New Zealand v Argentina LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Pumas stun the All Blacks
New Zealand 30-38 Argentina: The Pumas pulled off their third win over the All Blacks with a remarkable performance in Wellington
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Argentina pulled off a stunning 38-30 victory over New Zealand in Wellington as the Pumas beat the All Blacks for a third time in four years,
The visitors threw the Rugby Championship wide open with another historic win at Sky Stadium, backing up victory in Christchurch two years ago with a remarkable performance. The Pumas matched their hosts stride-for-stride for 60 minutes and then surged away in the final quarter, with old-stager Agustin Creevy — superb off the bench months after his 39th birthday — burrowing over for a crucial try late on.
It dealt the All Blacks their first defeat under head coach Scott Robertson, whose side shipped more points than New Zealand had ever done before on home soil. Some trademark vibrant attacking rugby was interspersed among too many basic errors, while a side shorn of several senior leaders after last year’s World Cup appeared to lack calm and composure come the crunch.
But that does not at all detract from a brilliant showing from the visitors, who had been played off the park in the last meeting between the teams in Paris in the World Cup semi-final. It is a first signature win for new boss Felipe Contepomi, who succeeded Michael Cheika after the tournament. Earlier, South Africa routed Australia to establish themselves as firm favourites for a tournament they have won just once in the last decade.
Follow all the latest from Wellington below:
Australia 0-33 South Africa, 73 minutes
Come on, Australia - surely you have to get off the mark here? A knock-on from South Africa will grant them stable set-piece ball as Bongi Mbonambi re-emerges to ensure that South Africa have a suitably qualified hooker on the park.
YELLOW CARD! Marco van Staden is sent to the sin bin! Australia 0-33 South Africa, 72 minutes
The Springboks lose another man! Marco van Staden had failed to roll away at a ruck and Luke Pearce rushes to his pocket, South Africa having failed to heed his warning.
Van Staden will not return, barring a long period with the clock in the red. Malcolm Marx will, though - his yellow card stands on review and is not upgraded.
Australia 0-33 South Africa, 71 minutes
Cheslin Kolbe is the stand-in thrower for South Africa, showing off skills honed on the sevens circuit early in his career with Malcolm Marx in the bin. Bongi Mbonambi limbers up in case he is required to fill the void at a scrum as the Springboks clear to about 30 metres from their own line.
Australia 0-33 South Africa, 70 minutes
A strong finish is a must now for Australia with another meeting in Perth to come next week. Another penalty against the Springboks brings a warning from referee Luke Pearce for Pieter-Steph du Toit, who has taken on the captaincy with Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi and Eben Etzebeth off.
Ah, yet more frustration for Australia inside the South Africa 22. The maul first stalls and then crabs left, and Hollie Davidson spots a boot on the touchline. Up goes the assistant’s flag with another opportunity gone.
YELLOW CARD! Malcom Marx is sent to the sin bin! Australia 0-33 South Africa, 68 minutes
Rob Valetini is bent as he comes into contact but there’s a relatively forceful shoulder to the head of the Australian. Malcolm Marx couldn’t have got that much lower, but it meets the yellow card threshold and thus merits further review.
Off he goes for the next ten minutes at least.
Australia 0-33 South Africa, 68 minutes
Cheslin Kolbe tries to rub salt in the Wallabies’ wound with an entirely needless drop goal. No dice - sliced to the right.
And TMO Ben Whitehouse has picked out some foul play. Is Malcolm Marx in trouble fo a tackle on Rob Valetini?
Australia 0-33 South Africa, 67 minutes
Luke Reimer makes his Australia debut - these aren’t ideal circumstances for an openside to be introduced for his first cap, but a proud moment for the Brumbies back row, sparky off the bench for much of the season in Super Rugby Pacific. It feels like damage limitation mode now for the Wallabies.
TRY! Australia 0-33 SOUTH AFRICA (Kurt-Lee Arendse, 64 minutes)
Two tries in two minutes and it’s turning into a rout!
You always feared this might be coming after those missed Wallabies chances. They are cut quickly by Jesse Kriel, exploiting two tight five forwads on the edge, stepping inside Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and outside a tumbling James Slipper. Kriel has the speed to break away and the calmness of thought to slot his pass across to Kurt-Lee Arendse, who does the rest untouched.
TRY! Australia 0-28 SOUTH AFRICA (Kwagga Smith, 62 minutes)
Too much punch, too much power - four scores for the Springboks as they re-assert their authority!
The inexorable march of mean, massive men around the corner leaves Australia desperately hunting a turnover, knowing they won’t be able to resist for long. As it is, the bigger blokes do the damage and allow the muscle-bound Kwagga Smith - comparably small, though still larger than most mortals - to dart between bodies to the line.
Australia 0-21 South Africa, 60 minutes
Tate McDermott replaces Jake Gordon at scrum half as his forwards concede a lineout penalty. Marco van Staden and fellow back-row replacement Kwagga Smith punch forward with menace, and there are three advantages being played as South Africa use the hands to the left.
Has Kurt-Lee Arendse somehow tightroped the touchline and scored? No, a toe on the chalk denies him, but the Springboks have their pick of the penalties. They take the left-most of them and will set a scrum five metres out.
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