New Zealand ease past Argentina to book yet another World Cup final appearanceBy Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent, ParisNew Zealand booked an unprecedented fifth World Cup final appearance after blowing away Argentina 44-6 at the Stade de France. Instead, this was the Argentina that laboured through Pool D in a poor advert for the weaker half of the draw and the World Cup in general as a muted atmosphere watched New Zealand plunder seven tries. A spell of battering away on the line produced only another Boffelli penalty when there was a sense far more would be needed to halt New Zealand’s march towards the final. Jordan moved past Penaud with New Zealand’s sixth try and his hat-trick score in the 74th minute was a thing of beauty as he slipped through a non-existent Argentina defence, gathered his own kick and scored. When the final whistle blew the Pumas sank to their knees, aware they had not shown up on only their third semi-final appearance.

Source: Irish Independent October 20, 2023 22:07 UTC