The REMARKABLE statistic where Argentina betters the Springboks and Wallabies
Split with Wallabies great George Gregan, Argentina players and Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus.
For many years, the Southern Hemisphere was ruled by a trio of rugby giants in the form of the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks, but now Los Pumas are well and truly starting to pull level with their rivals.
The legendary Tri-Nations tournament shapeshifted into the Rugby Championship in 2012 as Argentina was welcomed into the SANZAAR structures.
Initially, it was tough going for a country still growing and developing but as the seasons have rolled by they have gained increased confidence, leading them to owning a rare record over the Springboks and Wallabies in terms of their performance against the All Blacks on New Zealand soil.
Loving New Zealand soil
This record was obtained through their incredible 38-30 win over the All Blacks last weekend in Wellington. It was an epic shift from the men in the blue and white stripes, so much so that Planet Rugby’s James While described it as one of the “finest performances in their history” as the senior correspondent singled out the Los Pumas back-row for special praise after the final whistle.
The triumph felt like a coming-of-age moment for the team and the union as a whole with their hero from the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Felipe Contepomi, making his mark early into his head coach tenure for Los Pumas.
Their famous victory was their second win against the All Blacks in New Zealand in just under two years as they beat the side 25-18 in Christchurch in 2022 thanks to a masterclass off the kicking tee from the classy Emiliano Boffelli.
Springboks are next best
Comparatively, one would have to go back 15 years down the timeline to cover the last two Springboks wins in New Zealand. The last one which came in 2018 at the start of the Rassie Erasmus era where a newly-capped Cheslin Kolbe scored a vital interception to claim a 36-34 win in Wellington.
The Springboks did manage a 16-16 draw in 2019 thanks to a clutch Herschel Jantjies try but to find their last win in New Zealand before that one has to turn all the way back to 2009 where Morne Steyn buried the All Blacks in the closing minutes for a 32-29 win in Hamilton.
The Springboks also won the year before thanks to an iconic Ricky Januarie try, securing a 30-28 win in Dunedin on that occasion.
Way down Wallabies
In the Wallabies’ case, we need to look even further back into the history books to find their last two wins against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
It extends all the way back to a golden era for the Wallabies around the turn of the century in 2001 where a Matt Burke stormer of a performance handed the Australians a 23-15 win in Dunedin.
That performance followed another win the year before as Stirling Mortlock inspired a 24-23 win in Wellington in 2000.
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