Tri Nations rugby: Argentina shocks All Blacks 25-15 in historic first win
With Michael Cheika cheering from the coach’s box, Argentina brought a smile to every rugby fan in the world - well, maybe not the Kiwis.
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There won’t be a rugby fan in the world - at least outside of New Zealand - who didn’t want to cry for Argentina after seeing the Pumas’ historic victory over the All Blacks at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.
The Pumas’ 25-15 win already ranks as one of the greatest upsets in international rugby - sitting alongside Japan’s shock upset over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup and Tonga’s humiliation of the Wallabies in 1973.
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There’s a case to be made that Argentina’s first win over the All Blacks in 35 years of trying is the biggest upset of the lot as the Pumas hadn’t played a Test match in 402 days and spent months in quarantine because of the devastating Covid outbreak in South America.
The Pumas coach Mario Ledesma, who was one of Michael Cheika’s right hand men when the Wallabies made the 2015 World Cup final and has hired his old boss to assist him, was reduced to tears as he tried to put into words the scale of what his team had done.
“Unreal, it’s surreal after everything that’s happened this year. If I tell you what it means I won’t be able to talk,” Ledesma said.
“We’ve been through hell and sometimes even mistreated but the boys just kept ticking and working and making efforts and just staying positive.
“With everything that’s going on, which in itself is already a lot, then coming out here and playing the game they played. It’s incredible and I’m just so proud of them.”
The Argentina captain Pablo Matera, who had an immense game, paid tribute to the generations of Pumas who have paved the way for his team’s breakthrough.
“There’s a lot of guys that put on this jersey before us and worked really hard so this is a big day for all rugby in Argentina,” he said.
“Everything is hard in Argentina. At the moment, it is one of the toughest times in our country so we want to show our people that if you fight and if you work you get what you fight for.”
The spontaneous celebrations of the Pumas will live in the memory for years and were in stark contrast to the glum look on the faces of the All Blacks.
The Kiwis were spared the vitriol that usually follows their rare losses when they were narrowly beaten by the Wallabies last weekend because they had already wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup and fielded a weakened line-up.
But the side that lost to the Pumas was New Zealand’s strongest combination so the recriminations will be severe this time with some players in danger of never playing for the All Blacks again and new coach Ian Foster sure to come in for fierce criticism after his side quickly ran out ideas and allowed themselves to be rattled by the Pumas - which was summed up best when Dane Coles churlishly slapped an opponent in the face.
“That was a frustrating response to a similar response to last week,” Foster said.
“But it’s a special moment for them, isn’t it?
“As much as it’s hurting us like anything, it’s a historic win for them and I imagine for the people of Argentina there’s a big smile on their faces.
“So we’re hurting greatly but they should be very proud of their team.”
Although the Pumas have twice made the World Cup semi-finals, beating the All Blacks is arguably a bigger achievement. Only six other countries have ever managed the feat; it took Ireland 111 years and Scotland are still searching for their first win over the All Blacks.
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But this was no fluke. The Pumas dominated the match from the outset and were never headed, with five-eighth Nicolas Sánchez in dreamland after scoring all 25 of his team’s points, saying: “A win against the All Blacks is crazy for us.”
The result has suddenly opened up the possibility that the Wallabies could get their hands on some silverware with the Tri-Nations title there for the taking if the Australians can win their two upcoming matches against the South Americans.
You love to see it. pic.twitter.com/qm4LKlMVbD
— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) November 14, 2020
.@lospumas record their first ever win in their 30th Test against @AllBlacks
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) November 14, 2020
New Zealand lose back to back Tests for the first time since 2011
Nicolas Sanchez scores the 3rd most points by a player ever against NZ (25)
Argentina had not played a Test in 402 days! #NZLvARG
Thanks @lospumas ðŸ¤#NZLvARG pic.twitter.com/aw91NQt8bE
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 14, 2020
Great man... great result #NZLvARG https://t.co/pxytVMX2ny
— Jonathon Lance (@jonno_lance) November 14, 2020
That is an incredible result for the Pumas. Congratulations to Argentina. No rugby since March w/ the Jaguares for most of these players against a ‘full strength’ AB side. Wow. This is an abject failure for NZ Rugby given the circumstances of both sides. #NZLvARG
— Ben Smith (@bensmithrugby) November 14, 2020
"Argentina should be split in two..."#NZLvARG pic.twitter.com/D7xGUspcCb
— Sweet Lantering Divine Holy Mother of Jay-Z... (@pwalshnow) November 14, 2020
I actually cried for the pumas. I love seeing lower ranked nations succeed. Warms my icy cold heart. #NZLvARG
— Cathrine Tuivaiti (@CatTuivaiti) November 14, 2020
The first thing the Wallabies will have to do is stop patting themselves on the back after their win against New Zealand last weekend because they will have to elevate their game to another level to match the Pumas, who showed the way to beat the All Blacks is by dominating the physical confrontations, both at the breakdown and in the set pieces.
They are just some of the areas - along with defence - that the Wallabies have struggled with but they have now been put on notice about what to expect when they meet in Newcastle next weekend.
Originally published as Tri Nations rugby: Argentina shocks All Blacks 25-15 in historic first win
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