A vintage All Blacks smashed Australia 38-7 on Saturday to retain the Rugby Championship title and Bledisloe Cup as Eddie Jones's gamble with a new-look Wallabies side backfired spectacularly.

The visitors reached the break with a 19-7 lead in front of 83,944 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and romped to a six tries to one win.

It was another hugely impressive performance from a team on a 10-game unbeaten streak as they ominously hit their straps ahead of the September-October World Cup in France.

Shannon Frizell, Codie Taylor and Will Jordan crossed in the first half to silence the bumper crowd, with Caleb Clarke, Mark Telea, and Rieko Ioane adding more tries in a devastating eight-minute second-half blitz.

Australia's lone try came from Rob Valetini and with stand-in skipper Allan Alaalatoa stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious leg injury, it was another miserable night.

Ill-discipline again let them down, with two yellow cards making their job near impossible.

Victory secured New Zealand the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship for the ninth time in its 11 editions and the prized trans-Tasman trophy for a 21st year with a game to play against Australia in Dunedin next month.

In contrast, it left the Wallabies in an ever-deepening hole as Jones struggles to find the right combinations.

They have now lost all three games since the former England boss took over, with time running out to turn it around.

While the All Blacks made just one injury-enforced change from their high-class defeat of world champions South Africa a fortnight ago, Jones gambled on seven new faces from the team that crashed to Argentina.

He trumpeted faith in the "young, vibrant" side, but will need to go back to the drawing board.

Meanwhile, South Africa survived a second-half Argentina onslaught to win 22-21 in Johannesburg and finish Rugby Championship runners-up behind New Zealand.

Argentina, who trailed 15-9 at half-time, camped in the Springboks' half for much of the second period, but three missed kicks at goal by fly-half Santiago Carreras proved costly.

A breakaway try by fly-half Manie Libbok on 69 minutes became crucial as it extended the South African lead to a flattering 13 points.

But the Pumas never tired and tries from winger Mateo Carreras and scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou reduced the gap to a single point.

Argentina and South Africa meet again next Saturday, in Buenos Aires, in a warm-up match ahead of the World Cup in France.

Separately, Japan earned a much-needed morale boost, with a 21-16 victory over Tonga as they step up their Rugby World Cup preparations.

The Brave Blossoms overcame early Tongan pressure to grab three tries for the victory, after three recent losses including against Samoa last week.

Japan will face Fiji next month at home before playing Italy ahead of the World Cup.

"It was nice to get a win and get our campaign on the road," Japan coach Jamie Joseph said after the "physical" match at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka.

Japan are in Pool D at the World Cup alongside England, Argentina, Chile and Samoa.

Japan reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on home soil four years ago.

They suffered a 24-22 loss to Samoa a week ago, when former captain Michael Leitch received a red card for a high tackle.

He is being sidelined for three matches through the end of August including the latest contest. (AFP)
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Last updated: 2023-07-30 HKT 02:15