Argentina v All Blacks: Winners and losers as ‘little maestro’ weaves his magic while New Zealand’s ‘frailties’ exposed
Gonzalo Garcia scored a key try for Argentina in their win over All Blacks.
Following Argentina’s historic 29-23 victory over New Zealand in round two of the Rugby Championship, here are our winners and losers.
Winners
Argentina fans
For the first time ever, Argentine fans got to see their heroes dethrone the famous All Blacks on home soil. It was Mario Ledesma’s men that first downed the men in the black jersey back in 2020, but the next two victories have both come on New Zealand soil. Therefore, this elusive home victory meant so much, and this sight of a young fan enjoying the moment is particularly special.
What it’s all about#ARGvNZL #Vamos pic.twitter.com/VPCl9tKAwK
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) August 23, 2025
Pablo Matera
Monumental was the word James While used to describe the Pumas stalwart and he isn’t wrong. Matera was a rock all game as his carries skittled All Blacks and one of which led to Gonzalo Garcia’s crucial try. He’s an inspirational figure and very much a talisman in blue and white and today he was every bit that. A special, special player.
Gonzalo Garcia
While Matera battered and bruised the All Blacks into submission, the little maestro Garcia weaved his magic, grabbing his first Los Pumas try to inspire his charges.
He punished the slow-adjusting defence to sneak over the line, and while that was the highlight of the game, it was far from his best involvement as he controlled proceedings after his wonderful half-back partner was forced from the park.
He took responsibility for managing the match and kept the Pumas attack steaming forward, and piled the pressure on the black wall. While Matera is a global star already, Garcia is quickly building a similar reputation after starring in the historic victory over the British and Irish Lions too.
Santiago Carreras
Losing arguably their best player from last week, Tomas Albornoz, to injury in the opening minutes could easily have been a hammer blow to Argentina. However, it was a very much ‘hold my beer’ moment and performance from Carreras as he coolly led Los Pumas to this historic win with a sublime performance at 10. He kicked expertly and directed the traffic too as he showed once again what a quality player he is in his own right.
Rugby Championship
It’s very much game on in the Rugby Championship this year as just two points separate all of the teams on the table after Round Two. Despite both losing today, New Zealand and Australia remain in first and second respectively but South Africa and Argentina are now hot on their heels going into the week’s break. Round Three and thereafter suddenly got a whole lot more interesting.
Simon Parker
A day Simon Parker will remember for the rest of his life and boy it doesn’t get any more bittersweet. For the first time, he pulled on the black jersey to realise the dream of any New Zealander who has picked up a rugby ball and he certainly equipped himself well.
He was immense on both sides of the ball and did the famous number eight jersey proud in his first appearance but the bitter that comes with the sweet will be that it ultimately ended in defeat.
The Chiefs back-rower was a shock inclusion in Scott Robertson’s squad but he rose to the challenge and was only topped on the tackle count by his skipper Scott Barrett as he made a massive 23 despite playing less than an hour. On today’s evidence, he has a bright future ahead of him at the highest level.
Springboks
The later Rugby Championship kick-off result is hugely beneficial for the defending champions as they are next to take on the tournament’s perennial winners and do so in Aotearoa.
The Springboks’ title defence was dealt a hammer blow at Ellis Park in round one of the competition, but they bounced back to down the Wallabies in Cape Town, and while the table reads: 1 New Zealand, 2 Australia, 3 South Africa and 4 Argentina – it’s very much anyone’s game.
However, what plays even more into the Boks’ hands is that they have been given a route to victory over their fiercest rivals. Argentina have handed the men in Green and Gold a blueprint to beat the All Blacks, and frankly, it plays into their hands with the Pumas overwhelming their opponents by dominating possession and picking their moments at the breakdown.
Argentina claim historic win over All Blacks that blows Rugby Championship wide open
Losers
Scott Robertson
That was a setback, that’s for sure. Three yellow cards and a tackle success rate of just 81% will leave Robertson seething as they missed a big chance to put some daylight between them and the chasing pack.
Razor and his troops simply must improve in all areas if they are to beat the Springboks at Eden Park, and no doubt the coaching team will be picking the bones of this defeat on the flight home and for some days after.
Rieko Ioane
2025 has seen Rieko Ioane blow hot and cold. Today it was comfortably the latter, and what will concern Robertson is that the latter is very much becoming more of a theme than the former for the speedy back.
He didn’t seem overly interested in going searching for work around the park and was suspect defensively, repeatedly getting his defensive reads all wrong and gifted Argentina space out wide.
Granted, the All Blacks didn’t get much attacking ball, and when they did, they lacked width. His defensive frailties will be punished by the Boks.
Codie Taylor
What was supposed to be a memorable day for the veteran hooker, turned sour. Robertson repeatedly stated that the All Blacks would be honouring Codie Taylor for his milestone 100th game and while that might have been the case in the post and pre-match, it was not on the park.
Not only did New Zealand fail to give him the result his special day demanded, but they also failed to make the most of the opportunities he created and the solid platform he laid.
Cortez Ratima
His game was curtailed after just 16 minutes after he felt the effects of Julian Montoya landing on him in a disappointing end to his trip to Argentina. Ratima was hoping to bed in at number nine on this tour but instead he had to watch from the sidelines as his replacement Finlay Christie acquitted himself very well at the base. Has the latter now usurped Ratima in the scrum-half pecking order?
READ MORE: World Rugby rankings: The impact of the Springboks’ win and All Blacks’ defeat