All Blacks player ratings vs Argentina: World Cup Semi-Final

New Zealand will have a shot at winning a record fourth Rugby World Cup after a comprehensive seven-try win over Argentina at Stade de France booked their place in next Saturday’s final against England or South Africa.

Los Pumas led with an early Emiliano Boffelli penalty but two tries in the space of five minutes from Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett put the All Blacks in command.

A third from Shannon Frizzell with the last move of the half and Aaron Smith’s sniping individual score early in the second half took them further clear.

Frizzell grabbed his second and Jordan completed his hat-trick to move him level with Jonah Lomu (1999), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015) with a record eighth try in a single Rugby World Cup to seal the All Blacks' place in a fifth final.

Scroll down for the All Blacks player ratings vs Argentina:

Argentina: 6

New Zealand: 44

Most points: Will Jordan - 15

Metres: Richie Mo'unga - 99

Clean breaks: Will Jordan - 3

Defenders beaten: Mark Tele'a - 12

Tackles: Jordie Barrett - 18

Tackles missed: Shannon Frizzel - 3

Turnovers won: Sam Cane - 2

1 Ethan de Groot -7

Constant presence at the breakdown, it looked like more than just De Groot were wearing the number one jersey. A key pillar in the All Blacks line-out success, and drove powerfully in the subsequent mauls.

Hard work off the ball, De Groot won a key scrum penalty at 40 minutes as he bossed Gomez Kodela onto the back-foot. Beauden Barrett set the ball down-field, which eventually resulted in Frizzell’s try. Dominated the scrum in the early second half, which enabled Aaron Smith to find space for his solo score. (Tamaiti Williams 55’).

2 Codie Taylor - 6.5

Strong opening line-outs, as the All Blacks failed to miss a beat. Metronomic throw-catch collaboration with Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea. Pushing the rolling maul along, as the Pumas were repeatedly forced onto the back-foot. Overthrew one line-out which was a rare sight of his World Cup campaign. (Samisoni Taukei'aho 50’).

3 Tyrel Lomax - 6

Gave away the first penalty of the match, as he hit a player without the ball after just four minutes. Crashing up for the hard yards, and adapted well in the scrum after a talking to by the referee, to match the height of Gallo. Dominated the early scrum with De Groot for Smith’s try, and was inches away from scoring himself in his 47^th minute drive. (Fletcher Newell 55’).

4 Samuel Whitelock - 7

The veteran led his side to consistent line-out successes, despite having pressure on him in the air. Excellent prowess to set-up the All Blacks’ powerful rolling mauls, and pulled key passes to set up try-scoring opportunities.

One such wrap-around pass led to Will Jordan’s opening score, with a similar move repeated in Jordie Barrett’s first half try. Stole the ball in the air, flawless when in flight. (Brodie Retallick 60’).

5 Scott Barrett - 6

So competitive at the breakdown, sometimes too much so. Gave away a penalty for his hit on the scrum-half, despite protesting his innocence in an on-field position. Consistently made the short drives, and provided a strong wavelength in the line-out with Codie Taylor. Sent to the sin bin for a senseless offence, as he slapped down the ball illegally at the back of the breakdown. Had a reduced impact after his time-out, as the match was already won.

6 Shannon Frizell - 7.5

Quick over the ball in defence, as he stole possession with a 22^nd minute turnover. Had a tough day against his opposite man Kremer, who flew in with hits on the back-rower. Put his slow first half to bed with a simple try before the break. Re-started the All Blacks’ account with his second try eight minutes after half-time, as he muscled over the line from close range. Too much power for a battered Argentina.

7 Sam Cane (c) - 8

The All Blacks captain began the match with a big turnover after six minutes, and made some strong chop tackles on the fired up Argentine carriers. Cane’s relentless tackling slowed down the blue and white bombardment, and made a key turnover on the 14^th minute. Cane cleared two men out the breakdown, and enabled the space for Frizzell to make his 22^nd minute turnover. The captain put his head on the line, and left the pitch bloodied after a physical run out. (Dalton Papali’i 65’).

8 Ardie Savea -7

Smashed up the short yards, and always looking for turnovers after his starring quarter-final performance against Ireland. Savea had a slower game than he did last weekend, given that the quality of the opposition dropped in the latter stages. Regardless, the back-row was a workhorse in defence, and battled for each and every yard with the ball in hand. Provided a nice draw and pass to send Will Jordan through a gap, before the winger took off for his third try.

9 Aaron Smith - 7

Distributed the All Blacks’ relentless attack with direct quick ball. Changed direction of attack nicely to bring in the props and locks for short drives. Smart box kicks into unmarked back-field space caught the Argentine defence napping on occasion. Gave big cheers when Argentina made mistakes, with one ‘whoop’ heard on the referee’s microphone and around the stadium, which returned a chorus of boos. Took centre stage with a stunning solo try just after the half-time break, as he stepped past two defenders and sold the dummy on the way to the line. (Finlay Christie 55’).

10 Richie Mo'unga - 6.5

Swept well to cover up loose ball in defence, and proved a nice looping pass for Will Jordan’s opening try. Scintillating footwork as he took the ball to Los Pumas, and provided his second try assist with Frizzell able to stroll over to score on the stroke of half-time. Not his best from the tee, with two first half conversions missed, which could be costly in tighter matches.

