The All Blacks are searching for answers after their surprising 38-30 loss to Argentina in Wellington. This defeat marked another disappointment against Argentina, similar to the historic loss in Christchurch in 2022.
During the game at Sky Stadium, the All Blacks struggled with execution and game management. They took an early lead but ultimately faltered due to Argentina’s resilience and their own mistakes. Notably, the All Blacks missed the leadership of their injured captain, Scott Barrett, who was sidelined due to a finger injury. His absence was keenly felt, and the team was unable to maintain their halftime advantage.
Beauden Barrett, the veteran fullback, admitted the team was “off tonight” and acknowledged their frustration with the performance.
A critical moment occurred with 11 minutes left in the match when the All Blacks were leading 30-28. After Ethan Blackadder stole a Pumas lineout, the All Blacks lost control of the ball, allowing Argentina to score a converted try and secure the victory. The All Blacks failed to earn a losing bonus point, further highlighting their struggles. Ardie Savea, the team’s captain, said the need for the team to reflect and improve, stating, “We’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror.”
Scott Robertson, the All Blacks’ coach, expressed disappointment in the team’s execution and game plan. He praised Argentina for their effective strategy and said the All Blacks must improve in many areas, particularly kick plans and exits. The team aims to bounce back in their upcoming rematch against Argentina at Eden Park, a venue where they haven’t lost since 1994. They hope to respond strongly, as they did after a previous defeat to Argentina two years ago.
Meanwhile, Argentina celebrated their victory, with captain Pablo Matera highlighting their growth and ambition. He mentioned that the team’s success shows their hard work and determination to achieve the impossible. The All Blacks will need to regroup and learn from their mistakes to prevent another upset at Eden Park on Saturday.
The game was sooo intense
If we had the the team captain scott Barret we would’ve won the game.
that’s crazy