For the first time in its history, Argentina, led by a deadly Emiliano Boffelli in penalty kicks, defeated the All Blacks (18-25) in New Zealand, in a match from the third day of the Rugby Championship played at the Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
Argentina’s Historic victory over All Blacks in New Zealand
The good start in the tournament will now have a more demanding test for Los Pumas. The challenge is to maintain the level exposed in the series with the Wallabies, but also the presence of the All Blacks imposes another level for the challenge that the national team will have tomorrow Saturday (at 4:45 pm in our country).
The confidence of those led by Michael Cheika is on the rise, while the New Zealanders, although they recovered by beating the Springboks in the last match (35-23 in Johannesburg), need to resolve the questions they receive. In any case, as always happens, once the kick-off is marked, everything external is left aside.
“We are facing a situation where we need to make history; we didn’t win here, and New Zealand is a good team. But to win here for the first time, we have to think about ourselves”, declared Cheika at the press conference in which the formation of the team was announced. in the 3rd. day of the Rugby Championship 2022, in the city of Christchurch.
Boffelli, author, alone, of 20 points converting six penalty shots and transforming the only trial of his team, was the key player in the victory of Argentina, which with two wins in three games (same as Australia) leads the championship table.
Argentina, coming off a resounding home win over Australia (48-17), opened the scoring with a penalty kick converted by Boffelli at m.8 but the All Blacks took the lead three minutes later with a try by Taukei ‘Ah or. Richie Mo’unga failed to convert from 25 meters and the score was 5-3 for the locals.
Boffelli returned the advantage to the Pumas with a new penalty shot at minute 18 (5-6). The locals began to speed up their game, pressing on the Argentine field, albeit in an undisciplined way.
In minute 29, another penalty against Argentina was used by Mo’unga from 20 meters to make it 8-6 . Three minutes later, a three-quarter try by Caleb Clarke, followed by a transformation by Mo’unga from 25 meters, opened a gap in the scoreboard (15-6), but it was only a mirage.
Boffelli, very precise from 50 meters, scored a penalty shot -the sixth conceded by the locals- to reduce the difference to 15-9 at minute 36 and another at 41 that left the account in a tight 15-12 at the break.
Argentina continued to stand up to the All Blacks, who in minute 47 added the 3 points from a penalty shot converted by Mo’unga.
The reaction of the Pumas was immediate: seconds later, in the third line Juan Martín González took advantage of a mistake by Barrett to achieve an essay that, transformed by the relentless Boffelli, put Michael Cheika’s men back on top (18-19), and in the 57th a new penalty allowed Boffelli to display his lethal precision to put the ball between the posts (18-22).
Argentina, well-equipped behind against the local rush, could not crown trials but was adding points with the punishing shots relentlessly executed by the “arriere” Boffelli, who in minute 66 nailed from 35 meters at 18-25, which it would be final.
The marker no longer moved. Argentina had managed to break its curse in New Zealand. Last year the Pumas lost both of their games in this championship against the All Blacks, who had not beaten for two years and who are now relegated to the bottom spot.
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