Argentina stun New Zealand with record Rugby Championship win in Wellington

Argentina threw down a historic marker on Saturday with their 38-30 Rugby Championship defeat of the All Blacks in Wellington, a record score by an away side in New Zealand.

Debutant Sam Darry scored the first try of his career after 15 minutes, capping an exciting kicking move from the All Blacks’ backfield, to give New Zealand a solid early platform.

Lucio Cinti touched down to respond for the Pumas, racing through after quick passing following a turnover near halfway.

Anton Lienert-Brown spun through the visitors’ goal-line defence to put New Zealand 12 points up shortly before the break, but sloppy handling of a high kick in midfield then allowed Mateo Carreras to slice through and reduce the arrears, making it 20-15 at half-time.

Both sides added tries early in the second half but the match hinged on an All Black defensive stand 10 minutes from time. Wave after wave of Argentinian attack was repulsed until hooker Agustin Creevy powered over.

Santiago Carreras’ conversion from right in front put the visitors five points ahead before a penalty pushed the lead to eight.

It was a first defeat for coach Scott Robertson, who had won his opening three matches – a thrashing of Fiji and two solid victories over England – and he was disappointed in the result.

Speaking to the media after the match, Robertson called for a response from his players. He said: “You look at yourself firstly. What could I have done personally as the head coach? How could I have framed this week a bit better and how could I have created a bit more edge?

“So you reflect over the next 24 hours. I’m hurt but they’ll look to me and I’ve got to make sure I put everything in place for them so that we respond this week.”

All Blacks captain Ardia Savea similarly refused to hide: “First of all we’ve just got to own it.

“Look ourselves in the mirror as leaders and players and get the lessons we need to but we’ve still go to stay tight together and each day try and get better. The good thing about rugby is we’ve got a chance to play again next week so first and foremost we’ve got to own and walk towards the challenge.”

However, Savea stressed that reacting to defeat is not the All Blacks’ standard. He continued: “As an All Black we shouldn’t need a week, we shouldn’t need a loss to get a performance.

“Our standard is we should turn up every week but that’s the reality of rugby. We didn’t get it right tonight. It wasn’t good enough but hopefully we can get back on the horse and grow and learn and get better.”

While New Zealand were tasting a rare defeat, their Antipodean neighbours were getting harsher treatment. Australia were handed a beating by South Africa, 33-7 in Brisbane.

New Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt saw his young side blown away by a clinical performance from the world champions, leaving them bottom of the Rugby Championship table alongside surprise cellar-dwellers New Zealand.

Next weekend the same fixtures are repeated, with New Zealand hosting Argentina at Eden Park in Auckland, while Australia face South Africa in Perth.