![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
New Zealand booked an unprecedented fifth World Cup final appearance after blowing away Argentina 44-6 at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n
A week after successfully emerging from an thunderous quarter-final against Ireland, this resembled more of a training ground exercise for the All Blacks against opponents who were a shadow of the side that edged out Wales.<\/p>\n
Instead, this was the Argentina that laboured through Pool D in a poor advert for the weaker half of the draw and the World Cup in general as a muted atmosphere watched New Zealand plunder seven tries.<\/p>\n
Worryingly for either South Africa or England, who meet in Saturday\u2019s second semi-final, they will face a side who barely broke sweat and whose bench had been emptied with 14 minutes to go.<\/p>\n
Wing Will Jordan ran in a hat-trick to lift him above France\u2019s Damian Penaud as the World Cup\u2019s leading try scorer on eight, placing him level with Jonah Lomu\u2019s record of tries scored in a single tournament.<\/p>\n
It was an impressive feat that underlined New Zealand\u2019s attacking genius, but they were assisted by willing victims who were mesmerised by the shapes unfolding in front of them.<\/p>\n
Jordan struck from the All Blacks\u2019 very first drive downfield when defenders sucked in by carries after a line-out maul presented an overlap that provided a simple run in.<\/p>\n
It began to look grim for Argentina when Jordie Barrett went over, finishing a try that began deep inside New Zealand\u2019s half with precise handling and clever running lines resulting in attackers pouring into space.<\/p>\n
Emiliano Boffelli\u2019s early penalty was already a distant memory as Argentina were repeatedly overrun at the breakdown with Sam Cane their chief destroyer, while any attack was met with an impregnable wall of black shirts.<\/p>\n
A spell of battering away on the line produced only another Boffelli penalty when there was a sense far more would be needed to halt New Zealand\u2019s march towards the final.<\/p>\n
Patient All Blacks play paid off when they renewed their assault, methodically working their way into a threatening position and when the moment came they pulled the trigger, Mark Telea almost crossing before Shannon Frizell strolled over.<\/p>\n
It was becoming a procession and while the favourites were being looked on favourably by referee Angus Gardner at times, there was no denying their ascendency in every facet of the game.<\/p>\n
Aaron Smith was the next over via a brilliant step, exploiting a Pumas maul defence that was short on manpower, and then even Frizell muscled his way over despite the attention of three would-be tacklers.<\/p>\n
Jordan moved past Penaud with New Zealand\u2019s sixth try and his hat-trick score in the 74th minute was a thing of beauty as he slipped through a non-existent Argentina defence, gathered his own kick and scored.<\/p>\n
When the final whistle blew the Pumas sank to their knees, aware they had not shown up on only their third semi-final appearance.<\/p>\n