Argentina claim historic win over All Blacks that blows Rugby Championship wide open

Argentina claimed a stunning first home victory over the All Blacks at the 16th time of asking as they deservedly won 29-23 to blow the Rugby Championship wide open.

While Los Pumas have beaten New Zealand on the road, they had never come out on top on home soil. That is until now as they prevailed in a passionate and steely win.

Tries from Juan Martin Gonzalez and Gonzalo Garcia were backed up by extra points from Tomas Albornoz, Juan Cruz Mallia and Santiago Carreras as they finally broke their hoodoo.

Billy Proctor, Fletcher Newell and Samisoni Taukei’aho crossed for the All Blacks but wayward goal-kicking and ill-discipline that saw them receive three yellow cards were a blight on the visitors’ game.

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Argentina started the match in sprightly fashion and quickly put their noses in front thanks to an Albornoz penalty on three minutes. However, the in-form fly-half had his night cut short soon after when he suffered a hand injury that eventually led to him leaving the field, but not before he was wide with a long-range shot at goal.

Albornoz’s exit came just as Barrett would make it 3-3 on 12 minutes, but Mallia did put Los Pumas back in front shortly afterwards as he took over the kicking duties.

Both sides were hit by injuries in the opening stanza and New Zealand were next to lose as a man as Cortez Ratima departed and was replaced by Finlay Christie at nine. The scrum-half had an immediate impact as he sent Proctor over with an intelligent pass close to the ruck for the first try of the game that Barrett could not convert.

The All Blacks’ second try arrived on 26 minutes when a series of big carries climaxed with tighthead prop Newell hitting the line and pace to score on the left wing.

Once again, though Barrett was wide with the difficult kick and at 13-6 behind, one felt Los Pumas would have been content with that one-score deficit after such a spell.

That was most likely the case as the momentum swung again in favour of the hosts, aided by Will Jordan being sin-binned for stepping across the chasing Mateo Carreras.

Argentina sensed blood and got their reward on 33 minutes when Gonzalez reached out to score for 13-13, and the levelling try also saw Tupou Vaa’i issued a yellow card.

Playing against 13 players, Los Pumas had a golden opportunity to move ahead in the closing stages of the half. However, first Gonzalez and then Bautista Delguy were denied, and the All Blacks crucially survived to go into the break with parity. It was clear, though, that the hosts were in the ascendancy and sensing a potential win.

Both Jordan and Vaa’i had returned when Barrett lined up a penalty after excellent work at the ruck from Christie, but once again the kick was wayward from the fly-half.

Santiago Carreras would make no such mistake on 52 minutes from bang in front to put his team into the lead for the first time since the opening quarter of the match.

That Pumas lead grew to six points four minutes later when the replacement pivot calmly fired over another penalty, this time from 52 metres to nudge it to 19-13.

Argentina were in dreamland soon after as Pablo Matera’s barnstorming carry off the base of a scrum led to Garcia dotting down for a converted try that made it 26-13 as belief began to grow.

New Zealand simply had to score next, and score next they did on 68 minutes when replacement hooker Taukei’aho barged over and crucially Damian McKenzie added the tough extras.

That set up a grandstand finish in Buenos Aires, but the All Blacks’ hopes were hit by a sizeable blow when Sevu Reece could not resist reaching out for a ball he was never going to gather and subsequently received New Zealand’s third yellow card. Compounding that card was the sight of another three points sailing over their heads for a 29-20 scoreline.

While New Zealand had a chance to hit back soon after, a lineout mistake cost them vital field position, and with time up on the clock, they opted for three points, thus taking a losing bonus point in defeat as Argentina celebrated a famous win.

The teams

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Mayco Vivas
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo

New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie

Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Estado Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Kick-off: 18:10 local (09:10 NZST, 22:10 BST, 21:10 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistants: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)

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