Conrad Smith saves All Blacks’ blushes

New Zealand 26 Argentina 16: World champions New Zealand got the defence of their crown off to a winning start, but not until shaking off a terrible opening period in front of a Rugby World Cup record crowd at Wembley yesterday.

In front of 89,019 spectators and an interested television audience in the Ireland camp as they target a quarter-final tie against either of these Pool C protagonists, the All Blacks had scrum-half Aaron Smith to thank for lifting them out of an ill-disciplined performance which had seen captain Richie McCaw and fellow veteran Conrad Smith both yellow carded late on in the opening half and Argentina take a 13-12 lead into the interval.

Only the left boot of Dan Carter had kept the All Blacks ticking over but it was the Pumas who took the plaudits after an absorbing opening 40 minutes, playing the brighter rugby and scoring the only try of the first period when lock Guido Petti crashed over from short range in the 21st minute, Nicolas Sanchez converting.