The All Blacks have been stunned by Argentina in the opening game of the Rugby Championship.
A try from replacement hooker Agustin Creevy and a late penalty from Santiago Carreras got the Pumas up for a 38-30 victory over New Zealand at Wellington's Sky Stadium on Saturday night.
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The loss continues the All Blacks' poor recent record in the Capital. In their last seven tests in Wellington dating back to 2017, the ABs have just one victory, two draws and four losses to the British and Irish Lions, South Africa, Ireland and now Argentina.
It was also the All Blacks' third loss to Argentina in their last nine meetings, including two on New Zealand soil.
New Zealand got a great start with a Damian McKenzie penalty and long-range try from debutant lock Sam Darry in the 15th minute, putting them up 10-0.
McKenzie chipped for himself from inside his own 22, regathered and fed Beauden Barrett, who kicked ahead for the chasers. The ball bounced over Mark Tele'a with the try-line beckoning but Darry was on hand.
Argentina answered through centre Lucio Cinti when they ripped the ball away at a maul and counter-attacked. Anton Lienert-Brown came out of the defensive line, allowing the space for Santiago Chocobares to go through, setting up Cinti.
After McKenzie and Carreras traded penalties, the All Blacks extended their lead to 20-8 in the 35th minute when Lienert-Brown spun out of a tackle near the goal-line.
But the Pumas hit back immediately, when wing Matthias Carreras pounced on a fortuitous bounce after Tele'a knocked a high ball backwards, then stepped inside McKenzie, closing the gap to five points.
Argentina took the lead for the first time three minutes after the break when lock Franco Molina scored, before McKenzie and Carreras again traded penalties.
Tele'a slipped through in the 52nd minute to put New Zealand up again but Argentina finished stronger, with Creevy forcing his way over in the 69th minute and Carreras booting eight points as the Pumas finished the match with 13 unanswered points.
"We have to own it, look ourselves in the mirror, get the lessons we need, but we have to stay together," said stand-in All Blacks captain Ardie Savea. "Good thing about rugby is we get a chance to play again next week."
The two teams face each other again next Saturday at Auckland's Eden Park (kick-off 7.05pm).
Argentina 38 (Lucio Cinti, Mateo Carreras, Franco Molina, Agustin Creevy tries; Santiago Carreras 3 con, 4 pen) All Blacks 30 (Sam Darry, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a tries; Damian McKenzie 3 con, 3 pen). HT: 15-20
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