a feature of the first quarter, as was the power of Argentine number eight Facundo Isa during his surges.
When New Zealand were awarded a close range penalty in front of the posts after 24 minutes they opted for a scrum.

A second penalty in almost the same position resulted in another scrum and this time the gamble of seeking seven points instead of a safe three paid off as Anton Lienert-Brown dived over and Barrett converted.
Argentine toil deserved some reward, though, and they trimmed the 10-point deficit by three when flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez effortlessly stroked a penalty between the posts.
Can they be stopped? World record in sight for improving Rugby Championship-winning All Blacks
Winger Israel Dagg was stopped just short of the Argentine tryline, but it would not be long before New Zealand unleashed their full attacking might with devastating effect.
The first of the three tries came gift-wrapped from Pumas hooker and captain Creevy as he overthrew at a line-out just metres close to his line and All Blacks skipper and number eight Kieran Read stole the ball and set in motion a move that ended with centre Ryan Crotty dotting down.

Thanks for the tough Test @unionargentina, we look forward to meeting again in 2017.#ARGvNZL #TeamAllBlacks pic.twitter.com/cBvE2kpZfQ
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 2, 2016

Lienert-Brown set up the next try by blocking a kick from rival centre Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias and Dagg broke free to send hooker Dane Coles over.
Barrett converted both tries and the clinical finishing of the visitors had created a 24-3 advantage as half-time neared.
In the bag: All Blacks crush South Africa 41-13 to seal Rugby Championship title
But the men in black were not thinking of the break and struck again when a Crotty break down the left culminated in scrum half TJ Perenara darting over.
Barrett failed for the first time with a shot at goal, his conversion veering right, but New Zealand had a 26-point half-time advantage.

The rampant visitors scored again five minutes into the second half as Lienert-Brown shrugged off two tackles to create a try for fullback Ben Smith and Barrett kicked his fourth conversion.
New Zealand were temporarily reduced to 14 men when prop Joe Moody was sin binned for swinging an arm at Sanchez in an off-the-ball incident.
Rampant All Blacks crush Argentina to stay unbeaten in Rugby Championship
His absence was quickly felt as Isa scored a pushover try beside the post that Sanchez converted.
Loose forward Liam Squire later became the second All Black to be sin binned and fullback Joaquin Tuculet scored an Argentine try which Iglesias converted.


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The Rugby Championship 2016

Unstoppable New Zealand blitz Argentina to extend winning run

New Zealand centre Ryan Crotty celebrates with team-mate TJ Perenara. Photos: AFP

New Zealand's All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett (C) is tackled by Argentina's Los Pumas flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez (R) and lock Matias Alemanno (2-L) during their Rugby Championship match at Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 1, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA

Argentina's Los Pumas number 8 Facundo Isa (C) is tackled by New Zealand's All Blacks centre Ryan Crotty (R) and wing Damian McKenzie during their Rugby Championship match at Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 1, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA

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New Zealand captain Kieran Read holds the Bledisloe Cup with his team. Photos: AFP

New Zealand's Israel Dagg (R) with Australia's Adam Ashley-Cooper jump for the ball during the rugby Test match between New Zealand and Australia at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on August 27, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville

New Zealand's Ardie Savea (R) and Julian Savea hold the Bledisloe cup with his team during the rugby Test match between New Zealand and Australia at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on August 27, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville

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New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew. Photo: EPA

Australian rugby players pose for a team photo with coach Michael Cheika (bottom-C) who announced the squad for the upcoming the Bledisloe Cup game against New Zealand All Blacks in Sydney on August 18, 2016. The Wallabies are the defending Rugby Championship title holders but have won just one of their last 13 encounters against the world champions. / AFP PHOTO / PETER PARKS / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE--

The New Zealand All Blacks rugby team coach Steve Hansen speaks to the press under cloudy skies during a team training session in Sydney, Australia, August 19, 2016, before their first Bledisloe Cup game against Australia's Wallabies on Saturday. REUTERS/Jason Reed

The New Zealand All Blacks rugby team huddle during a team training session in Sydney, Australia, August 19, 2016, before their first Bledisloe Cup game against Australia's Wallabies on Saturday. REUTERS/Jason Reed

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Sonny Bill Williams reacts after the injury. Photo: Reuters

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New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams, is driven out of the stadium by medics during the men's rugby sevens match against Japan at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Sport

Rugby

All Blacks record 36-17 Rugby Championship win in Buenos Aires to move within two games of a world record 18 consecutive victories


Champions New Zealand scored three late first half tries to set-up a 36-17 Rugby Championship triumph over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
