Agustin Creevy the hero as Argentina stun All Blacks with blockbuster win in Wellington

New Zealand 30 Argentina 38

Agustín Creevy reached for an expletive to describe a famous night in Wellington, and who could blame him?

“F------ amazing,” was the 39-year-old’s summation of an absorbing victory for Argentina over the All Blacks, underpinned by his own try 12 minutes from time; a typically wily short-range effort to headline an influential cameo from the bench.

The result, dealing Scott Robertson his first defeat as New Zealand coach, was the Pumas’ third win over these opponents in four years and a second since 2022, when they scrapped to a dogged triumph in Christchurch.

This inspired display was founded on more determined defence, with captain Pablo Matera particularly destructive. But it also featured some fantastic attack. Lucio Cinti, the Saracens centre, loped over in the first half before a sizzling solo finish from Mateo Carreras out wide.

Franco Molina and Creevy dotted down in the second period, with four penalty goals from Santiago Carreras proving enough to prevail. Starting at fly-half, as he often does for his country, the Gloucester man kicked 18 points in total.

New Zealand had stretched out to a 10-0 advantage, lock Sam Darry marking an impressive maiden Test start with a try. They led 20-8 five minutes before the break, too, when Anton Lienert-Brown pirouetted over and seemed likely to edge home when Mark Tele’a slipped through to make it 30-25 with half an hour remaining.

Argentina, though, had other ideas. Creevy, a hugely popular figure in England thanks to spells at Worcester, London Irish and Sale Sharks, arrived from the bench and produced a pivotal cameo. Besides the try, he mucked in at the breakdown and was part of a muscular maul.

“It was amazing,” Creevy said afterwards. “I think we had a really good performance. We spoke in the week about hitting first and we hit first. I thought we dominated the whole game.”

The teams renew hostilities at Eden Park next weekend, and the Pumas are already eyeing a double.

“For me, personally, I am 39 and this is the first time in my life I have won in New Zealand,” added Creevy, who missed the 2022 match. “This game for us is f----- amazing. And now, thinking, I want to win next week.”

Patchy over a shared series against France in July, Argentina had reintegrated several key players including Juan Cruz Mallía at full-back and Juan Martín González in the back row.

They surrendered 44-6 when these nations last met, in last year’s World Cup semi-final, and began as though they were desperate to banish memories of that thrashing. Santiago Carreras sparked a dangerous kick-return in the opening minute and directed some slick phase play, New Zealand only escaping when Beauden Barrett intercepted a Matías Moroni pass meant for Mateo Carreras.

A slew of penalties helped the hosts settle and Darry’s try was conjured by Damian McKenzie, who recovered his own chip to feed Beauden Barrett. The latter hooked another kick in-field and the industrious Darry followed up skilfully.

Cinti’s score, from a Chocobares break, pegged back the All Blacks but Lienert-Brown capitalised on strong work from his forwards to create a buffer. On the stroke of half-time, though, Mateo Carreras gathered a loose ball and confounded a covering McKenzie with some superb footwork.

Just 20-15 behind at the break, Argentina quickly forged ahead. Matera pounced for a turnover and, from the ensuing penalty, Molina was bundled over after taking a short line-out. In a game that was curiously free of scrums until the hour mark, Tele’a then tore through close to the breakdown.

The elusive wing slipped away from Marcos Kremer, another of Argentina’s imposing forwards, to put the All Blacks 30-25 up. It would not prove enough. Santiago Carreras landed a penalty and a comedy of errors handed the Pumas a pivotal chance.

Ethan Blackadder had risen to nab a Creevy throw at the line-out, but two inexplicably bad passes, first from Ardie Savea and then from McKenzie, missed their targets and skidded backwards on the turf. New Zealand coughed up 50 metres and conceded a five-metre scrum, from which Creevy punished them.

In truth, Argentina could have pulled away further. They retained their composure far more convincingly at the end, and sent the All Blacks into rapid reverse with their maul. Savea slowed the tide with two turnovers, but Santiago Carreras was able to end the contest by converting a penalty and establishing an eight-point advantage with two minutes on the clock.

