The All Blacks may have lost two players to the sin-bin in Buenos Aires, but they were still too good for the Pumas, winning 36-10 in the end after building-up a 29-3 interval lead. Skipper Kieran Read was one of the players who saw yellow.
It was the 15th time the All Blacks had won the title in 22 years of Tri-Nations and Rugby Championship action. South Africa and Australia had earlier drawn 27-27 in Bloemfontein – the second draw of the tournament.
That result leaves the Springboks, who meet Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 2 December, three points clear of the Wallabies in second place. Michael Cheika’s Aussies, who kick-off the Under Armour Series in the Welsh capital on Saturday, 11 November, must win their final game against Argentina in Mendoza this weekend and hope the Boks get nothing out of their game with the All Blacks in Cape Town to move into the runners-up spot.
There was drama right to the final minute at the Toyota Stadium, where the Ospreys had met the Cheetahs the day before, with South African outside half Elton Jantjies given the chance to be the hero in the final minute when Marika Koroibete was penalised for not rolling away at a ruck.
The Springboks’ No 10 lined up his kick from 25 metre out on a 45 degree angle, but pushed it wide. It meant a second successive draw between the two teams – it was 23-23 in Perth in Round 3 – and ensured honours were even after they both scored three tries.
The statistics showed what an open, free-flowing game it was with the Boks just shading certain aspects of play with 23 clean breaks to 12, 27 defenders beaten to 20 and 619 metres made compared to 438. The Wallabies missed 27 tackles and were forced to put in 118 compared to South Africa’s 83.
There used to be a time when the Australia scrum was ridiculed for not being strong enough, but they forced the South Africa’s to concede two of their five put-ins. They also stole two line-outs.
Despite his yellow card, Read scored two of the All Blacks’ four tries in the Argentine capital. Wing Waisake Naholo, full-back Damian McKenzie and debutant David Havili got the other tries.
The Rugby Championship – Round 5 Results
South Africa 27, Australia 27
Argentina 10, New Zealand 36
The Rugby Championship – Round 6 Fixtures
South Africa v New Zealand –Newalnds, Cape Town (16:05 UK time)
Argentina v Australia – Estadio Malvinas, Mendoza (23:40 UK Time)
| Team | P | W | D | L | -/+ | BP | Pts |
| New Zealand | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 5 | 24 |
| South Africa | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – 17 | 1 | 13 |
| Australia | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | – 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Argentina | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | – 108 | 0 | 0 |
Under Armour Series 2017 – BUY TICKETS HERE
WALES v AUSTRALIA – Saturday, 11 November 2017 (17:15)
WALES v GEORGIA – Saturday, 18 November 2017 (14:30)
WALES v NEW ZEALAND – Saturday, 25 November 2017 (17:15) SOLD OUT
WALES v SOUTH AFRICA – Saturday, 2 December 2017 (14:30)
