Argentina claim historic win over All Blacks in New Zealand

The script of rugby has been re-written. The mighty All Blacks fell to a home defeat against Argentina for the first time in New Zealand on Saturday. Los Pumas were 25-18 winners in what was a controlled performance with the forwards winning the collisions to give Emiliano Boffelli point-scoring opportunities.

Argentina’s win came unlikely. A changing of the guard saw Michael Cheika replacing Mario Ledesma in early 2022. The year 2021 was not a good one for Argentina while 2022 is already very successful. Argentina claimed a home series win over Scotland in July and are now leading the Rugby Championship at the midway stage of the competition.

Argentina opened the scoring in Christchurch. Emiliano Boffelli slotted his first of six penalties fir Los Pumas. His first came after hometown fly half Richie Mo’unga missed a 3rd minute attempt.

The All Blacks recovered from the 3-0 scoreline to go 5-3 ahead. Good work in the first lineout of the match saw New Zealand scoring a try. Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho three the lineout and joined the tail of a maul. New Zealand made light-work of Los Pumas’ maul defense to score.

Boffelli and Mo’unga exchanged penalties before New Zealand scored again. It was also from a linnet but this time it was from an error from the South Americans. Los Pumas failedto take own throw on halfway. Taukei’aho gathered the loose ball and five passes later Caleb Clarke was over for a try.

New Zealand looked comfortable and were ahead with a gap; however, the tries had not been crafted. Hard-work from Argentina would turn-around the match. Captain Julián Montoya won a turnover penalty for his team. From it,  Boffelli landed a penalty from halfway.

The kick-off saw further points added. Montoya won a penalty for his team. From it Los Pumas kicked into the New Zealand 22 and won a further penalty. Boffelli landed the shot at goal to make it a 15-12 half-time scoreline with New Zealand in front.

The All Blacks looked to extend their lead early. Fullback Jordie Barrett was off-target with an adventurous long-range penalty. Richie Mo’unga made no mistake with an attempt minutes later from close range. His 46th minute goal would be New Zealand’s only points of the second half.

Argentina competed well for the possession from the kick-off. Boffelli contested Scott Barrett’s take. He found Juan Martín González who showed his strength and speed to get past and around three defenders and touch down in the try zone. Boffelli’s sideline conversion gave Argentina the lead.

Argentina were now leading the All Blacks. Montoya helped extend the lead by winning another turnover penalty. Boffelli slotted the penalty. Belief in the cause was clear across the faces of Los Pumas. The players knew that they had New Zealand in trouble.

Marcos Kremer and Tomás Lavanini were two men that were central to Argentina winning many battles in the contact area. The former made 26 tackles in the match while the later delivered a performances that any aspiring second-rower ought to watch.

Great work from Lavanini contributed to the new points. He made multiple powerful carriers, two of which required two All Blacks to bring him down. Argentina gained solid ground for Boffelli to have a simple penalty shot at goal.

With the kick over Argentina were seven points clear. New Zealand needed a try and to maintain composure. Neither would transpire; instead, Shannon Frizell was yellow carded to see New Zealand finish with 14 men.

New Zealand had a final opportunity to score. They kicked a penalty to the corner and looked to set-up a maul. The throw was no good which saw Argentina awarded a scrum. Pablo Matera ran from the back to take a tackle. He knew the game was won. Replacement Tomás Cubelli booted the ball in to touch as Argentina jumped for joy.

The teams play again next Saturday in Hamilton. Argentina have an unthinkable opportunity of a series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

 

SCORING

NEW ZEALAND 18
Tries – S. Taukei’aho (11′), C. Clarke (32′)
Cons – R. Mo’unga 1/2 (33′)
Pens – R. Mo’unga 2/3 (29′, 47′), J. Barrett 0/1
YC – S. Frizell (70′)

ARGENTINA 25
Tries – J. González (47′)
Cons – E. Boffelli 1/1 (48′)
Pens – E. Boffelli 6/6 (8′, 18′, 37′, 40’+1′, 57′, 67′)

 

TEAMS

NEW ZEALAND
1 Ethan de Groot (17 George Bower 45′), 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho (16 Codie Taylor 45′), 3 Tyrel Lomax (18 Fletcher Newell 45′), 4 Sam Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (capt.) (20 Akira Ioane 66′), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith (21 Finlay Christie 63′), 10 Richie Mo’unga, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 David Havili, 13 Rieko Ioane (23 Quinn Tupaea 70′), 14 Will Jordan, 15 Jordie Barrett (22 Stephen Perofeta 79′)

Not used: 19 Tupou Va’ai

ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo (17 Mayco Vivas 58′), 2 Julián Montoya (capt.) (16 Santiago Socino 79′), 3 Joel Sclavi (18 Eduardo Bello 53′), 4 Matías Alemanno (19 Guido Petti 62′), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Juan Martín González (20 Santiago Grondona 71′), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (21 Tomás Cubelli 66′), 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Lucio Cinti (23 Santiago Cordero 72′), 12 Matías Orlando, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía

Not used: 22 Tomás Albornoz

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia); Damon Murphy (Australia)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)