Argentina v New Zealand player ratings: Hat-trick hero Will Jordan defines All Blacks excellence

New Zealand are into the World Cup final after a ruthless success over Argentina in Paris.

The All Blacks were utterly superb but faced little opposition with Argentina seemingly never getting out of first gear.

Here, Telegraph Sport runs the rule over the performances of both sides, while Will Greenwood offer his overall assessment.

New Zealand

15 Beauden Barrett

Solid, playing second fiddle to Mo’unga in terms of the kicking game with more up-and-unders. 7/10

14 Will Jordan

Cruised over for three tries with the best coming last. Can take the all-time try record next week. 9/10

13 Rieko Ioane

Delightful footwork when he gets going but has the physicality to get involved in the rucks as well. 8/10

12 Jordie Barrett

Key turnover with Argentina threatening and too strong finishing in the corner. Use at first receiver is very effective. 8/10

11 Mark Telea

Hailed by Ian Foster as New Zealand’s in-form wing ahead of his return. Hunted for turnovers with one sharp poach. 7/10

10 Richie Mo’unga

Fun to watch, isn’t he? Good width on his pass to put Jordan over, scything through often enough. 8/10

9 Aaron Smith

One attacking box-kick questionable but what a sharp finish for his try, and he still snipes so well. 9/10

1 Ethan de Groot

Good hands at times and the power was there in the scrum against Gomez Kodela as well. 8/10

2 Codie Taylor

Had one lineout poached at the tail but remains a nightmare to tackle when carrying. 7/10

3 Tyrel Lomax

Tackle off the ball gifted three points but had the shove in the scrum and added his share of tackles. 7/10

4 Sam Whitelock

Sharp hands (after dropping the lineout) for the first try. One monster lineout steal. Looks good for 35 doesn’t he. 8/10

5 Scott Barrett

Brought Argentina’s early attack to an end with his tackle but sin-binned later on for a cynical penalty. 7/10

6 Shannon Frizell

Still waiting for him to hit top gear in attack - which sounds odd given he scored two tries here - but it’s coming. 8/10

7 Sam Cane (c)

Busy again, with one first-half poach. One sloppy knock-on but you can forgive him after the quarter-final performance. 7/10

8 Ardie Savea

Didn’t need to hit top form for the All Blacks to win but still had the odd promising burst. 7/10

Replacements

Samisoni Taukei’aho (Taylor 51), Tamaiti Williams (De Groot 56), Fletcher Newell (Lomax 56), Brodie Retallick (Whitelock 61), Dalton Papali’i (Cane 65), Finlay Christie (Smith 56), Damian McKenzie (B Barrett 56), Anton Lienert-Brown (Ioane 61)

McKenzie added to the party during his cameo while Taukei’aho was effective in defence. 7/10

Argentina

15 Juan Cruz Mallía

A failed clear-out on Telea led to a New Zealand break-out, foreshadowing a tough night. 5/10

14 Emiliano Boffelli

Did his utmost to spark things, roaming off his wing and competing in the air. 6/10

13 Lucio Cinti

A rounded player with a booming left boot who will develop at Saracens. Defiant here. 6/10

12 Santiago Chocobares

Fell off a number of tackles as the tides of New Zealand’s attack kept coming. 5/10

11 Mateo Carreras

Right knee not so much strapped as mummified. Still scampered dangerously and clattered Beauden Barrett. 6/10

10 Santiago Carreras

A livewire rather than a game manager, though his kick-pass to Boffelli was brilliant. 5/10

9 Gonzalo Bertranou

Began neatly before platform became messy and was badly beaten for Smith’s killer try. 5/10

1 Thomas Gallo

Shunted backwards at the scrum; trucked forwards in the loose. Produced bright moments for his team. 6/10

2 Julián Montoya

Won a trademark jackal in the first half, yet was on the wrong side of Gardner far more often. 5/10

3 Francisco Gómez Kodela

Overwhelmed in the scrummaging exchanges by De Groot. Bustled around in the loose with little effect. 4/10

4 Guido Petti

Another to incur the wrath of the referee as the All Blacks won every major contest area. 5/10

5 Tomás Lavanini

Injured just before half-time, which was a shame because the lock was industrious before that. 6/10

6 Juan Martin González

Moments of exceptional skill in greasy conditions, though also inaccurate on occasion. 5/10

7 Marcos Kremer

Charged through the All Blacks early and racked up a huge tackle count. 6/10

8 Facundo Isa

Busy to begin his 50th cap, carrying strongly. Faded from there, however, and replaced early. 5/10

Replacements

Agustín Creevy on for Montoya, 63; Joel Sclavi on for Gallo, 67; Eduardo Bello on for Kodela, 50; Matías Alemanno on for Lavanini, 40; Rodrigo Bruni on for Isa, 19-31; Lautaro Bazan Velez on for Bertranou, 50; Nicolás Sánchez on for Santiago Carrreras, 66; Matías Moroni on for Chocobares, 64

The game was too far gone for any Pumas replacement to salvage it. Might Sánchez have started at fly-half to bring greater control? Would that have mattered? Doubtful.