Argentina create history with first ever home win over All Blacks

Argentina have created history with a 29-23 win over the All Blacks in Buenos Aires, claiming their first ever win over New Zealand at home.

Three yellow cards to the All Blacks and a host of discipline problems led to momentum to the Pumas, and after a first half arm wrestle they took control of the match through the boot of Santiago Carreras. A key try to halfback Gonzalo Garcia proved to be a telling blow.

An upbeat start by Los Pumas built confidence in the opening stages. Tomas Albornoz opened the scoring in Beunos Aires with a penalty goal after three minutes.

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New Zealand Women’s superstar Portia Woodman-Wickliffe spoke to RugbyPass after receiving the prestigious, inaugural RugbyPass Women’s Top 50 award this week.

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Discipline plagued the All Blacks as their second penalty led to another shot at goal. Albornoz pushed the shot wide left to remain 3-0 in front.

The All Blacks were able to win back-to-back penalties to relieve the early pressure and Beauden Barrett was able to level the scores 3-all, but another offside penalty gave Argentina the lead back at 6-3.

After taking a knock to the sternum, Cortez Ratima was forced from the field in the 18th minute for Finlay Christie, but the reserve halfback was able to bring impact.

Centre Billy Proctor claimed the first try shortly after when a wide play stretched the Pumas to the left side. Rieko Ioane was pulled down on the line and a flat pass from Christie found Proctor to finish from the next phase. Barrett pushed the conversion wide for an 8-6 lead.

Restart troubles plagues the All Blacks as the Pumas hit straight back on attack, but a turnover and long 80 metre kick from Proctor ended with the All Blacks down the other end with possession.

After putting Argentina into the corner, from a scrum multiple phases going left found a rampaging Fletcher Newell who punched through the line to score through three Pumas defenders. Another miss conversion from wide kept the score 13-6.

A double kick play from a scrum led to a yellow card for fullback Will Jordan who was deemed to be blocking the runner, from which the Pumas opted for a scrum from 10 metres out.

With a one man advantage, the Pumas buried their way over with Juan Martin Gonzalez scoring from close range. The conversion by Albornoz levelled the scores 13-all.

The All Blacks found their way down into the Pumas’ 22 but from a turnover, Tupou Vaa’i was also sent to the bin with a yellow card. Down to 13 men, a rampant Argentina looked like scoring but for incredible defence which held the ball up.

Another break by Argetina had Bautista Delguy in the clear but a last ditch tackle from Beauden Barrett forced the ball free for a knock on. With one final play to end the half the Pumas went wide again before Barrett came up with his second consecutive stop forcing the winger into touch.

Beauden Barrett sprayed a penalty goal in the early stages of the second half but even returning to a full compliment couldn’t stop the Pumas.

Argentina gained the lead 16-13 through the boot of Santiago Carreras and another long range three pushed the lead out to 19-13.

An unplanned overthrow led to Argentina gaining possession inside the All Blacks’ 22. From a midfield scrum play, Matera peeled off the back and stormed down inside the five. Halfback Gonzalo Garcia sniped over. With 20 minutes to play, Argentina held a 26-13 lead.

After a period of sustained attack inside Argentina’s 22, the All Blacks were able to strike through the rolling maul with Samisoni Taukei’aho. Damian McKenzie’s conversion closed the gap to 26-20.

A failed intercept attempt by Sevu Reece resulted in a penalty for Argentina and Carreras put it through for his fifth kick of the night to lead 29-20 with six minutes remaining.

The All Blacks tried to claw back the game in the final stages but couldn’t muster enough to score with time remaining, instead settling for a penalty goal for a 29-23 with the final play.

The win was Argentina’s third victory over the All Blacks in the last four editions of the Rugby Championship, with Christchurch 2022, Wellington 2024 and now Buenos Aires.

The Rugby Championship standings remained unchanged with each team on one win, one loss, separated only by bonus points.