Buenos Aires witnessed a night to remember on Saturday as Argentina’s rugby team, the Pumas, secured a stunning 29-23 victory over the mighty All Blacks. This marked the first time in Rugby Championship history that Argentina has beaten New Zealand on home soil.
After a crushing 41-24 defeat in Cordoba earlier in the tournament, the Pumas bounced back in style, showing resilience and composure under pressure.
Pumas’ Precision and Nerve Shine in Second Half
Although Argentina was outscored three tries to two, the match was decided by precise kicking and calm execution.
Santiago Carreras emerged as the hero, nailing three crucial penalties in the second half with nerves of steel.
Captain Julián Montoya praised the home crowd for their energy, saying the passionate fans inspired one of the greatest nights in Argentine rugby history.
All Blacks’ Discipline Woes Hand Advantage to Argentina
New Zealand’s top-ranked squad struggled with discipline throughout the match, finishing with three yellow cards, including two before halftime.
The All Blacks briefly held a 13-6 lead thanks to tries from Billy Proctor and Fletcher Newell, but the early yellow cards left them scrambling with just 13 players on the field.
Will Jordan’s yellow card for obstruction allowed Juan Martín González to level the score, and Tupou Vaa’i’s yellow before halftime further undermined New Zealand’s control of territory and possession.
The momentum had swung decisively in Argentina’s favor by the break.
Pumas Capitalize to Secure Historic Win
In the second half, Carreras’ accurate penalties nudged Argentina ahead, while Pablo Matera powered through defenders to set up Gonzalo Garcia’s try, sending the Estadio José Amalfitani crowd into a frenzy.
Samisoni Taukei’aho scored a late try for New Zealand, offering a glimmer of hope, but Sevu Reece’s yellow card quashed any comeback chances.
Damian McKenzie’s late penalty added a bonus point for New Zealand, but the celebration belonged to Argentina as the final whistle confirmed the 29-23 win.
Montoya praised his squad’s perseverance, stating, “We believed for years we could do this, and today we stayed in the fight.”
On the other side, All Blacks coach Scott Barrett offered no excuses, admitting Argentina outmuscled and outperformed his team.
Barrett acknowledged the need for reflection ahead of their next test against the Springboks at Eden Park on 6 September.
Implications for the Rugby Championship Title Race
The win shakes up the Rugby Championship standings, with all four teams—Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia—now holding one win and one loss each.
South Africa had earlier beaten Australia 30-22 in Cape Town.
Although New Zealand maintains a slight edge with a bonus point, Argentina’s statement victory signals that the title race is wide open heading into round three.
