Will Jordan scored an impressive hat-trick as seven-try New Zealand crushed Argentina at Stade de France to reach a record fifth Rugby World Cup final.

The three-time winners were disciplined in defence and ruthless in attack as Jordan, Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell scored first-half tries.

Aaron Smith added a fourth after the break before Frizell crossed again and Jordan became the leading try scorer.

The All Blacks will face either South Africa or England in next week’s final.

Argentina, playing in their third World Cup semi-final, saw lots of the ball in the opening stages without penetrating the New Zealand defence.

Michael Cheika’s side were limited to two Emiliano Boffelli penalties as the All Blacks soaked up the early pressure before cutting loose on the counter-attack.

The All Blacks could have surpassed their own record for the biggest winning margin in a World Cup semi-final late on, but Richie Mo’unga spurned the opportunity.

The fly-half could have thrown a simple pass for Jordan to score a fourth try, which would have levelled the 43 point difference in the 1987 win over Wales with a conversion to come, but Argentina overturned the ball after he opted to carry into contact himself.

The Pumas will have the chance to equal their best ever finish from the last time the tournament was staged in France in 2007 with victory in the third/fourth place play-off, against the loser from the other semi-final.

New Zealand, meanwhile, could become the most successful nation in World Cup history with a fourth title when they return to the Stade de France next weekend.

Slick All Blacks too good for Pumas
Argentina secured a first away win over New Zealand in August 2022 but they were huge underdogs in the latest of their 37 meetings.

The All Blacks have been in scintillating form since their opening game defeat by hosts France, scoring more points and more tries than any other team in the tournament.

The Pumas also improved after losing their first pool game against England and they started on the front foot in Paris as they looked to roll through the phases early on.

Boffelli kicked them on to the scoreboard but they lacked a cutting edge in attack and were second best at the breakdown.

Jordan scored the first try out wide after the forwards kept it tight and punched holes in the Argentina defence before Mo’unga threw the wide pass to the wing.

Argentina continued to push forwards despite going behind, but the All Blacks stole the ball at the breakdown to turn defence into attack. Rieko Ioane made an excellent break and the All Blacks defied the greasy conditions in the Parisian rain to offload and keep the ball alive for Barrett to finish.

Boffelli’s trusted boot added another three points from the tee, but Frizzell crossed in the corner to make the Pumas’ already arduous task even more difficult.

A minute after the break victory was all-but sealed as the elusive Smith stepped his opposite number Gonzalo Bertranou from the back of the maul before waltzing over for the fourth.

Frizell powered over to double his tally before Jordan took centre stage once again. Much like his first, the wing crossed unopposed after neat build-up out wide to become the tournament’s leading try scorer with his second.

But he saved his best till last, breaking the gain-line from a planned line-out before clipping the ball over the top and gathering his own kick to take his tally for the competition to eight.

The wing could have some choice words for his team-mate Mo’unga, who denied him the record for the most tries in a single World Cup with a walk-in for his ninth.

Jordan and the best-in-class All Blacks, who lead the way with 48 tournament tries, will be looking to add to their tallies with one final hit out on 28 October.

Line-ups
Argentina: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Gomez Kodela, Petti, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Kremer, Isa.

Replacements: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni.

New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo’unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Whitelock, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.

Replacements: Taukei’aho, Williams, Newell, Retallick, Papalii, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.

Source: BBC
-Agencies