Result All Blacks vs Argentina: All Blacks strike back with clear victory over Pumas at Eden Park

To its credit, the All Blacks' under-fire coaching team remained calm despite the storm that followed their first major setback. If there had been panic in the upper ranks, it would have been reflected in the performance. Rather, this was mostly an emphatic statement that Robertson's new coaching team can fix mistakes in a jiffy, even under the intense spotlight.

You shouldn't have to poke the bear to elicit that kind of reaction. The All Blacks shouldn't have to lose to learn, but on this occasion that's exactly what they did.

In difficult conditions after heavy rain all day, the All Blacks scored five tries in the first half and managed to put the score in check by halftime. In those opening exchanges, their handling of the game was almost exemplary; their intent and forward platform improved significantly.

While there were still a few bumpy moments here and there, the All Blacks showed innovation. Twice in the first half, midfield kicks behind the Argentine defence paid off as two pursuers stormed through the line.

Damian McKenzie scored the first try from second hand after a lob from Jordie Barrett. The All Blacks clearly recognised that the short kick would allow them to exploit space – and this was then executed precisely.

Elsewhere, the All Blacks targeted the front of the lineout and the blindside, where TJ Perenara's snipe and offload allowed Will Jordan to score the first of his two goals. From the back of the scrum, Ardie Savea also made several darts to the short side.

Subtle changes helped the All Blacks flip the script. Last week they had no scrums until the 60th minute – and only four in the whole game. In the return match, when the Pumas made several handling errors, the All Blacks' vaunted weapon returned with a vengeance and destroyed the Pumas' scrum.

They took the direct route through pick and drives and forward runners, gaining metres in the ruck at one point and putting the Pumas defence under pressure. While they applied pressure intermittently last week, the All Blacks showed patience in attack this time, with Caleb Clarke and Beauden Barrett benefiting from sustained pressure.

The All Blacks also increased the pressure defensively last week in Wellington, fending off two clearances from the Pumas, ending their scrum and coming off the line with significantly more physical dominance to continually unsettle the visitors.

That the Pumas were limited to one try – after scoring their highest score of four tries against the All Blacks last week – is testament to the complete role reversal.

The big insight – although not revolutionary – is how much easier life is with a dominant platform from the crowd.

While the effort to find a quick solution within seven days is commendable, no one will be too quick to label this All Blacks team as the real deal.

The Pumas, as with their last two wins against the All Blacks in 2020 and 2022, were never at their best. Compared to their excellent suffocation in Wellington, this was an inept performance that only came to life in the closing stages when the contest was already buried.

Two friendly matches against the world champions Springboks begin in South Africa in two weeks, but Robertson's men still face much tougher tests.

This tour promises to provide a true benchmark of where this team sits in the pecking order.

The result had long been decided, but the All Blacks lost their cohesion when they emptied the substitutes' bench midway through the second half – a not uncommon phenomenon when the opposition is weak.

After leading 35-3 at halftime, the All Blacks lacked the precision and agility to equalise with a try each in the second half.

From an individual perspective, Jordan immediately showed his class in his first friendly since his shoulder surgery by being a consistent threat, Savea with his carry, Tupou Vaa'i, in the absence of Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu, impressed and Tamaiti Williams, apart from a scrum penalty, managed to make his starting line-up.

Beauden Barrett made it into the first five-eighths in the final half hour, reigniting the debate as to whether he or McKenzie should start there. Behind him, Cortez Ratima again provided the pace from the base.

For now, the All Blacks have done their job, but there is still a lot to prove.

All Blacks 42 (Will Jordan 2, Damian McKenzie, Ardie Savea, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett tries; McKenzie 6 cons)

Argentina 10 (Juan Cruz Mallía tries; Tomas Albornoz with, Santiago Carreras pen)

HT: 35-3