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'They are a great team, but…’: Why Los Pumas ‘can beat’ the All Blacks again
By Finn Morton
The stage is set in Mendoza for what promises to be another exciting instalment of a fiery southern hemisphere rugby rivalry between Los Pumas and the All Blacks.
Especially over the last few years, this unmissable rivalry has reached new heights. The Argentines have made history with some truly memorable victories.
Los Pumas shocked the rugby world with a stunning win over the All Blacks in 2020, and that match will ripple throughout history as a milestone occasion for South American rugby.
Argentina had brought an end to a run of almost 30 winless Tests against their southern hemisphere rivals – and they weren’t done there, either.
Just last year, the Pumas upset the All Blacks in Christchurch. It was the All Blacks first-ever loss to Argentina on New Zealand soil.
But Los Pumas want more.
They aren't close to done or content with what they've accomplished.
Ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against the All Blacks in Mendoza, 20-year-old replacement Pedro Rubiolo said Los Pumas “can beat” the New Zealanders again.
“Playing against the All Blacks is always a plus because they are one of the best teams,” Rubiolo told reporters. “I think we can make it an equal match and we’re going to try to win.
“The truth is that I think they are a great team, but we have been improving year after year and we can beat them again.
“We have to go day by day and game by game,” Rubiolo added.
“We always look at the World Cup, which I would love to go to, but first things first. Saturday s against the All Blacks and we are focused on that.”
With some legendary Argentine rugby stars etching their names into rugby folklore with a couple of incredible wins over the All Blacks over the last few years, another matchday squad of 23 players are hoping to do the same on Saturday.
Argentina have never beaten the All Blacks at home but will be playing with plenty of confidence when they take the field at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas.
“We know what it means to play against New Zealand in Argentina and what team they are, but we are focused on us,” replacement Santiago Grondona told reporters on Friday.
“We had a great week in which we prepared very well and we hope that everything will come out on the pitch tomorrow.
“We trust in our team and the most important thing is that we are united.
“We beat them twice and we know how to do it and it will depend on how we feel tomorrow. Let’s go for another victory.”
The Rugby Championship clash between Argentina and New Zealand in Mendoza will get underway at 7.10 am (NZST) on Sunday morning.
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Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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