History as Pumas beat All Blacks for first time

 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 All blacks Pumas live online 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." ARG v NZL live Rugby

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