Wellington is proving to be a curiously unhappy home for New Zealand, who have won just one out of seven games at the venue since 2017. Argentina join the British and Irish Lions, South Africa and Ireland as sides to have won there.

Returning to Auckland, where they boast a remarkable record, will be a comfort for the stricken All Blacks. Savea, captain in the absence of Scott Barrett, rued a performance that was not up to standard. Robertson cut a disconsolate figure at full-time as Felipe Contepomi, his opposite number, celebrated with gusto.

“We weren’t good enough,” admitted Robertson afterwards. “It started off at the kick-off and every time we received one, we couldn’t get off our back fence. That kept us in a pressure cycle and we just made too many errors.”

The kicking game was cited as another of New Zealand’s major failings by Robertson, who praised Contepomi as a “sharp” operator. Across the Tasman Sea, having dismantled the Wallabies, Rassie Erasmus will have taken note.

South Africa host the All Blacks twice in this year’s Rugby Championship, on August 31 and September 7, and will be hungry to assert their superiority.

Before that for Robertson and co, is another date with Argentina. Even at Eden Park, the Pumas will be confident of turning this New Zealand setback into something far more serious.

New Zealand v Argentina: As it happened . . .

10:01 AM BST

Ardie Savea reacts

09:59 AM BST

Pablo Matera speaks

09:58 AM BST

Hero Agustin Creevy

09:56 AM BST

Full-time: NZL 30 ARG 38

The penalty is booted into touch and Argentina celebrate! Remarkable. They were very good value for that, defending doggedly and scoring some beautiful tries.

It was scrappy and frantic at times, but who cares? They have beaten the All Blacks for the third time in four years.

09:55 AM BST

79 mins: NZL 30 ARG 38

Penalty to Argentina as Sititi goes off his feet. Contepomi celebrates in the coaches box.

09:54 AM BST

79 mins: NZL 30 ARG 38

Argentina gather a flat restart and go through the phases. Game over.

09:53 AM BST

78 mins: NZL 30 ARG 38 | PENALTY S Carreras!

He slips on the strike but splits the posts! That is surely enough! Ninety seconds left and eight points up, Argentina are there!

09:52 AM BST

77 mins: NZL 30 ARG 35

Unfortunately, Aumua’s throwing has been poor since he arrived from the bench. He’s hurled one directly over the top here and Wallace Sititi is penalised!

Santiago Carreras will kick for the game!

09:51 AM BST

75 mins: NZL 30 ARG 35

Another huge Savea turnover! This one in the shadow of his own posts. The skipper is doing his utmost to drag the All Blacks to victory.

09:50 AM BST

74 mins: NZL 30 ARG 35

Four minutes to go, and Argentina have mauled New Zealand 20 metres up the pitch!

Drop-goal, surely? Three points and the game is toast.

09:49 AM BST

73 mins: NZL 30 ARG 35

Tomas Albornoz commits a cagey error, slicing into touch. But Creevy is there for a jackal turnover moments later!

09:47 AM BST

72 mins: NZL 30 ARG 35

Eight minutes to go. Creevy takes his time to feed a line-out and Chocobares carries strongly. Pumas up to the New Zealand 22.

Savea turns it over! Huge play.

09:44 AM BST

70 mins: NZL 30 ARG 35

Bad start to a critical period for New Zealand. Asafo Aumua’s throw is not straight and Argentina get the scrum penalty, too.

09:43 AM BST

69 mins: NZL 30 ARG 35 | TRY Creevy!

Amazing. Joaquin Oviedo carries well off the base of the scrum and the forwards shunt close. Then it’s wily old Creevy who dots down. The conversion is good and the All Blacks must dig themselves out of a hole. They have 10 minutes to save themselves.

09:40 AM BST

67 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28

Horrible moment from the All Blacks. Two loose balls are shovelled backwards in quick succession, the second one skidding over the try-line. Ioane is tackled behind the line and it’ll be a five-metre put-in to the Pumas.

