Argentina caused one of the biggest upsets in recent rugby history with a historic 25-15 win over the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday night.
Written off by everyone as it was their first test in 402 days, the Pumas defied the odds to beat the All Blacks for the first time in 30 attempts.
The All Blacks were desperate to bounce back from last week's shock loss to Australia but the loss means Ian Foster has two wins, two losses, and a draw in his first five tests as the national coach.
According to Fox Sports Lab, Foster now has the worst win rate (40 percent) by an All Blacks Coach after five tests since Alex McDonald in 1949.
As expected, international media had a field day criticising the three-time world champions, as their best team failed to fire.
Wayne Smith - The Australian
"Coach Mario Ledesma burst into tears in the coach's box as his Argentina side pulled off the greatest triumph in the 71 years of Pumas rugby to defeat the All Blacks 25-15 for the first time in history.
"This was a stand-alone victory for a passionate Pumas side, well generated from five-eighth by Nicolas Sanchez, who scored all 25 of his team’s points, and by their captain, flanker Pablo Matera who proved an inspirational leader. He was hard, courageous, physical and unrelenting, all traits he passed on to his eager team.
"Though they were up against an All Blacks side that had played a full season of Super Rugby Aotearoa not to mention a four-match Bledisloe Cup series against Australia, they showed no signs of ring rust as they went to work from minute one against NZ, maintaining the rage all the way through to the 82nd minute.
"But this is not a loss that can be ascribed to how badly the All Blacks played. The Pumas might have had the rub of the green for once but it was no more than they deserved, as they attacked the game with a vigour unseen down the decades."
Chris Jones - BBC
"This is one of the most sensational results in recent rugby union history, especially when you consider how Argentina had not played a Test match since the Rugby World Cup 13 months ago.
"They were expected to be thrashed by a battle-hardened New Zealand; remember world champions South Africa pulled out of the Rugby Championship citing a lack of preparation time.
"While it is a famous day for the Pumas and a huge result for world rugby, the All Blacks inquest will begin. They have now lost two in a row for the first time since 2011 and look a shadow of the all-conquering side they were under Steve Hansen.
"Ian Foster was a controversial appointment to many. Given he only has a two-year contract, he finds himself under pressure already."
Brittany Mitchell - ESPN
"The journey the Pumas took to get to this moment was incredible. In a country that's been ravaged by COVID-19, players spent over 100 days training in their own homes.
"Nicolas Sanchez ran 21km inside his house, while others practiced scrummaging and lineouts with their fathers. Upon arrival in Australia, they were forced to quarantine and train within the building - undertaking defence training inside the hotel's conference room.
"In spite of these challenges, the Pumas were nothing short of spectacular, bringing tears to their coach's and fans' eyes.
"Even if the Pumas fail to win another match in this Tri-Nations, it won't matter. They arrived in Australia essentially filling in the numbers, written off and underprepared but now will be returning home after making history with one of the greatest wins the rugby world has ever seen."
Alejo Miranda - La Nacion
"After more than a year without playing, against the fearsome All Blacks and in Australia, they defeated New Zealand for the first time in history with a clear 25-15 thanks to a try, six penalties and a goal from Nicolás Sánchez.
"The victory at Sydney's Bankwest Stadium snapped a losing streak against New Zealand, the only team that the Argentines had failed to beat. After more than a year without playing, with players who had to train at home and just did the first training with the entire squad 10 days before.
"Adversity, as it often happens with this team, served as fuel for a superb performance."
Aimee Lewis - CNN
"Widely regarded as one of the greatest sports teams in the world, New Zealand's rugby union team suffered a shock 25-15 loss on Saturday as Argentina beat the All Blacks for the first time in its history.
"New Zealand, a three-time world champion, has now suffered two successive defeats for the first time since August 2011. The All Blacks lost 24-22 to Australia last weekend in Brisbane.
"Remarkably, it was the Pumas' first Test in over a year -- since the 2019 Rugby World Cup - and a first win over New Zealand at the 30th time of asking, ending a 35-year wait."
Nick Mulvenney - Reuters
"Argentina served up one of the biggest upsets in test rugby history when they stunned New Zealand 25-15 in the Tri-Nations on Saturday, beating the three-time world champions for the first time in 30 attempts going back to 1985.
"The Argentinians were given almost no chance of registering their maiden victory over the All Blacks in their tournament opener after being kept off the pitch for almost the entire season by the global health crisis."
