How the world's media reacted: SBW credited with All Blacks revival

New Zealand All Blacks replacement Sonny Bill Williams tries to offload to winger Nehe Milner-Skudder. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Here's how the international rugby media responded to New Zealand's hard fought 26-16 win over Argentina in their opening match in the Rugby World Cup.

The Guardian: Down to 13 men and trailing by four points to a physical Argentina side with their tails up, the situation was as dark as the world champions' new deathly black uniform. The whiff of Brighton hung in the air.... it took all the brilliance of Aaron Smith and the line-breaking skill of Sonny Bill Williams to restore order.

Argentina, for their part, will be kicking themselves. In 21 attempts they had never toppled New Zealand yet, for an hour, it looked perfectly possible. Had they been able to sustain their initial forward impetus, they might even have knocked Japan off the front pages. Instead a 66th minute try from replacement Sam Cane gave the All Blacks just enough breathing space and Steve Hansen's worst nightmare was averted.

The Times: A record-breaking crowd was raucously thrilled while they kept it there, but the All Blacks, being the All Blacks, managed to restore the usual world order and in executing an ice-cool controlled comeback, they spoke volumes of their confidence, temperament and credentials as favourites to triumph six weeks hence.

The All Blacks had the nerve, though, and the class to go up a gear. They had been rattled, for sure, they had been smashed in the scrum and in a wonderfully atmospheric Wembley, with Richie McCaw sent to the sinbin, they found themselves cast as the villains of the piece.

Some early substitutions triggered the change, though, the most significant of those Sonny Bill Williams coming on for Ma'a Nonu after only 50 minutes. It was then that the game started to change.

Radio Sport talk to John Mitchell about ABs win:

PlanetRugby.com: In front of a world record crowd, Argentina dominated for 50 minutes, taking advantage of two All Black sin-binnings as they played some scintillating rugby.

However Aaron Smith's try just before the hour proved the turning point, with Sonny Bill Williams' introduction making a massive difference as the world champions calmly came back for what was eventually a relatively comfortable win.

London Daily Telegraph: The defending champions are a self-critical bunch and although they did ultimately come through the challenge presented by the Pumas, it was nowhere near the fluid display they have become accustomed to. Sonny Bill Williams made a real difference to the Kiwis after the break and Nonu's place in the starting XV is now under serious threat.

Argentina were their usual rugged, whole hearted selves but not for the first time paid the price for a failure to match their fire up front with a cutting edge out wide.

Sydney Daily Telegraph: As statements go, New Zealand's was less than convincing as the most experienced Test team ever seen was given a serious scare. The All Blacks looked vulnerable as they lost the plot in the face of a fiercely ambitious Argentina side unimpressed by the famous jersey and famous faces.

ESPNscrum.com: Few Kiwis could argue Barnes was wrong to sin bin first Richie McCaw - for tripping Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe - and next Conrad Smith - for hands in the ruck - temporarily reducing the All Blacks to 13 players. It contributed to the Pumas taking a 13-12 half-time lead.