As the Rugby World Cup progresses, the stakes get higher and the pressure intensifies, something New Zealand know all too well. With a win record of exactly 50% from eight semi-finals, every match has been a battle. Notably, their past three semi-final defeats have each been by a margin of precisely 12 points.
The All Blacks are on the cusp of becoming the first team ever to reach the Rugby World Cup final five times. But they’re not the only ones with this milestone in sight — if England prevails in the second semi-final, they’ll match the All Blacks’ five appearances.
But they’ll have to get past a feisty Argentina first.
Historical Context
The All Blacks have historically dominated the encounters, with Argentina securing their first win only in 2020 during the Tri-Nations. They followed up with another victory in 2022, their first on New Zealand soil.
Scoring Insights
Argentina’s victories came when they restricted the All Blacks to under 20 points. However, scoring more than 20 points doesn’t typically guarantee them a win. The All Blacks have a pattern of high scoring against Argentina, often crossing five tries since 2020.
Match Margins
Matches between the two are generally not close, with only five of the 36 tests seeing a margin of seven points or fewer. The All Blacks’ average winning margin is substantial at 27.5 points.
Rugby World Cup (RWC) History
| Description | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 3 |
| Argentina Wins | 0 |
| New Zealand Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Highest Score (Argentina) | 16 (16-26 on 20 September, 2015) |
| Highest Score (New Zealand) | 46 (46-15 on 1 June, 1987) |
| Biggest Winning Margin (New Zealand) | 31 (46-15 on 1 June, 1987) |
Head-to-Head Overall (1985-2023)
They’ve met three times in the RWC, with New Zealand winning all encounters. Their matches tend to be closely contested in the first half but see the All Blacks pull away significantly in the second.
| Description | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 36 |
| Argentina Wins | 2 |
| New Zealand Wins | 33 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Highest Score (Argentina) | 25 (25-15 on 14 November, 2020) |
| Highest Score (New Zealand) | 93 (93-8 on 21 June, 1997) |
| Biggest Winning Margin (Argentina) | 10 (25-15 on 14 November, 2020) |
| Biggest Winning Margin (New Zealand) | 85 (93-8 on 21 June, 1997) |
Coaching Milestones
- Argentina’s coach, Michael Cheika, eyes a second RWC final, a feat only matched by Eddie Jones. Cheika played a pivotal role in Argentina’s historic wins over the All Blacks.
- New Zealand’s coach, Ian Foster, seeks his 32nd win, with a legacy of success behind him and the chance to join an elite group of RWC final-reaching All Black coaches.
New Zealand’s RWC semi-final stats
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| RWC Semi-Finals Win-Record | 50% (4/8) |
| Losses by 12 Points | 3 (1999, 2003, 2019) |
| Wins with 20+ Points | 4/5 |
| Trailed at Half-Time | 4/8 (1 win) |
| Led at Half-Time | 4 (3 wins) |
| Potential RWC Finals | 5 (pending RWC 2023 results) |
| Drop Goals Post-Pool | 80% (8/10) |
- The All Blacks have a 50% win record in Rugby World Cup (RWC) semi-finals, securing four victories out of eight matches.
- Their last three semi-final defeats (in 1999, 2003, and 2019) were all by an identical margin of 12 points.
- The team has won four out of five semi-finals when they scored 20 points or more, with the single loss occurring against France in 1999 with a score of 43-31.
- The All Blacks trailed at half-time in four of their eight RWC semi-finals, managing to turn the situation around and win only once.
- They led at half-time in four matches, securing victories in three of those instances. Their sole loss when leading at half-time came against France, 24 years ago.
- The All Blacks aim to be the first team to reach the RWC final five times. England could also reach this milestone if they win their upcoming semi-final match in RWC 2023.
- Beyond the pool rounds, the All Blacks have demonstrated remarkable precision, succeeding in eight out of ten drop goal attempts, a success rate of 80%.
Stats via World Rugby.