Argentina vs New Zealand Rugby: Score, History & Wins

For more than three decades, Argentina’s Los Pumas faced the All Blacks expecting defeat. Then, in 2022, something cracked open: a 25-18 win in Christchurch gave Argentina its first victory on New Zealand soil. Five years later, that breakthrough has become a pattern—Argentina stunned the rugby world again with a 29-23 home win in Buenos Aires on 23 August 2024. This is the story of how a once-lopsided rivalry turned into one of the sport’s most compelling contests.

Head-to-Head Wins: New Zealand 32, Argentina 3 · Argentina’s First Win on NZ Soil: 25-18, Christchurch, 2022 · Latest Result: Argentina 29-23 New Zealand, 2025 · Total Matches: 40 · Argentina Home Wins vs NZ: 1 (first in 2025)

Has Argentina ever beaten New Zealand in rugby?

Yes—three times. For most of rugby history, that statement would have seemed impossible. New Zealand’s All Blacks dominated Argentina so completely that Los Pumas went decades without a win, let alone a series victory.

The breakthrough came on 27 August 2022, when Argentina defeated New Zealand 25-18 in Christchurch (Wikipedia). It was the first time Argentina had ever beaten the All Blacks on New Zealand soil in 34 attempts. Three years later, on 23 August 2025, Argentina secured its first-ever home win over New Zealand with a 29-23 victory in Buenos Aires (Wikipedia).

First victory details

Argentina’s 25-18 win in Christchurch marked match number 34 in the rivalry. The victory came during the Rugby Championship, a competition Argentina had joined in 2012. That first win was followed immediately by New Zealand’s response: a 53-3 drubbing in Hamilton just days later.

Wins on New Zealand soil

Until 2022, no Argentine side had ever won a test in New Zealand. The 25-18 result at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium broke a 27-match winning streak the All Blacks had held over Argentina since 1987 (Wikipedia). The win was not a fluke—Argentina controlled the breakdown and executed in the final quarter.

Home wins against All Blacks

Argentina’s 29-23 victory on 23 August 2025 was its first home win over New Zealand in 40 test matches. The previous 39 attempts had ended in New Zealand victories or draws. Buenos Aires had been a fortress for the All Blacks for nearly four decades (RugbyPass).

The implication: Argentina has crossed a threshold. Two breakthroughs in three years suggest the gap between these teams has genuinely narrowed.

What is the history of rugby union matches between Argentina and New Zealand?

The rivalry spans more than 35 years and 40 test matches. It began at the 1987 Rugby World Cup pool stage, where New Zealand routed Argentina, and continued through World Cup quarter-finals, semi-finals, and countless Rugby Championship encounters.

Overall head-to-head record

Through 2025, New Zealand holds a 32-3 advantage with 2 draws. Argentina’s three wins came in 2020, 2022, and 2025. New Zealand’s largest win was a 62-10 thrashing in Hamilton on 28 June 1997 (Wikipedia).

The All Blacks’ longest winning streak against Argentina lasted 27 consecutive matches from 1 June 1987 to 14 November 2020. Argentina’s longest winning streak against New Zealand is just one match, repeated in 2020 and 2022 (Wikipedia).

Key matches and turning points

Several encounters stand out beyond the obvious upset wins. In 2012, New Zealand won 54-15 in La Plata. In 2023, New Zealand defeated Argentina 44-6 in the Rugby World Cup semi-final in Paris (Wikipedia). The 2024 Rugby Championship saw both teams exchange victories: Argentina won 38-30 in Wellington on 10 August 2025, then New Zealand responded with a 42-10 victory at Eden Park on 17 August 2025 (ESPN match stats).

Rugby Championship encounters

Since Argentina joined the Rugby Championship in 2012, the competition has become the primary battleground for this rivalry. The 2025 Championship opener saw New Zealand win 41-24 at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba on 16 August 2025—Argentina’s ninth different city to host the Pumas in the competition (Rugby Australia match centre). Argentina bounced back to win the second leg 29-23 (RugbyPass head-to-head).

What channel is Argentina v New Zealand on?

Broadcasting rights for Argentina vs New Zealand rugby vary by region. Sky Sports holds the UK rights for Rugby Championship matches. RugbyPass offers international streaming coverage. For viewers in Argentina, local sports channels typically carry the games. International fans should check regional listings for their specific country.

UK viewing options

Sky Sports covers Rugby Championship matches involving New Zealand and Argentina in the UK. Matches are available via Sky Sports TV channels and the Sky Go streaming service. Satellite subscribers can watch live. For cord-cutters, the Sky Sports app provides mobile and tablet access.

Live streaming platforms

RugbyPass streams Rugby Championship matches internationally, including Argentina vs New Zealand clashes. The platform operates in multiple countries and offers both live coverage and on-demand replays. Rugby.com.au covers matches from an Australian perspective for viewers in that region (Rugby Australia match centre).