09:39 AM BST

66 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28

Blackadder is pinged for playing González in the air at a line-out. Argentina pump the ball up to halfway.

Interesting call from Contepomi. He’s taken off González, who was playing superbly.

09:37 AM BST

64 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28

Rieko Ioane, Asafo Aumua and Wallace Sititi come on for New Zealand. Lienert-Brown, Taylor and Papali’i all off.

09:36 AM BST

Match action

Here’s the aftermath of that hefty challenge between Sclavi and Blackadder:

09:34 AM BST

62 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28

One scrum was enough for Thomas Gallo and Ignacio Ruiz. They’re heading off. That means Agustin Creevy, 39 years young, is on for the Pumas.

09:33 AM BST

62 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28

Do we have a try for McKenzie? The quicksilver fly-half is over, but there was a suspect pass in the build-up.

Oh gosh, yeah. Replays show that there is a clear forward pass from McKenzie to a roaming Will Jordan.

Another scrum. London busses.

09:30 AM BST

59 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28

A scrum! We have one. An hour in, we have our first scrum.

It was nearly a beautiful link-up between Ratima and Beauden Barrett. The former span to send his full-back through a hole close to the ruck, with Barrett flicking a back-handed offload into space. Ratima almost hauled it in, and tried to claim that he meant to kick ahead. In truth, he fumbled. Argentina put-in.

09:28 AM BST

58 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28

McKenzie has another chance from the tee, but the strike drifts wide...

Still no scrums, and the All Blacks have switched their props, too.

09:26 AM BST

54 mins: NZL 30 ARG 28 | PENALTY S Carreras!

It’s a two-point game again. Cortez Ratima is on at scrum-half for New Zealand, too.

09:25 AM BST

54 mins: NZL 30 ARG 25

Argentina are not lying down here. Mallía hits the line from a line-out and, for a split second, it looks like the full-back has cut through.

Papali’i covers across to smash his man and Tele’a jackals, but not before the tackler has rolled away. Penalty to the Pumas.

09:22 AM BST

53 mins: NZL 30 ARG 25 | TRY Tele’a!

Classic Mark Tele’a. He’s been reasonably quiet tonight, but pops up on the shoulder of Perenara as the Pumas struggle to contain his forwards.

The slippery, explosive wing evades Marcos Kremer to score close to the posts. McKenzie improves it with the conversion.

09:21 AM BST

51 mins: NZL 23 ARG 25

New Zealand pressing here. Lienert-Brown punches a hole off the line-out and Blackadder, twice, and Savea make ground...

09:19 AM BST

49 mins: NZL 23 ARG 25 | PENALTY S Carreras!

The kicks is good from the 10-metre line! Pumas go in front again.

Will Jordan is on as well. It’s his first competitive game since the World Cup final. Sevu Reece has made way.

09:17 AM BST

47 mins: NZL 23 ARG 22

Will Jordan is warming up on the touchline. We will see him soon, seemingly.

Joel Sclavi introduces himself with a monstrous run. Ethan Blackadder is barrelled backwards and might concede a penalty as well. He stayed high to confront Sclavi. After a TMO intervention, it’s a penalty to Argentina.

09:13 AM BST

45 mins: NZL 23 ARG 22 | PENALTY McKenzie!

Quick response again. McKenzie is on target as Argentina offend.

We still haven’t had a scrum and Argentina replace Eduardo Bello. “Sorry, no scrums” says Gardner as the tighthead leaves the fray.

09:10 AM BST

42 mins: NZL 20 ARG 22 | TRY Molina!

Well, well, well. Argentina hit the front!

Clever stuff from the Pumas at the line-out. Gonzalez goes up but Molina spins at the front to take a short throw and then has the power to barge over.

Excellent conversion from out wide from Santi Carreras and his team are ahead.

09:08 AM BST

41 mins: NZL 20 ARG 15

Lively start. Reece is found out wide with a kick-pass as the All Blacks aim to stretch the defence. But Argentina recover and Matera is over the ball.