Could have added two more try assists, but went alone despite Codie Taylor’s supporting line at 46 minutes, and denied Will Jordan the chance to equalise Jonah Lomu’s semi-final try-scoring record in the final minutes. A poor showing from the tee, Mo’unga was let off with missed conversions being far more costly in a tighter battle.

11 Mark Tele'a - 8.5

Like Jordan, Tele’a left his touchline to carry up the midfield with great effect. A collision with a sliding Boffelli ran a chorus of boos around the stands, but its chalked off as a rugby collision and just a penalty. Impressive defence performance, as the winger flew out the line, with a statement to make on his return.

Direct 40^th minute carry narrowly missed the touchline, in build up to Frizzell’s try. Back with a statement after missing his curfew and losing his place in the squad, as he rucked like a back-row and distributed like a halfback.

12 Jordie Barrett - 8.5

Recovered after a poor first kick under Pumas pressure, and backed up Sam Cane for a 6^th minute turnover at the ruck. Stronger kicks to the corner to pin Argentina under pressure, and provided a powerful finish for the All Blacks second try. Put in a big hit on Matteo Carreras on 30 minutes, but was pinged for not rolling away before the break. Made a key covering tackle on a 56th minute line-break, and nailed Sanchez, sending the replacement to the ice bath.

13 Rieko Ioane - 7

Awesome line-breaks, with a stand-out carry coming in the build up to Jordie Barrett’s first half try. Back-tracking well in defence, and was a key player to maintain the All Blacks structure and put Argentina to the sword. Made his minutes count, with a strong outing ahead of the World Cup Final selection. (Anton Linert-Brown, 60’).

14 Will Jordan - 9

Got the All Blacks scoring started after 10 minutes, with a routine dive into the corner after collecting Mo’unga’s miss pass for his sixth try of the World Cup. Cutting in off his wing to carry up the midfield, but was turned over on 24 minutes by Montoya. Taken out the air in a nasty mid-air collision but didn't knock his confidence. Second try was a simple run in on the blind touchline, with his hat-trick score being the pick of the bunch with an awesome chip and chase. Heads into the RWC Final as the top try scorer with eight tries.

15 Beauden Barrett - 6

Comfortable under the high ball despite one slight break-down in communication with returning winger Mark Tele’a. Presented excellent kicking from hands, but had a slow first half from his high standards. Excellent take under high pressure, yet was on the receiving end of some heavy hits. Got more involved in the running game in the second half, but was withdrew with the game won early. (Damian McKenzie, 55’)

Replacements:

16 Samisoni Taukei'aho - 7

On after just 50 minutes with the game all but won, the replacement hooker’s job was to maintain the scrum dominance. He did this with great aplomb, as he won a scrum penalty when packing down for the first time against Los Pumas. Involved in carries from the off, as he is eager to regain his spot as New Zealand’s first choice hooker. Left the pitch with a nasty scratch, as the physical encounter busted up his forehead. A strong outing from the replacement front rower.

17 Tamaiti Williams - 6.5

Strong early scrum presence, and provided a key carry in the build-up to Will Jordan’s second try. Williams made half a break through the defence, before the quick ball was shipped out, for yet another All Blacks try. Worked hard in the loose, but difficult to shine with the match a foregone conclusion.

18 Fletcher Newell - 6

Similar to Williams, Fletcher Newell ran out and played what was in front of him. The match was already a done deal at the time of his involvement, so it was tricky for him to take centre stage in a push for RWC Final selection. Good work through the hands, offering the All Blacks a heavy carrier with the ability to tip off a quick pass.

19 Brodie Retallick - 6.5

Flying off the line in a real lift in the tempo, Retallick was amongst the more stand-out replacements for the All Blacks. Clearly wants to start the final for one more ride with his All Blacks running buddy Sam Whitelock, Retallick had to settle with replacing the second rower against Argentina. Provided a strong breakdown presence, but missed Taukei’aho’s 69^th minute line-out.

20 Dalton Papali'i - 6

On for his captain and eager for more game-time, Papali’i got stuck in from the off. Taking over from where Cane left off, the Blues man made tackles from the get go. Brought a high urgency to scrum-time, and attacked the number-eight to stop any pick-and-go momentum. Slowed down the Pumas ball albeit legally, Papali’i did himself favours ahead of the Final.

21 Finlay Christie - 6.5

Preferred as Aaron Smith’s understudy to that of Cam Roigard, Christie stepped up to ensure his place on the match-day 23 for the Rugby World Cup Final. Gave an attacking lift to the tempo with the fans and Argentine’s deflated, Christie orchestrated the attacking lines for his versatile midfielders to run around and play off him. Eager to have his voice heard, the Scotland born scrum-half barked orders to his forwards to the very end.

22 Damian McKenzie - 6

The Chiefs man was a shot of dynamism off the bench, but had a slower match than he would have liked. He gelled nicely in the replacement midfield, and had a nice first involvement in the run-up to Jordan’s second try of the match. Managed to recover after a slip, McKenzie presented his skills with the ball in hand best today, as his kicks through on the grubber only found sweeping Pumas defenders.

23 Anton Lienert-Brown - 5.5

Like so many of the All Blacks replacements, the work was already done by the time Lienert-Brown jogged onto the pitch. Given the final 20 minutes against a crushed Argentine side, the midfielder worked well into the back-line, for an adaptable trio with McKenzie and Mo’unga. He was nailed backwards on a 76^th minute hit, and missed a later tackle attempt as Matteo Carreras finally hit his stride.

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