Dan Carter of the All Blacks in action during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

New Zealand made it three wins from three in the Rugby Championship with a 28-13 success over Argentina at a wet Waikato Stadium on Saturday.

It was a nervy start from both sides but the early signs were good for Argentina, particularly at scrum time as they won themselves a penalty.

And their opening would get even better on six minutes when New Zealand's debut centre, Francis Saili, spilled a ball on his 22 that allowed Argentina to shift the attack left with quick hands to where Juan Manuel Leguizamon was waiting. Nicolas Sanchez's conversion made it 0-7.

Horacio Agulla of Argentina is tackled by Jeremy Thrush and Sam Cane of New Zealand during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Aaron Smith of New Zealand makes a run during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Dan Carter would respond from the kicking tee five minutes later following a line-out offence, moving through the 1,400 point mark in international rugby. Despite returning number ten Carter missing his second and third attempt at goal from distance, New Zealand were now in the ascendency in a wet Hamilton.

And boy did they turn the screw. Two tries from Aaron Smith whilst Argentina's Eusebio Guinazu was in the bin for an offside offence propelled New Zealand to a 15-7 lead. His first score was all down to Kieran Read's brilliance, the number eight sending out a nigh on impossible offload close to the left touchline that allowed Smith to dive over five metres out.

Juan Manuel Leguizamon of Argentina on his way to score a try during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Julian Savea of the All Blacks in action during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

The scrum would again play a major part in proceedings after the interval as first Carter and then Sanchez sent over three points to make it 18-13 on 52 minutes. The Pumas though suffered a blow early in the half as Gonzalo Camacho went off with a dislocated shoulder.

New Zealand meanwhile were beginning to make pre-planned changes as Andrew Hore and Dan Carter were replaced before the hour mark, the latter's last act seeing him send over two points after Julian Savea had scored an opportunistic score. It again came from Read as this time his charge down of scrum-half Martin Landajo's attempted box kick led to the ball being moved left across the backline. It was now 25-13 as the All Blacks pounced.

Ben Smith of the All Blacks in action during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Dan Carter of the All Blacks in action during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

But on 60 minutes came the moment New Zealand did not want to see as captain McCaw would hobble off with a knee injury, just one week before facing South Africa. Cane emerged with Read taking over the captaincy but all the fresh legs fragmented the game somewhat as there would be no score until five minutes before the end, Beauden Barrett knocking over three. In truth, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe's pull back on Saili's shirt warranted a card.

Had the Pumas been reduced to fourteen men then maybe the All Blacks would have had a sniff of claiming the try bonus point. As it was, they must be satisfied with a third straight win as preparations begin ahead of Auckland and that massive clash with South Africa.

Man of the match: Outstanding from Kieran Read. His offload for Aaron Smith's first try was worth the entrance money alone while he played a key role in Julian Savea's fine score.

Read the whole thing here: Planet Rugby

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Francis Saili of the All Blacks in action during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Kieran Read of the All Blacks offloads in the tackle of Juan Manual Leguizamon of Argentina during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Rugby - All Blacks extend run with Argentina win

Kieran Read delivered an inspirational performance to break Argentina's spirit as New Zealand claimed a 28-13 victory in their Rugby Championship tussle in Hamilton.

Twice, at vital stages of the game, Read demonstrated his handling skill, vision and patience in creating two tries, making light of difficult conditions caused by drizzle throughout the game.

The first, when the All Blacks were 7-3 down, saw him slip a sweet pass behind a defender to put scrum-half Aaron Smith in at the corner for a try.

Then, 13 minutes into the second half when the Pumas had crept back to 18-13 down, he charged down an attempted clearing kick, gathered the ball and took flight for the goal-line.

He was dragged down short but the ball was spun superbly across the All Blacks backline and left wing Julian Savea crossed for the perfect try.

Francis Saili of the All Blacks is tackled by Horacio Agulla of Argentina during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Dan Carter of the All Blacks looks on during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

But if Read warranted exceptional praise, hard-tackling Richie McCaw and hard-running blindside flanker Steven Luatua, whose rapid rise continued, were not far behind. However, McCaw suffered a severe-looking injury in the 59th minute and limped off.

The demands of the game summoned the All Blacks loose men to produce a doughty response in reply to the efforts of their hard-bitten opposites.

Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe gave a demonstration of why he is such an inspirational leader to his side, chasing forever in the loose and hitting the clean-out areas hard. However, he was lucky to stay on the field after a jersey pull on Francis Saili with six minutes of the game left.

Number eight Juan Manuel Leguizamon was a tough customer off the back of an often outstanding Pumas scrum, and he was superb in support to score the opening try in the sixth minute.

Read the whole thing here: Match Report-Yahoo Rugby

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Sam Whitelock of the All Blacks blocks Martin Landajo of Argentina during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Juan Manuel Leguizamon of Argentina dives to score the opening try during the Rugby Championship between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Waikato Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

(September 6, 2013 - Source: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images AsiaPac)

next test:

Sep 14

Nz v SA

Eden Park

Auckland - NZL