Great kick from Santi Carreras to back it up! Argentina have a five-metre line-out.

09:07 AM BST

Second half

We’re away again.

09:06 AM BST

“We’ve got to control our emotions”

Amusing half-time interview with Kenny Lynn, the Argentina assistant coach. He knows the Pumas need to keep cool heads. All Blacks forwards guru Jason Ryan, meanwhile, says he is “pretty confident that we will change gears in this half.”

09:03 AM BST

Another screamer from Mateo Carreras

He deals in extraordinary tries, this man. Here is another for his collection.

09:01 AM BST

Is it on?

A third win over the All Blacks in four years, and a second since 2022 in New Zealand, would be quite something for Argentina. Their mighty back row will have to maintain the intensity and the penalty count needs to relent somewhat - the count if 10-4 in the All Blacks’ favour as it stands.

08:59 AM BST

Match action

A few familiar faces for Premiership viewers out there for Argentina. Here’s Santi Carreras climbing to gather a high ball in the back-field:

08:55 AM BST

A scrum-less first half

Quite quirky, that. No scrums at all, yet.

08:53 AM BST

Half-time: NZL 20 ARG 15

More effective defence from Argentina to finish the half. They keep New Zealand camped around halfway. Fascinating first 40 minutes.

08:50 AM BST

37 mins: NZL 20 ARG 15 | TRY M Carreras!

Wow! A fantastic finish from Mateo Carreras, out of nothing. Sevu Reece climbs to contest a high ball but only succeeds in batting it backwards for his opposite number to run onto.

Carreras, the former Newcastle Falcons flyer who set the Premiership alight for a couple of seasons, storms through and beats McKenzie all ends up with an electric in-and-out. He scurries around under the posts and Argentina respond immediately!

08:46 AM BST

35 mins: NZL 20 ARG 8 | TRY Lienert-Brown!

Power and then the pirouette. Impressively clinical from New Zealand. They maul and Ardie Savea breaks away, setting up a series of  carries close to the ruck. Darry mucks in again.

When there is enough momentum, McKenzie calls for the ball and feeds Anton Lienert-Brown, who spins past a tackle to go over. McKenzie converts and the gap widens.

08:43 AM BST

32 mins: NZL 13 ARG 8

Stubborn, aggressive defence from Argentina repels New Zealand until there is an offside penalty. Jordie Barrett goes to touch, setting up a line-out deep inside the Pumas 22.

08:41 AM BST

30 mins: NZL 13 ARG 8 | PENALTY Carreras!

The easiest kick imaginable. Ten minutes until half-time of a tense one.

08:40 AM BST

29 mins: NZL 13 ARG 5

Argentina bash away at the line. New Zealand hold firm but ship another penalty. Bit of mischief from Matera. He stands over the ball, seemingly poised to tap it... and then asks Santi Carreras to kick the three.

08:38 AM BST

27 mins: NZL 13 ARG 5

...as I say that, Argentina chase the restart and rush the All Blacks. Pedro Rubiolo pounces and Gardner obliges. What’s the call from here... Argentina are going to the corner.

08:37 AM BST

26 mins: NZL 13 ARG 5 | PENALTY McKenzie

Clean strike from around 40 metres from McKenzie, who punishes a breakdown offence from the Pumas. It was a marginal one. Argentina aren’t getting on the right side of those.

08:34 AM BST

23 mins: NZL 10 ARG 5 | TRY Cinti!

Bang! The Pumas strike back! Franco Molina muscles a maul turnover and Matera holds the ball in midfield before Santiago Chocobares slices directly through the All Blacks.

He stays calm and links with Cinti, who brushes off one defender on the way to the line. Great work from the Pumas centres.

Carreras sends the conversion across the posts but Argentina have a foothold in this one. Cut out the penalties and they will stay in it.

08:29 AM BST

Match action

Here’s that Sam Darry try. He won’t forget his first Test start.

