Hamilton - Scrumhalf Aaron Smith scored two tries within three minutes in the first half to set New Zealand on course to a 28-13 win over Argentina in a Rugby Championship match on Saturday, maintaining the All Blacks' unbeaten start to the four-nation tournament.
Argentina, who have yet to beat New Zealand in 17 meetings, rocked the All Blacks with an early converted try to No 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon and led 7-0 after five minutes.
But Smith's double in the 23rd and 26th minutes - when Argentina were reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of hooker Eusebio Guinazu - turned the tide of the match and set up New Zealand's third straight Championship win.
The All Blacks took a 15-10 lead to half-time, helped by a conversion and penalty to flyhalf Dan Carter who became the first player to surpass 1 400 points in Tests.
The only negative for the hosts was that they failed to grab a four-try bonus point.
Scorers:
All Blacks:
Tries: Aaron Smith (2), Julian Savea
Conversions: Dan Carter (2)
Penalties: Carter (2), Beauden Barrett
Argentina:
Try: Juan Manuel Leguizamon
Conversion: Nicolas Sanchez
Penalties: Sanchez (2)
Teams:
New Zealand:
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Charles Piutau
Argentina:
15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Julio Farias Cabello, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Substitutes: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Benjamin Macome, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Felipe Contepomi, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino
Argentina, who have yet to beat New Zealand in 17 meetings, rocked the All Blacks with an early converted try to No 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon and led 7-0 after five minutes.
But Smith's double in the 23rd and 26th minutes - when Argentina were reduced to 14 men by the sin-binning of hooker Eusebio Guinazu - turned the tide of the match and set up New Zealand's third straight Championship win.
The All Blacks took a 15-10 lead to half-time, helped by a conversion and penalty to flyhalf Dan Carter who became the first player to surpass 1 400 points in Tests.
The only negative for the hosts was that they failed to grab a four-try bonus point.
Scorers:
All Blacks:
Tries: Aaron Smith (2), Julian Savea
Conversions: Dan Carter (2)
Penalties: Carter (2), Beauden Barrett
Argentina:
Try: Juan Manuel Leguizamon
Conversion: Nicolas Sanchez
Penalties: Sanchez (2)
Teams:
New Zealand:
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Charles Piutau
Argentina:
15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Julio Farias Cabello, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Substitutes: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Benjamin Macome, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Felipe Contepomi, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino