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Rugby Championship 2020 | Argentina defeat All Blacks for first time in history

Argentina pulled off the greatest win in its rugby history, sentencing the All Blacks to a remarkable nine-year meltdown.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
3 min read
November 15, 2020 - 6:38AM
Argentina celebrate the famous win.
Argentina celebrate the famous win.

Argentina have pulled off one of the upsets of the year with a historic 25-15 victory over the All Blacks in the Tri Nations clash at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney.

Argentina had never before beaten the All Blacks in the nations’ 29 previous matches with a 1985 draw the closest they had come.

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The upset was on at halftime with Argentina leading 16-3, the biggest ever halftime lead by the Pumas against the All Blacks.

An uncharacteristic performance from New Zealand put Argentina in the box seat and when Nicolas Sanchez kicked his sixth penalty of the afternoon, the game was all but over.

Argentina took a 16-3 lead to the break but it was the way the first half was played that was most surprising.

The normally unflappable All Blacks were stunned, giving away frustrated penalties. There was plenty of feeling between the teams and it’s tough to blame them.

New Zealand have been in a COVID-19 bubble for some time, with the domestic season leading into a four-game Bledisloe Cup series against the Wallabies, while Argentina haven’t played in 402 days.

There was some energy to be used by the Argentinians.
There was some energy to be used by the Argentinians.

After some early scuffles, referee Angus Gardner awarded New Zealand a penalty in defence, before reversing the call and giving the Kiwis a talking to after a slap from Dane Coles.

The referee explained: “The original penalty was for entry, by the Argentinian player and then your number two slapped him in the face so I’m reversing it. And I’m putting your number two on a warning I don’t want to see any more of it in this game. Go and have a word with him please, completely unacceptable.”

Former Wallaby Rod Kafer said it was a good call, adding “there’s been that many slaps out here, it’s unbelievable”.

The goal was missed but it didn’t take long for another penalty, with a more controversial moment.

Jordie Barrett was then penalised for a late tackle when he jumped for a charge down but couldn’t stop his momentum.

The Jordie Barrett penalty as the ref felt he could have pulled out.
The Jordie Barrett penalty as the ref felt he could have pulled out.

All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens was furious with the call.

“I think it’s a ridiculous decision,” he said. “Where’s the replay on the big screen that Angus Gardner can see? That’s absurd.”

Gardner then warned All Blacks skipper Sam Cane that it was becoming a discipline issue, with Mehrtens adding “that’s rubbish”.

“I’d like to see Gardner clean up his game as well, preaching to everyone,” Mehrtens added.

Early in the second half, the All Blacks won a line out and got just inside the 22 before a simple knock on from Jordie Barrett.

“That was sloppy. I can’t recall something so simple as that play being butchered so poorly by the All Blacks ever in my life,” Kafer said.

“It’s something we used to do in the under-10s.”

Even Mehrtens agreed it was “very unusual” to see New Zealand make a mistake like that.

The handling errors were killing the All Blacks as promising attacking raids ended in undisciplined acts.

All Blacks players looked stunned by what happened.
All Blacks players looked stunned by what happened.

When Cane scored in the 52nd minute, it was looking like the beginning of the end for Argentina with New Zealand set to come home with a burst but the All Blacks couldn’t get the last pass play on target.

With eight minutes of time remaining, a pass from Hoskins Sotutu with Argentina short on the right side went to ground and into touch with substitute Damian McKenzie wide open.

Sanchez’s penalty goal wrapped up the game with Caleb Clarke forcing his way across the line.

Tears flowed from several of the Argentinian stars after full-time.

Sanchez, who scored all 25 points for Argentina, was happy with the result but didn’t go so far as to say it was the greatest day in Argentinian rugby.

“In 2007, we finished third (in the World Cup), that was the best,” he said. “But a win against the All Blacks is crazy for us.”

Pumas captain Pablo Matera

“It’s a big day for Argentinian rugby today,” he said. “There have been a lot of guys who have pulled on this jersey before us and worked really hard so this is for all the rugby of Argentina.

“We’re used to this. Everything is hard in Argentina and at the moment it’s one of the toughest times in out country. We want to show people that if you fight and you work hard, you get what you fight for.”

Argentinian fans made their voices heard.
Argentinian fans made their voices heard.

In his press conference, All Blacks coach Ian Foster praised Argentina for the result.

“I want to congratulate them on the result. It’s a historic day. A big congratulations to Mario and his team.”

“We didn’t under-estimate them. They’re a team we have massive respect for. Deeply disappointed by the result.”

Social media went nuts with historic boilover.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/the-rugby-championship/rugby-championship-2020-argentina-defeat-all-blacks-for-first-time-in-history/news-story/307ed264beaf4ce92e93828f83255c74