Santiago Carreras kicked 18 points as Argentina overturned a first-half deficit to notch just their third-ever win over New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.
Veteran hooker Agustin Creevy scored the decisive try as Los Pumas stunned the All Blacks 38-30 in their 2024 Rugby Championship opener at Sky Stadium.
The visitors scored four tries to three, with the 39-year-old Creevy touching down late in the game to hand All Blacks coach Scott Robertson his first defeat.
Robertson’s tenure opened with two tense home wins over England last month but they couldn’t hold out against a committed Pumas side who trailed 20-15 at half-time.
Argentina won the physical exchanges in the second half, their forward pack superbly led by flanker and captain Pablo Matera.
Flyhalf Carreras kept the scoreboard ticking over, landing seven of eight shots at goal for an 18-point haul, including a penalty in the dying minutes to extend Argentina’s lead to eight points and seal a famous victory.
All Blacks No 10 Damian McKenzie kicked 15 points and set up two tries but his side were guilty of too many mistakes against opponents who feasted on errors.
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It continues a nightmare run of results for the All Blacks at Sky Stadium, where the Kiwis haven’t won any of their last five Tests, dating back to 2018.
They began well enough, with McKenzie landing an early penalty before he set up a sweeping try to lock Sam Darry through an audacious chip 10m from his own tryline.
Lucio Cinti responded with a try for Argentina after midfield partner Santiago Chocobares sliced through the defence on the halfway line.
McKenzie and Carreras traded penalties before McKenzie’s deft pass put Chiefs teammate Anton Lienert-Brown outside a defender to score.
Winger Mateo Carreras lifted the Pumas within five points on the stroke of half time, pouncing when a high kick was batted back loosely by the All Blacks to dart over.
Argentina snatched the lead two minutes after the interval when lock Franco Molina powered over from a lineout drive for his first Test try. Winger Mark Tele’a crossed to put the All Blacks 30-25 ahead nearing the final quarter.
But Argentina finished the stronger, with Test centurion Creevy powering over next to the posts in one of the highlights of his 18-year career with the Pumas.
The teams meet again in Auckland next Saturday.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
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