South Africa vs Australia LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as Springboks thrash Wallabies

Nope, the officials are satisfied that Rodrigo Bruni’s outstretched arm was part of the natural wrap of a tackle. Fair enough, you’d say, though I fancy the number eight’s extended left limb might have been more deliberate than he’d care to admit.

Just a scrum, then, eight metres out and wide on the left. Loads of ground for the Argentina backline to cover.

A beautiful bit of footwork and Rieko Ioane darts through!

A fourth score for New Zealand and again it’s nicely taken. Argentina initially had done well, a couple of burly bouncers throwing first Jordie Barrett and then Shannon Frizell out through the front entrance. But the All Blacks just keep asking different questions - Damian McKenzie moves a little wider at first receiver and stalls his feet to create a kink in the defensive line, taking a tonking as he releases a pass. Ioane in one movement takes and steps off his right, the deftest of shimmies to make the most of a half-gap before surviving the cover defender’s challenge and reaching for the line. McKenzie converts.

Mangled! My word that is a mighty hit from Sam Cane, picture perfect technique to rearrange Sebastian Cancelliere’s ribs as the wing hits a short line on Santiago Carerras’s inside and end the Argentina attack before it has even begun. Aaron Smith whoops and hollers, as well he might, at his captain’s tackle.

A call to the cobbler is required as a broken boot allows both sets of players to take on some fluids. But soon it is normal service resumed, New Zealand awarded a penalty as Matias Alemanno is deemed not to have made enough of an effort to vacate from the bottom of a ruck pile.

Loose from Matias Moroni. Rodrigo Bruni snaffles a sharp turnover at a midfield breakdown and there is acres of space beyond the All Blacks defensive line, but a slice sails out on the full to hand possession back in the softest possible manner.

Discipline is really becoming an issue for Argentina. Julian Montoya isn’t happy that Angus Gardner looks poorly upon his turnover attempt, the hooker protesting that he kept his feet securely when contesting. The Australian referee disagrees, and warns Montoya that his team’s conduct must improve.

Double trouble for Argentina - Aaron Smith snipes over and there’s a yellow card coming too!

Perfectly executed by New Zealand, the lineout throw accurate, the take secure, the maul brawny and beefy. Rodrigo Bruni is already going to the bin for an infringement so Smith feels happy to extract, getting a bit of help from an out-of-position Angus Gardner, the referee inadvertently blocking off the Argentine fringe defence and allowing the scrum-half to scurry in untouched.

Cripes. The All Blacks have found frightening form in Mendoza to blow away Argentina in the first 40. Pace, power, accuracy, variation - it’s all been there from New Zealand to cut the hosts to ribbons.

It might all have been different if home hands had got to the ball first after Damian McKenzie was charged down inside the first 30 seconds, but thereafter it’s been one way traffic as the All Blacks accelerated away and cruised out of sight.

Argentina will play most of the first ten minutes of the second half with 14, too, as Rodrigo Bruni parks his posterior on a pew and serves his time in the sin bin. This is the second biggest half-time lead they’ve given up against the All Blacks, which reflects both that they’ve been on it and how well New Zealand have switched things on after that early fright.