With their country in lockdown, Argentina’s Pumas have created history by beating the All Blacks for the first time in their history 25-15 to blow open the Tri Nations.
The 35-year hoodoo coming to an end in the unlikeliest of places: Parramatta in western Sydney, as the Pumas sealed one of the most incredible victories in the history of Test rugby.
This was a side that hadn’t played a Test since their early World Cup exit last year - some 402 days ago – and hadn’t been able to play a professional rugby match since the middle of March because of COVID-19.
In the past eight weeks, four of those have been in quarantine. They might have been able to train together since arriving in Sydney last month, but even meals had to beaten separately in their hotel rooms in western Sydney.
But all along, their coach Mario Ledesma – the former Wallabies scrum coach, who played 84 Tests for Argentina and asked Michael Cheika to join him for the campaign – has said that they’re the lucky ones. While they are healthy and safe in Australia, their homeland is in crisis as they battle through the COVID pandemic.
It was that Argentinian spirt that they brought on Saturday on what was a picture-perfect Sydney spring day, perfect for running rugby.
Argentina will wake to the news that the Pumas have beaten the three-time world champions.
Asked how the match will be received back home in Argentina, Ledesma said the victory would be remembered for a long time.
"For us, and for everyone, I think it's the only team we haven't beaten," Ledesma said.
"I think we'll remember this for a long time - not only because of the game but this special situation that got us to this point.
"I guess someone will write a book about it."
Ledesma is the heart and soul of Argentinian rugby, having represented his country for more than a decade in the position - the front-row - that most South Americans grow up idolising before taking on the head coaching job in 2018.
Ledesma wouldn't go as far as declaring the match as his greatest result in Argentinian rugby, but said it was his coaching highlight given the emotional rollercoaster of 2020.
"Myself, it has to be up there," Ledesma said, who was seen crying with the victory in sight.
"As a coach, the best one because of everything we lived and experienced and the emotional journey.
"They just showed themselves as they are. Argentinian people are like that. I think for a long time we were copying what others were doing, but we are proud of being different. I am emotional, I haven't changed.
"Some of the boys haven't seen their families in four months and they haven't complained once."
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😭 I'M NOT CRYING. YOU'RE CRYING!
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) November 14, 2020
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So much for the 400 minutes of game-time that the Springboks had said they needed to reach to come to Australia for The Rugby Championship.
Playmaker Nicolas Sanchez delivered his finest display in a Pumas jersey to lead his nation to victory.
The experienced general scored all of Argentina’s 25 points, including a first-half chip and chase try.
Blindside flanker and captain Pablo Matera was inspirational while locks Guido Petti and Matias Alemann were heroic.
Matera said his side always believed they were capable of beating the All Blacks.
"Yeah 100 per cent. Not just when the game started. As Mario said, we've been working for a long time. We have a great team. We have a lot of players, a lot of young players, and they're putting a lot of energy," Matera said.
"We knew we could win this game. We knew we could. We just had to go to the pitch and take it. We believe in ourselves, and we have a lot of emotions and energy coming from a lot of places.
"Back home in Argentina, it's tough there at the moment. We are representing a lot of things. I think that was a plus with our energy today."
The All Blacks dominated possession and territory in the second-half, but their discipline and handling was terrible.
The defeat was the first time the All Blacks have suffered back-to-back since 2011 and heaps more pressure on coach Ian Foster, who despite winning the Bledisloe Cup, has now won just two of his first five Tests in charge.
Foster paid tribute to Argentina and said they out-enthused the All Blacks.
"I think what happened in the game is that we saw a team that everyone said their disadvantage was they hadn't played a lot of rugby, but I think their camp and their two games meant they've come in here with massive energy and a massive desire to prove something for their country," Foster told reporters.
"I want to congratulate them on the result. It's a bit of a historic day for them. Whilst it's deeply disappointing for us, it's massively exciting for them and, I guess, it's a big congratulations to Mario and his team for what they've been able to achieve."
⭐ Sanchez the star with all 25 points for the Pumas!
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) November 14, 2020
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Asked if he felt an added sense of pressure following the defeat, Foster said it came with the title of being the All Blacks coach.
"No, I guess, this role always come with pressure," he said.
"What I feel right now is massive disappointment that we haven't achieved what we wanted to achieve in the past two games.
"The key right now is we've got a lot of good people in this group, we've shown we can perform at a high level we've just got to go back to do it.
"The word pressure is there all the time. But I think the word (is) I'm just bitterly disappointed more than anything."
Captain Sam Cane and Caleb Clarke scored the All Blacks' two tries while Richie Mo'unga also kicked a first-half penalty.
Cane was one of his side's best, with the inspirational flanker regularly on the ball.
But there's no doubt questions will be asked of this All Blacks side and the leadership in it following the retirement of long-serving captain Kieran Read following last year's World Cup semi-final exit.
Cane admitted his side lacked the composure required, but backed the leaders in the team to respond.
"If you look through the team I think there's plenty of experience, but no doubt there was times in that game where individuals and as a team we didn't have as much composure as we would have liked to had," he said.
"That's a clear area of focus for us going forward. But I think we've definitely got the right men in there for the job."
AT A GLANCE
PUMAS 25 (Sanchez try; Sanchez con; Sanchez pen 6) defeated ALL BLACKS 15 (Cane, Clarke tries; Mo'unga con; Mo'unga pen)
