Rugby world heaps praise on Michael Cheika as Argentina STUN All Blacks in Wellington

Michael Cheika’s Argentina pulled off a historic upset as they beat the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time, piling more pressure on the shoulders of under-fire Kiwi coach Ian Foster. 

Winger Emiliano Boffelli kicked six penalties and the conversion of a try to Juan Martin Gonzalez to propel Los Pumas to a momentous 25-18 win in Wellington on Saturday to cement their place atop the Rugby Championship after three games.

Boffelli´s flawless kicking performance ensured the Pumas achieved only their second win over the All Blacks in 34 tests and their first on New Zealand soil.

Argentina pulled off a stunning 25-18 win over the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday

Ahead of the game, Cheika had spoken of ‘wanting to change history’ and secure a first win in New Zealand for Argentina and he backed up his bullish claim on the pitch.

And there was plenty of praise for the former Wallabies coach following Argentina’s historic win.

Former Springboks great Kobus Wiese said Cheika was ‘getting the best of the Pumas’, while Irish rugby writer Murray Kinsella noted the Pumas were now ‘at the top table’ of world rugby under the Australian.

Former Springboks great Kobus Wiese said Cheika was 'getting the best of the Pumas'

Former Springboks great Kobus Wiese said Cheika was ‘getting the best of the Pumas’

Irish rugby writer Murray Kinsella noted the Pumas were now 'at the top table' of world rugby under the Australian coach

Irish rugby writer Murray Kinsella noted the Pumas were now ‘at the top table’ of world rugby under the Australian coach

The Times' rugby correspondent Stephen Jones also praised the job Cheika has done with Los Pumas since taking over Argentina

The Times’ rugby correspondent Stephen Jones also praised the job Cheika has done with Los Pumas since taking over Argentina 

Fox Sports' Christy Doran suggested Cheika's achievements with Argentina could earn him a return to the Wallabies in time for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Fox Sports’ Christy Doran suggested Cheika’s achievements with Argentina could earn him a return to the Wallabies in time for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

‘Thrilled for a great coach like Michael Cheika today. He had to made bricks without straw with Australia,but what a job he has done with the Pumas,’ tweeted The Times’ rugby correspondent Stephen Jones.

Fox Sports’ Christy Doran, meanwhile, suggested Cheika’s achievements with Argentina could earn him a return to the Wallabies in time for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. 

Boffelli kicked four penalties in the first half to answer two tries by the All Blacks who only led 15-12 at halftime after conceding eight penalties in a poorly disciplined performance.

Argentina seized control of the match with a spirited start to the second half during which flanker Gonzalez scored their only try. Boffelli converted and kept the penalties coming to consign New Zealand to its second loss in three matches in the Championship and to its sixth loss in its last eight tests.

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika became the first coach to lead Argentina to a win over the All Blacks in New Zealand

The loss now calls into question the confidence expressed by New Zealand Rugby in Foster, who was reappointed through the 2023 World Cup after the All Blacks´ 35-23 win over South Africa in Johannesburg two weeks ago.

The All Blacks had an edge at set pieces, particularly at scrums, and produced the only moment of backline brilliance in the match to score a first half try to winger Caleb Clarke. 

But Argentina were relentless in their defence in the second half and it harried the All Blacks into mistakes and lapses of discipline from which Boffelli took full advantage. Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli at times confounded the All Blacks with his decisions but mostly he was correct and by the book.

This was not an All Blacks playing with confidence or on top of its game. It managed only a solitary penalty after halftime as its game became a catalogue of errors.

The All Blacks have now lost six of their last eight Test in a dismal run of form

The All Blacks have now lost six of their last eight Test in a dismal run of form 

The loss will pile further pressure on already under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster (right)

The loss will pile further pressure on already under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster (right)

New Zealand had one last chance when it attacked under penalty advantage in the 78th minute. But it couldn’t crack the Argentina defence and instead went back to the penalty and kicked into the corner. The All Blacks had to win the lineout but hooker Codie Taylor’s throw wasn’t straight. The Pumas won the scrum, kicked to touch and the match was over.

‘I’m very proud of my team,’ Argentina captain Julian Montoya said. 

‘It’s not quite the same as the magic moment [when Argentina beat the All Blacks for the first time]. But we have worked very, very hard and I’m very, very proud of the team.”

The match began as it carried on with a penalty to Boffelli in the seventh minute. New Zealand went ahead in the first of four lead changes with an 11th minute try to hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho from a lineout drive.

The win in Wellington is only Argentina's second victory over New Zealand in 34 Tests

The win in Wellington is only Argentina’s second victory over New Zealand in 34 Tests

Boffelli’s second penalty put the Pumas ahead again in the 17th minute but Richie Mo’unga reclaimed the lead for New Zealand with his first penalty in the 28th minute after a multi-phase attack.

Clarke scored a superb try in the 32nd minute as the All Blacks took advantage of Argentina’s lineout which in the first half suffered from being over-elaborate.

Rieko Ioane cut between two defenders in midfield and shunted a short pass as Jordie Barrett ran into the gap. Barrett steadied, then passed wide to Clarke who scored in the left-hand corner. The All Blacks led 15-6 but two more penalties to Boffelli cut the lead to three points at halftime.

Emiliano Boffelli kicked six penalties and a conversion as the Pumas beat the All Blacks

Emiliano Boffelli kicked six penalties and a conversion as the Pumas beat the All Blacks

The Pumas came out in the second half with obvious intent. They attacked the kickoff after a Mo’unga penalty and the ball fell to Gonzalez who turned pass scrum-half Aaron Smith and dashed 20 meters to score. 

Boffelli added penalties in the 56th and 66th minutes, stretching Argentina’s lead to seven points and the All Blacks lacked the cohesion to recover.

‘It certainly felt in the first half that we were more dominant in areas than we managed to show on the scoreboard,’ All Blacks captain Sam Cane said. ‘A lot of credit has to go to Argentina for the way they stuck in it and eventually turned the tables.’

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