Argentina 6-44 New Zealand: All Blacks dominate in Paris to qualify for the Rugby World Cup final as they wait for either England or South Africa to join them

• New Zealand have qualified for the Rugby World Cup final in dominant fashion
• The All Blacks produced a one-sided showing against Argentina in Paris
• Either England or South Africa will play the All Blacks in the final 

Too easy. Too predictable. After the thunderous sporting masterpieces which were produced in the same arena the previous weekend, this was a shuddering World Cup come-down.

A glaring mis-match at the Stade de France was the sad consequence of the imbalanced draw. After two quarter-finals which showcased the very best of top-end Test rugby, this semi which was so one-sided that it undermined the credibility of the event.

Argentina were simply out of their depth. By the time the All Blacks scored their third try in injury-time at the end of the first half, the atmosphere was horribly flat. Everyone knew what was coming. 

It became a training session and a procession for Ian Foster’s side. Will Jordan claimed a fine hat-trick, but even that felt like a hollow achievement in the circumstances. There were thousands of empty seats long before the final whistle.

New Zealand, still wearing the scars of their last-four defeat to England in 2019, stormed on to reach the final with the minimum of fuss and stress. The vanquished South Americans could not muster sufficient fire and fury to negate their opponents’ superior repertoire. 

New Zealand have qualified for the Rugby World Cup final in dominant fashion

Will Jordan starred against Argentina as he scored a hattrick  of tries in a hugely one-sided match

Argentina were thrashed by New Zealand as the Pumas crashed out of the Rugby World Cup

The All Blacks showed their ruthless streak in the way they kept stealing possession, holding the line and taking their chances. On a wet night in the French capital, their trademark catch-pass quality was as impressive as ever.

A fourth global title is now within reach; a feat which seemed so unlikely just 14 months ago. A first home defeat against these opponents in Christchurch last August was an historic setback, at a time of turmoil. The New Zealand public had turned on Foster, amid a clamour for him to be replaced by Scott Robertson before the World Cup rather than after it.

Despite the additional loss of face against the Pumas, Foster clung on to his job, but only because of former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt taking on a more prominent role within the All Blacks set-up. Since that management overhaul, there has been a sustained resurgence from the depths of a crisis, as was demonstrated by another Rugby Championship title this year.

That suggested New Zealand were hitting their stride at just the right time for this showpiece, but then came further un-timely jolts to the Kiwi system. First, the All Blacks were trounced 35-7 by South Africa at Twickenham. 

Granted, it was only a warm-up game, but it was also the heaviest defeat in their history. Then came the tournament opener here, which the All Blacks lost 27-13 against France, despite the hosts having to overcome initial stage fright.

At that stage, it seemed a far-fetched notion that the well-beaten Kiwis would surge on to the final and the French would not progress past the last eight. But Foster’s side demonstrated their enduring pedigree as a lethal attacking force by so nearly putting a century of points on hapless Italy in Lyon, before beating world No 1-ranked Ireland in a quarter-final classic, in defiance of all the pre-match predictions that they were surely doomed.

Now, after this latest emphatic win, they could face a repeat of that epic 2019 semi against England, which would be enthralling north-south decider. More likely is another New Zealand-South Africa final and the All Blacks would probably go into that as underdogs, but on this evidence they will have a decent shot.

In the opening exchanges on Friday night, fuelled by trademark emotional energy and fervour, Argentina made powerful in-roads and took a fifth-minute lead through a penalty by Emiliano Boffelli. But that was as good as it got for the out-classed Pumas.

Argentina battled on but were undone against a ferocious All Blacks team in Paris

Shannon Frizell (with ball) scored two tries as the All Blacks won the physical battle against Argentina

Argentina lost all control in the second half as New Zealand punished the South American nation

All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith completed a brilliant solo run to finish in the corner

It wasn’t long before the All Blacks took control. In the 11th minute, they kicked a penalty to the left corner and made good ground with a lineout drive. The ball was flung right and Richie Mo’unga’s long pass sent Jordan over to score. Mo’unga converted for a 7-3 lead.

Foster’s men struck again before the end of the first quarter, using the launch pad provided by their breakdown poaching efforts. From a turn-over in their own 22, Rieko Ioane burst clear and Mo’unga raced on. Slick handling by the Kiwi forwards kept the move alive and when the ball reached Jordie Barrett wide on the right, he bounced off the last defender to score.

There was a penalty at each end during a brief lull, before the lights went out on Argentina. New Zealand won a scrum penalty to set up another raid and Mark Tele’a was able to blast through a series of tackles all too easily, creating the space for Shannon Frizzell to touch down.

That was it; game over. Two minutes into the second half, Aaron Smith scored New Zealand’s fourth try. Frizzell struck again for the fifth. Jordan again for the sixth. And again for the seventh. It was a tedious non-contest – and that is not what a World Cup semi-final should ever be.

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