Pumas’ 25-15 feisty “attitude” in first defeat of All Blacks Featured
Argentinian Puma #10 Nicolás Sánchez, recorded their first win ever against New Zealand as they played near-perfect rugby to a 25-15 first-ever defeat of the All Blacks, in their Tri Nations Test in West Sydney on Saturday. Sánchez scored a converted-try and kicked 6 penalties and a conversion. (Planet Rugby photo).
By Sione Ake Mokofisi
Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, Australia: Nov. 15, 2020 – The Argentinian Pumas (national rugby team, not the big cat) came to the 2020 Tri-Nations Championship with an attitude: “We are no longer a member of the minnows’ crowd – we’re from a huge country.”
But the fear of the menacing All Blacks, an opponents’ lead is not safe until the final whistle sounds. Even with under 10 minutes remaining, Puma’s 22-10 lead hung in the balance – the threat of an All Blacks striking like a cobra in short order leaving the opponents in shock and disbelief in defeat, is real.
Two converted-tries could have won it for the All Blacks, but they could only score one such try. Turnovers (6-1 second half) plagued their chances and gave the Pumas the victory, 25-15. It was a teeth-grinding test match with all the bells and whistles, with Argentina committing fewer errors.
Puma Captain’s Attitude Fires Up ‘Mates
It came down to a no-surrender attitude the Pumas’ Captain Pablo Matera (#6) wore on his collars as he led the Pumas onto the pitch at Bankwest Stadium. He was involved in the first pushing-and-shoving altercation of the match early at the 3:48 minute of the opening half.
Referee Angus Gardner (Australia) was overheard lecturing Matera and All Blacks #6 Shannon Frizell. To All Blacks #6: “No. 6, you were pushing each other. You may leave please and don’t carry on.” Gardner turned to Matera.
“Pablo, you’re the captain. We’d like to see some leadership from you,” Ref Gardner continued.
“What we don’t need you to do is to come and push players after the whistle, OK?” Matera was fixing his collars, with a smirk on his face, and avoids eye-contact with Gardner.
“I can see them come and pushed one of my men. I’m playing for my country; there’s no respect…” Matera pleaded his case.
“I understand that,” Gardner replied. “But let us deal with it. We don’t need you the captain…” Matera walked away leaving Gardner threatening to reverse the penalty he just called for the Pumas.
Pumas’ first win since 1984-draw vs. All Blacks
At one point during the second half Ref Gardner penalized Matera and wanted to talk to him but the Puma Captain kept walking away toward his team. Gardner tagged on an extra 10 yards to New Zealand’s penalty.
Matera’s defiant attitude was perhaps the motivating factor for the Pumas’ winning attitude. Tired of being on the losing end for over a generation (36 years), Argentinian rugby has finally come of age. As a child Matera probably grew up getting tired of hearing about the All Blacks.
"This is a big day for Argentina, for our country and our people,” the captain fighting back tears after the match. “"So, we are really proud of this team and our country."
"Tt's very tough down there at the moment. I knew it was tough for us to come here and prepare ourselves for this tournament,” trying to fight back tears. “We just wanted to show our people if you work hard with a lot of determination you can get things done.”
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jordie Barrett, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Damian McKenzie
Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Lucio Cinti, 23 Santiago Cordero
Date: Saturday, November 14
Venue: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 17:10 local (06:10 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
(Mokofisi is a seasoned journalist and a former rugby player, coach, referee and administrator. He played rugby at Liahona High School; Nukunuku Rugby Club; BYU-Hawaii varsity team; coached Alaska Pacific University Rugby Club; President of Alaska Rugby Union, Utah Rugby Union, and an Officiating.com and Rugby Magazine columnist. He now writes about the American Major League Rugby and international tests matches.)
