Argentina makes history in Buenos Aires against All Blacks
MATCH REPORT: Los Pumas recorded their first win over the All Blacks on home soil by 29-23 at Estadio José Amalfitani in Buenos Aires.
The All Backs outscored Argentina by three tries to two, but discipline proved to be the difference as five penalties to New Zealand’s two kept the scoreboard ticking for the hosts.
New Zealand also conceded three yellow cards, which is a worrying trend for Scott Robertson and his management.
*To recap all the action,CLICK HERE
Replacement flyhalf Santiago Carreras landed three second-half penalties to push them clear and respond in style to last week’s 24-41 defeat in Cordoba.
Damian McKenzie landed a late penalty goal to earn New Zealand a bonus point, meaning they top the Rugby Championship standings after two rounds.
All four teams have recorded a win and a loss after the Springboks earlier beat the Wallabies 30-22 in Cape Town.
It was a maiden win over New Zealand on home soil in 16 attempts for Argentina, who had lost on 14 other occasions and drew once, in 1985.
The seventh-ranked Pumas fully deserved victory, dominating all facets against a New Zealand who will cling to their number one world ranking.
The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped by conceding three yellow cards, including two late in the first half that left them defending with 13 men.
Argentina suffered a blow when influential flyhalf Tomas Albornoz was forced out of the game, soon after scoring the opening points through a penalty goal.
Trailing 6-3, the All Blacks enjoyed a period of dominance midway through the first half, with centre Billy Proctor and prop Fletcher Newell scoring tries from slick team moves.
However, a yellow card to New Zealand fullback Will Jordan for deliberate obstruction swung momentum.
The Pumas drew level through flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez’s try, and All Blacks forward Tupou Vaa’i was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knockdown during the same passage of play.
Playing with a two-man advantage, the home side were foiled in their attempts to take a lead into the interval, with the scores instead locked at 13-all.
The article continues below…
Carreras landed two penalties before Argentina pulled 13 points clear midway through the second stanza when scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia scored, popping the ball over the tryline after a rampaging charge from impressive back-rower Pablo Matera.
New Zealand threatened a comeback following a driving maul try to Samisoni Taukei’aho, but their hopes buckled when wing Sevu Reece was shown a yellow card for a deliberate foul.
Scorers:
For Argentina:
Tries: González, Garcia
Cons: Mallía, Carreras
Pens: Albornoz, Mallía, S.Carreras 3
For New Zealand:
Tries: Proctor, Newell, Taukei’aho
Con: McKenzie
Pens: Barrett, McKenzie
Yellow cards: Will Jordan (New Zealand, 32′ – Cynical foul: late tackle), Tupou Vaa’i (New Zealand, 34′ – Cynical foul: deliberate knock-on), Sevu Reece (New Zealand, 72′ – Cynical foul: deliberate knock-on)
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Juan Martín González, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.
New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Image credit: @GettyImages
