Ten days of calm among NZ rugby fans have been shattered by more unwanted history, as Argentina upset the All Blacks for the first time on NZ soil, prevailing 25-18 at Christchurch.
The All Blacks' sixth loss in eight games, dating back to their northern hemisphere tour last year, will undoubtedly re-open the doubts over coach Ian Foster, who emerged from an intense examination with a stunning victory over South Africa two weeks ago.
This result - and the Springboks' comprehensive loss to Australia earlier in the evening - will do nothing to calm Foster's critics or those of captain Sam Cane, who was again replaced early, with his team behind.
To rub further salt in the wounds, the defeat came on the same ground that fan favourite and Foster's coaching rival Scott Robertson had achieved so much Super Rugby success with his champion Crusaders. That fact will not have escaped the packed-out OrangeTheory Stadium crowd of Cantabrians.
Guided by former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, assisted by former NZ Kiwis league coach David Kidwell, the Pumas had only beaten the All Blacks once before - at Sydney in 2020 - but took advantage of their opportunities to regain their spot atop the Rugby Championship.
The home side seemed to have turned a corner with their win over world champions South Africa at Ellis Park two weeks ago and carried that confidence into the early stages of this contest, quickly establishing some dominance at the set-piece.
Argentina are reknowned for their scrum power, but were rudely shoved off the mark time and time again by a rejuvenated All Blacks pack.
That power was on display, when New Zealand won an attacking lineout and mauled over from close range, with hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho benefitting for another try.
Taukei'aho played a major part in the All Blacks' second try, pouncing on a lineout overthrow from Pumas captain Julian Montoya on halfway and setting the backline away for winger Caleb Clarke to finish in style.
At 15-6, with halftime looming, the hosts seemed on the verge of breaking the game wide open, but were their own worst enemies, repeatedly penalised at the breakdown by inexperienced Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli, whose performance will no doubt come under scrutiny.
Amashukeli provided the Pumas with plenty of opportunities to stay in the contest and winger Emiliano Boffelli duly obliged, slotting four first-half penalties to have his team 15-12 behind at the break.
Early in the second half, Mo'unga converted a penalty to extend the All Blacks lead, but within seconds, Pumas flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez provided the turning point of the test match.
When NZ lock Scott Barrett was unable to secure the kickoff, the loose ball bounced to Gonzalez, who skilfully evaded the All Blacks defence, fending off halfback Aaron Smith on his way to the corner for his team's only try of the night.
Boffelli's sideline conversion put Argentina ahead 19-18 and suddenly the home side looked very vulnerable indeed.
Try as they might the All Blacks could not overcome two major obstacles to turn the tide back their way - the Pumas defence, masterminded by Kidwell, and their own indiscipline.
Mo'unga's kick for goal was their only points over the closing 40 minutes, while Boffelli found the posts twice more to ensure his side would not lose over the closing stages.
Finally, with 10 minutes remaining, Amashukeli had enough of the constant infringing and reduced New Zealand to 14 men, with flanker Shannon Frizell shown a yellow card. By that stage, Cane had already departed, replaced by Akira Ioane.
"Congratulations to Argentina," said Foster. "They kept true to how they wanted to play and really frustrated us.
"We didn't get what we wanted at the breakdown, we had large periods of dominance at the set-piece and then that didn't go well at the end... but overall, I felt they got away with some stuff at the breakdown and we weren't able to deal with it.
"We conceded that try at the kickoff, which was a bit fortunate, and after that, they grew an arm and a leg, and we probably got a bit flustered.
"We've got to look at our composure over the closing stages, especially with the bench coming on, and we have to be move ruthless at the breakdown. The ref was pretty harsh on entry and we paid a price."
After losing their series to Ireland last month, the All Blacks have now lost three times on home soil for the first time in more than a century, with two more homes games still to come - including the Pumas rematch at Hamilton next Saturday.
Argentina 25 (Gonzalez try; Boffelli 6 penalties & conversion) All Blacks 18 (Taukei'aho & Clarke tries; Mo'unga conversion & 2 penalties)
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