New Zealand v Argentina LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Pumas stun the All Blacks
New Zealand 30-38 Argentina: The Pumas pulled off their third win over the All Blacks with a remarkable performance in Wellington
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Argentina pulled off a stunning 38-30 victory over New Zealand in Wellington as the Pumas beat the All Blacks for a third time in four years,
The visitors threw the Rugby Championship wide open with another historic win at Sky Stadium, backing up victory in Christchurch two years ago with a remarkable performance. The Pumas matched their hosts stride-for-stride for 60 minutes and then surged away in the final quarter, with old-stager Agustin Creevy — superb off the bench months after his 39th birthday — burrowing over for a crucial try late on.
It dealt the All Blacks their first defeat under head coach Scott Robertson, whose side shipped more points than New Zealand had ever done before on home soil. Some trademark vibrant attacking rugby was interspersed among too many basic errors, while a side shorn of several senior leaders after last year’s World Cup appeared to lack calm and composure come the crunch.
But that does not at all detract from a brilliant showing from the visitors, who had been played off the park in the last meeting between the teams in Paris in the World Cup semi-final. It is a first signature win for new boss Felipe Contepomi, who succeeded Michael Cheika after the tournament. Earlier, South Africa routed Australia to establish themselves as firm favourites for a tournament they have won just once in the last decade.
Follow all the latest from Wellington below:
TRY! New Zealand 20-15 ARGENTINA (Mateo Carreras, 38 minutes)
A lightning strike to answer from Argentina!
They just refuse to go away! There’s a healthy stroke of fortune about this score, Sevu Reece tapping back a high hoist with Santiago Carreras beaten in the air and presuming he will find a teammate. But it’s Mateo Carreras instead who collects Reece’s slap, and the wing wizard does the rest, sprinting into spaces left vacant.. Damian McKenzie is bamboozled by a mamba-like manouevre as Carreras cuts across the turf and beneath the posts, allowing his namesake to convert.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 20-8 Argentina (Anton Lienert-Brown, 36 minutes)
A pretty pirouette and Anton Lienert-Brown is in!
New Zealand find their clinical edge! The forwards batter and beat away in tight, forcing the goalline defence of Argentina to concertina. Damian McKenzie provides the tempo and tune, asking Lienert-Brown to dance as he takes a pass, with the centre’s nifty spin ensuring he evades a tacker and goes in untouched.
New Zealand 13-8 Argentina, 34 minutes
The blue and white bricks in the Argentina wall refuse to budge as the All Blacks assess their armoury, trying a variety of weapons but finding no joy. An offside penalty will afford them an opportunity to mount an assault from a more advanced position.
PENALTY! New Zealand 13-8 ARGENTINA (Santiago Carreras, 31 minutes)
Santiago Carreras takes his time, though it’s the sort of kick he’d have knocked over when first toddling about on a rugby pitch. Argentina narrow the gap.
New Zealand 13-5 Argentina, 30 minutes
Argentina can’t make much of the maul but their feisty fringe thumpers begin to gain ground, edging ever closer to the All Blacks line. Pablo Matera loses control in contact, but there’s another penalty to take.
Matera has a mull, wondering whether to give it another go. Eventually, a reluctant finger is pointed towards the posts.
New Zealand 13-5 Argentina, 29 minutes
Argentina may answer immediately. Pedro Rubiolo pounces on an isolated Jordie Barrett as Thomas Gallo cries “timber!”, swinging an axe at the centre’s ankles.
Well well well. Argentina turn down a shot at goal and instead prod the penalty to the corner.
PENALTY! NEW ZEALAND 13-5 Argentina (Damian McKenzie, 28 minutes)
Three from three from the tee for Damian McKenzie. This is tougher than his first two strikes, just right of centre and 40 metres out, but it’s nothing to unduly trouble a high-class kicker.
New Zealand 10-5 Argentina, 26 minutes
That is somehow Lucio Cinti’s first Test try. He’s bounced between inside centre, outside centre and the wing for club and country over the last couple of years, but I reckon he’s a man to build around in that 13 jumper for Felipe Contepomi.
That will annoy the Pumas boss, though - skipper Pablo Matera concedes a soft ruck penalty.
TRY! New Zealand 10-5 ARGENTINA (Lucio Cinti, 24 minutes)
Cinti-llating!
Ooh, this is a corker from Argentina! They turn over possession near halfway and switch rapidly in transition, spotting New Zealand are lighter than they’d like to be in wide channels. Pablo Matera picks his moment and his man, crabbing across and then sending Santiago Chocobares forth on a lovely angle.
Chocobares looks outside to his centre partner, putting it in the hands of the dynamic Cinti. Anton Lienert-Brown can’t snare the Saracen’s shirt, and in he goes. Delightful rugby!
New Zealand 10-0 Argentina, 22 minutes
Excellent jackalling from Dalton Papali’i, just about holding his feet as he latches over the top even as two Argentina clearers thump into him within ten metres of the New Zealand line.
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