08:28 AM BST

19 mins: NZL 10 ARG 0

Argentina respond and earn a penalty when Ethan Blackadder fails to roll away.

08:25 AM BST

15 mins: NZL 10 ARG 0 | TRY Darry!

Stunning try from the All Blacks, who pick off Argentina in transition.

McKenzie regathers his own chip and feeds Beauden Barrett, who accelerates down the outside before hooking another kick towards the posts.

Codie Taylor charges up the middle in pursuit and while the hooker cannot quite gather, Darry is there to finish close to the posts. The lock has started extremely well. McKenzie converts.

08:22 AM BST

13 mins: NZL 3 ARG 0

Perenara having a tough time at the base of the ruck. He’s charged down twice within a minute or so. He’s lucky. The second one deflects into touch and New Zealand hit Darry from the line-out.

08:20 AM BST

12 mins: NZL 3 ARG 0 | PENALTY McKenzie

Easy kick for the All Blacks fly-half. Seven penalties in 12 minutes so far. Argentina are on a warning from Gardner.

08:18 AM BST

10 mins: NZL 0 ARG 0

Messy from Argentina. Their line-out is poor and they ship another penalty - their fifth of the first 10 minutes - for an illegal tackle.

New Zealand go to touch, milk yet another penalty for offside, and may look for three points.

08:16 AM BST

8 mins: NZL 0 ARG 0

Big defence from the Pumas. They spoil the maul and González and Matera pounces to force a turnover.

08:15 AM BST

7 mins: NZL 0 ARG 0

In comes the television match official to flag a high tackle on Ardie Savea from Eduardo Bello. New Zealand hit touch and the maul ekes out another penalty. Jordie Barrett hits the corner.

08:13 AM BST

5 mins: NZL 0 ARG 0

Another huge chance for the Pumas! There was a bit of pin-ball in the midfield, with Matera losing possession. Anton Lienert-Brown attempted to loop the ball into space but Matías Moroni bolted off his wing and carved into open space.

Ethan Blackadder and, I think, Damian McKenzie scrambled across to make the tackle in the shadow of their posts and Gardner gives the breakdown penalty to New Zealand.

08:11 AM BST

3 mins: NZL 0 ARG 0

Darry has taken the first two line-outs for New Zealand. He looks robust and reliable already.

Towering take in the Pumas back-field from Juan Cruz Mallía, the Toulouse man.

08:09 AM BST

2 mins: NZL 0 ARG 0

Lovely stuff from the Pumas. They work some space for Gonzalez on the right thanks to some slick phase-play and then sweep to their left. New Zealand scramble back to intercept and must surrender a five-metre line-out.

Good response from the hosts. They bundle Gonzalez into touch... and Angus Gardner spots an Argentina offside.

08:07 AM BST

Kick-off

After a Pumas huddle, we’re away. Santi Carreras strikes down to the All Blacks 22 where Mark Tele’a takes and offloads to Ardie Savea. Perenara clears but it doesn’t reach touch and the Pumas are coming back at New Zealand nicely.

08:04 AM BST

Pleasantries

Nice renditions of the anthems - Argentina’s is fantastic, even away from home in an echoey stadium - and we’re into the haka, led by returning scrum-half TJ Perenara.

Marcos Kremer stares it down, beard glistening. He’s another who needs to impose himself for the Pumas.

07:57 AM BST

Conditions

A breath of wind, reasonably clear. Here come the players.

07:53 AM BST

Around 15 minutes until kick-off

Prediction time, get involved in the comments section.

I reckon New Zealand 35-12, with Sam Darry producing a robust performance.

07:49 AM BST

Over in Brisbane

South Africa have begun their Rugby Championship in convincing style, dismissing Australia 33-7. In truth, the Wallabies were poor and Joe Schmidt’s honeymoon period is over.

07:46 AM BST

Razor in the house

A nice snap here as Scott Robertson greets the fans. He really is an extremely popular figure and will be looking to go four from four as All Blacks head coach here.

07:41 AM BST

Introducing...

