Sonny Bill Williams gives it his all during the All Black' World Cup opener. Photo / Getty Images
Chris Rattue rates the player performances in the All Blacks' 26-16 win over Argentina this morning.
All Blacks
Ben Smith 6
Figured again towards the end but not at his best at fullback and shifted late to wing.
Nehe Milner-Skudder 5
A few good dabs but blotted the copy book by botching easy try.
Conrad Smith 7
Rugged test and got better as the game went on although yellow carded for pro foul.
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Ma'a Nonu 7
Good short bursts, nothing startling, overshadowed by SBW's impact.
Julian Savea 5
Went looking early on but played out of the game and a long way short of top gear.
Dan Carter 6
Fairly easy goalkicking night. Called on to defend, static with the ball apart from the odd barge.
Radio Sport talk to John Mitchell:
Aaron Smith 8
Extricated the ball superbly, lots of tackles, good runs and sharp try turned the match.
Kieran Read 7
Excellent test including lineout mastery punctuated by too many errors including mis-read on Pumas' try.
Richie McCaw 6
Among the busiest but horrible cheap shot leg trip beneath him and cost yellow card.
Jerome Kaino 6
Good rugged test without setting the world on fire.
Sam Whitelock 6
Lovely one-handed trickery late in the game. Lineouts clean. Battled away against the muscular Pumas.
Brodie Retallick 6
One trademark short pass, battled on but strange man-of-the-match choice.
Owen Franks 5
Busy without being great and good enough in the scrums. Gave away lazy offside penalty.
Dane Coles 6
Lineouts mainly top notch - that one startling moment eluded him this time.
Tony Woodcock 6
Worked hard defensively even if it was something of a holding operation.
Reserves
Keven Mealamu (Coles, 67m) 4
Didn't shine as others did off the bench did.
Wyatt Crockett (Woodcock, 45) 6
The odd run and looks capable of starting.
Charlie Faumuina (Franks, 49m) 7
Excellent burst with the ball in hand.
Victor Vito (Retallick, 70m) 5
A decent cameo.
Sam Cane (Kaino, 64m) 5
Botched a try, easy score later.
TJ Perenara (A. Smith, 68m) 5
Passed, just.
Beauden Barrett (Milner-Skudder, 49m) 6
Very active although a bit scruffy and searching for his A game.
Sonny Bill Williams (Nonu, 45m) 9
Made the difference from the word go. Smashed forward, released the ball, and even a top kick.
Argentina
Joaquin Tuculet 7
Terrific in beaten side, looked for work and lots of runs.
Santiago Cordero 5
Little impact but one memorable tackle on Read and high take.
Marcelo Bosch 5
Not great defensively, and only short gains with the ball.
Juan Martin Hernandez 6
Memorable trickery even if it didn't lead to much in the end.
Juan Imhoff 6
Looked capable of causing problems and a couple of terrific runs.
Nicolas Sanchez 4
Bombed an overlap and very anonymous game for a pivot.
Tomas Cubelli 7
Brave game, try saving effort on Whitelock.
Leonardo Senatore 8
The athletic No. 8 took the All Blacks on before limping off.
JM Fernandez Lobbe 6
A bit of a playmaker and lots of tackles.
Pablo Matera 5
Little impact. Yellow carded for pro foul and gave up crucial penalty.
Tomas Lavanini 6
Matched his opposites with strong all round game - runs, tackles, lineouts.
Guido Petti 6
Looked good and burrowed over for first test try, but concussed in process and departed.
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 6
Standard issue. Argentina might have hoped for more in scrums.
Agustin Creevy 8
The best hooker in world rugby. Another outstanding captain's effort. Powerful surges and loads of defence. The only blemish a shot-at-goal call when the All Blacks were down to 13 men.
Marcos Ayerza 6
Had to go the distance - only solid.
Reserves
Julian Montoya (Senatore, 64m) 5
Busy enough in re-jigged pack.
Lucas Noguera (Creevy, 69m) 5
Ditto Montoya.
Ramiro Herrera (Chaparro, 54m) 5
Quiet as All Black replacements fizzed.
Mariano Galarza (Petti, 22m) 6
Strong after early call up and amongst the hardest workers in the match.
Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Matera, 57m) 5
Got involved without major impact.
Martin Landajo (Cubelli, 61m) 4
The Pumas needed some spark and he didn't provide it.
Jeronimo de la Fuente (Sanchez, 68m) 4
Thrown into lost cause.
Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino (Tuculet, 69m) 4
One great tackle on ben Smith and a few runs.
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