The 2021 Rugby Championship looks all but wrapped up for New Zealand after they beat Argentina 36-13 on Saturday to stretch their lead at the summit to 10 points.
Tupou Vaa'i scored two tries as New Zealand booked a fourth bonus-point win in as many outings thus far in the competition, putting them in an almost unassailable position with only two rounds left to play.
Australia beat second-place South Africa 30-17 earlier at Suncorp Stadium, meaning the Springboks will need to beat the All Blacks twice in the final two rounds to have any chance of topping the table.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster made 11 changes to his XV for their second clash against the Pumas, with the team in good spirits after hammering the same opponent 39-0 just six days prior.
Argentina counterpart Mario Ledesma swapped out six players of his own following Sunday's one-sided defeat on the Gold Coast, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide against the three-time world champions.
A new-look XV for the All Blacks enjoyed largely the same dominance over their South American opposition, coming up with three first-half tries to head in as 24-3 leaders at the interval.
Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu needed only five minutes to dive over for his second Test try so far in 2021, having also scored against Argentina when these teams last met in November.
With brother Beauden out of the starting line-up, full-back Jordie Barrett handled kicking duties and successfully converted, also adding extras following tries from TJ Perenara and Vaa'i.
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Speedsters Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane each had scores cancelled out for forward passes during a frenetic first 40, where Emiliano Boffelli's penalty provided the Pumas' only points.
Ledesma's men doubled that tally within four minutes of the restart thanks to another Boffelli penalty, but hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho responded with New Zealand's fourth try just moments later.
It seemed like a case on one step forward, two steps backs for the Pumas until Boffelli then dotted down for a superb score under pressure following Santiago Carreras' cross-field kick into the corner.
Argentina succeeded in quelling the New Zealand threat for 25 minutes and even imposed some pressure of their own before substitute Scott Barrett set up Vaa'i for his second thanks to a sumptuous offload.
New Zealand's first-string stars will return when they face South Africa at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville next Saturday after resting the bulk of their regular starters against the Pumas.
Confidence is sure to be low for the Springboks following consecutive defeats to the Wallabies, but the reigning world champions are now in must-win territory if they're to realise their title ambitions.