New Zealand are fielding two players who made their debuts against Fiji, meaning you might be unfamiliar with them if you only watched the England series last month. The first is Sam Darry, starting at lock in the absence of Scott Barrett. He is a bopping, bruising athlete who enjoyed an impressive Super Rugby campaign for the Blues. At 24, with Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock having ridden off into the sunset, he could stake a big claim over the course of this tournament.

Wallace Sititi is covering the back row from the bench. The son of Semo,a former Samoa captain who helped rattle England at the 2003 World Cup, this 21-year-old is a special talent. Deceptively powerful and quick, he should impact proceedings late on. Sititi is another with a huge future.

Speaking of huge, Efraín Elías is set for a Test debut from the Pumas bench. The 6ft 7in Toulouse lock has just been in South Africa at the U20 World Championship, where he captained his country. Contepomi clearly feels as though there is not much point in waiting around.

07:31 AM BST

Matera hits 102

What a player. If Argentina area going to get close to springing an upset, you sense their marauding captain will need to have a stormer.

07:28 AM BST

Line-ups

A look at the teams, then. Scott Barrett is out, so Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks. As mentioned earlier, the Pumas have brought back a few of the stars that were rested for the July games.

New Zealand: 15. Beauden Barrett, 14. Sevu Reece, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. Jordie Barrett, 11. Mark Tele’a, 10. Damian McKenzie, .9 TJ Perenara, 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Tupou Vaa’i, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Ethan Blackader, 7. Dalton Papali’i, 8. Ardie Savea (captain) 
Replacements: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Rieko Ioane, 23. Will Jordan

Argentina: 15. Juan Cruz Mallía, 14. Matías Moroni, 13. Lucio Cinti, 12. Santiago Chocobares, 11. Mateo Carreras, 10. Santiago Carreras, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 1. Thomas Gallo, 2. Ignacio Ruiz, 3. Eduardo Bello, 4. Franco Molina, 5. Pedro Rubiolo, 6. Pablo Matera (captain), 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. 8 Juan Martín González
Replacements: 16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Efrain Elias, 20. Tomas Lavanini, 21. Joaquin Oviedo, 22. Lautaro Bazan Velez, 23. Tomas Albornoz

07:18 AM BST

Man in the middle

Angus Gardner is taking charge today. The Australian also refereed the World Cup semi-final last October.

07:08 AM BST

Stage is set

Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of the Rugby Championship encounter between New Zealand and Argentina in Wellington. It is the first meeting between these teams since the World Cup semi-final last year; a jarringly one-sided affair at Stade de France.

The All Blacks won 44-6 that evening, pulling away with an exhibition of clinical attack. Will Jordan, back from a long hiatus to take a spot on Scott Robertson’s bench today, bagged a hat-trick. New Zealand booked their spot in the final, where South Africa prevailed.

New Zealand and the Pumas have spent most of the time since the World Cup in hibernation, only emerging in July. Robertson’s charges overturned England in two tight Tests before dismissing Fiji. Argentina shared a 1-1 series scoreline with a young France outfit. They then travelled to Uruguay and thrashed their South American neighbours 79-5.

The hosts are 17-point favourites for this game, and that feels about right, even as Argentina reintegrate exceptional players like Juan Martín González in the back row. We are two years on from the famous 25-18 victory for the Pumas in Christchurch. The aggregate score across three matches since then? A thumping 138-21 in New Zealand’s favour.

Another crumb of comfort for Felipe Contepomi’s men, besides the fact that they have overturned the All Blacks twice in the past four years, is that New Zealand have an oddly pockmarked record in Wellington.

Ireland beat them there in 2022, with Australia drawing 16-16 in 2020. South Africa also drew there the previous year, having won an epic 36-34 in 2018. Famously, the British and Irish Lions took advantage of Sonny Bill Williams’ red card to win the second Test in 2017 at the same venue.

One does not imagine that those results will worry Robertson too much, but they might just cause a few jitters if Argentina do what they do best and make life awkward for the All Blacks.