All Blacks Stunned in Buenos Aires: Argentina Claims Historic First Home Victory
Buenos Aires, Argentina – The all Blacks suffered a shocking 29-23 defeat to Argentina this morning, marking the Pumas‘ first-ever victory over New Zealand on home soil. A dominant performance from Argentina, coupled with a remarkably ill-disciplined display from the All Blacks, saw the hosts secure a historic win and leave New zealand reeling.
“[Argentina] showed more passion and intensity,” admitted a visibly disappointed All blacks captain Scott Barrett following the match. “They got over the gainline, and they held the ball, and we gave away penalties… it just fed their game. they are a quality team and we were outclassed tonight.”
Watch: Argentina Make History – TVNZ+
The match was plagued by All blacks’ indiscipline, with Will Jordan, Tupou Vaa’i, and Sevu Reece all spending time in the sin bin. Jordan and Vaa’i were both yellow-carded within a minute of each other late in the first half, leaving New Zealand with a significant numerical disadvantage.
Despite the setbacks, the All Blacks managed to reach halftime tied at 13-13. Though, mirroring their loss in Cordoba last week, Argentina seized control of the third quarter and never relinquished their grip on the game.
Key Stats & Turning Points:
Missed Tackles: A staggering 40 missed tackles from the All Blacks proved crucial in fueling Argentina’s momentum. Discipline Breakdown: Three yellow cards severely hampered New zealand’s ability to maintain pressure.
Aerial Battle Lost: The All Blacks once again struggled in the air, a weakness the Springboks are likely to exploit in their upcoming Test match.
Pumas Dominance: Led by Pablo Matera, Argentina consistently won the physical battle and controlled possession.
Head Coach Scott Robertson acknowledged the pain of the defeat. “That hurts. Tough,” he said. He also admitted the team struggled to execute their game plan,especially regarding aerial challenges. “We practised all week, we knew it was coming… I am not sure I can answer it right now, why.”
While tries from Billy Proctor and Fletcher Newell offered glimpses of hope, the All Blacks’ inability to maintain possession and a poor set-piece performance in the final quarter ultimately sealed their fate.A late penalty from Damian McKenzie secured a losing bonus point, but did little to soften the blow.
“We have got a week back at home, and I am sure there will be a bit of pain within this group,” Barrett added, looking ahead to the crucial clash with the Springboks. “As we have a big challenge the following week, and we certainly need to bounce. You know, carry this, and certainly get better.”
What’s Next?
The All Blacks will return home to prepare for a daunting encounter with the Springboks at Eden Park next Saturday. This defeat will undoubtedly fuel intense scrutiny and demand a significant response from Robertson and his team.
Keywords: All Blacks, Argentina, Rugby, Rugby Championship, Scott Barrett, Scott Robertson, Pumas, buenos Aires, Springboks, New Zealand, Rugby News, Sports News.
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