The Pumas still beat the All Blacks: the magic numbers of another historic victory

The Pumas made history this Saturday night in Christchurch and during a rainy morning in Argentina. This is not the first victory against the all-powerful All Blacks, of course, because they had already won it two years ago in Sydney for the Three Nations played in times of furious pandemic. But if it is the first in Maori territory. Yes, a landmark to remember.

Thus, with this indelible triumph, the record against the ocean changes once again beyond a trend that seems irreversible. Argentina added their second smile after 38 games. Those in black, who are in crisis, remained at 35 and we must also add the unforgettable draw at 21 reached in 1985, on the Ferro field, with the precious contribution of the eternal Hugo Porta.

But this wasn’t the only success for those led by Australian Michael Cheika. Is that at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium they equaled the maximum number of points scored against the All Blacks. The 25 were added with the goal of Juan Martín González – he had already reached the ingal in the two games against the Wallabies – and the successes of the infallible Emiliano Boffelli – he closed with 20 thanks to penalties and the transformation – served to equal the 25 which had been achieved in the other victory against New Zealand.

They thus surpassed the 24 they had obtained in the 2018 defeat in Nelson, the 22 they had obtained in Hamilton (2016) and New Plymouth (2017) and the 21 of that parity in Caballito. It is clear that it is not easy to mark the owners of the haka.

Boffelli’s 20 points, with a consecration performance, were enough for him to take him to the historic goal podium in a match against New Zealand. He was behind Nico Sánchez’s 25, in the baptismal victory in Sydney, and Porta’s 21 in 1985. Impressive from the wing that he won in regularity and confidence when he tried the sticks.