International broadcast details

Beauden Barrett earned his 137th cap for New Zealand in the 2025 opener, setting a national record with 21 caps against Argentina (Americas Rugby News guide). The match was officiated by French referee Pierre Brousset (World Rugby official match page), and the match center hosted by Rugby Australia captured detailed statistics from the Cordoba fixture.

What to watch: Argentina prepared for the 2025 Rugby Championship by beating the British & Irish Lions 28-24 in Dublin on 20 August 2025, while New Zealand sharpened form with a 29-19 win against France in Hamilton on 19 August 2025 (Americas Rugby News guide).

Argentina vs New Zealand score and highlights

The most recent encounter saw Argentina defeat New Zealand 29-23 in Buenos Aires on 23 August 2025 (RugbyPass). The victory marked Argentina’s first home win in the 40-match history between these teams. Kick success rates showed New Zealand at 80% and Argentina at 71% (ESPN match stats).

Latest match result

Argentina 29, New Zealand 23—final score in Buenos Aires on 23 August 2025. This result came one week after New Zealand’s 41-24 victory in Cordoba, demonstrating Argentina’s ability to bounce back within a single Championship window. The win was secured through dominance in the air and breakdown contest, according to post-match analysis (YouTube match analysis).

Key moments

Argentina’s victory hinged on two factors: disciplined defense in the first half and clinical finishing in the final quarter. The breakdown battle proved decisive, with Argentina winning multiple turnovers in the dying minutes. World Rugby’s official match data confirms the scoreline and venue details (World Rugby official match page).

Player ratings

Player performance ratings from Sky Sports highlighted Argentina’s pack as the difference-maker. Individual ratings are available through Sky Sports Rugby and ESPN match statistics. The AllBlacks official site maintains comprehensive career statistics for New Zealand players, including Beauden Barrett’s record cap tally against Argentina (AllBlacks.com rivalry statistics).

The upshot: Argentina’s home win was not a one-off. The preparation, execution, and tactical discipline shown in Buenos Aires suggest genuine growth rather than luck.

Argentina vs New Zealand Rugby Championship preview

The Rugby Championship has become the defining stage for this rivalry. Argentina’s entry in 2012 transformed what was once a sporadic meeting into an annual contest that tests both teams’ depth, resilience, and tactical adaptability.

Match time and venue

The 2025 Rugby Championship opened on 16 August at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba—Argentina’s ninth city to host a Pumas test in the competition. The venue marked New Zealand’s first-ever test in Cordoba. The return leg on 23 August 2025 took place in Buenos Aires (Americas Rugby News guide).

Team form

Argentina entered the 2025 Championship after beating the British & Irish Lions 28-24 in Dublin on 20 August 2024—a result that signaled their growing ability to compete outside the Americas. New Zealand had prepared by defeating France 29-19 in Hamilton on 19 August 2025, showing their continued dominance in the build-up fixtures (Americas Rugby News guide).

World rankings

New Zealand remains in the top three of World Rugby rankings. Argentina has climbed steadily since the early 2000s. The 2025 Championship results—New Zealand’s 41-24 win followed by Argentina’s 29-23 response—kept both teams in the upper tier. Rugby World Championship data from Wikipedia confirms the trajectory for both nations (Wikipedia).

Argentina vs New Zealand: Head-to-Head Record

Two teams, 40 matches, and a rivalry that has defined Southern Hemisphere rugby for decades.

The table shows the stark contrast between decades of New Zealand dominance and Argentina’s recent breakthroughs. The 38-30 win in Wellington in 2024 was Argentina’s largest ever away victory against the All Blacks (ESPN match stats).

Rugby World Cup: Argentina vs New Zealand Meetings

Four Rugby World Cup encounters have added another layer to this rivalry.

The 2023 semi-final in Paris saw New Zealand record their largest World Cup win over Argentina: 44-6 (Wikipedia). Yet just two years later, Argentina would achieve its greatest victory against the same opponent on home soil.

Why this matters: Rugby World Cup results do not translate directly to Championship form. The 44-6 semi-final defeat did not prevent Argentina from beating New Zealand at home in 2025.

Timeline of Argentina’s Historic Wins

Four decades of waiting, then three breakthroughs in rapid succession.

The pattern: Argentina’s three wins came in a 36-month window that followed three decades of futility. Each victory built confidence for the next, culminating in the historic home win in Buenos Aires (Wikipedia).

What We Know and What Remains Uncertain

Argentina scored their first win on home soil against the All Blacks with a 29–23 victory in Buenos Aires on 23 August 2024. — Wikipedia

The All Blacks have suffered a historic 29–23 defeat in Buenos Aires, with Argentina finally beating New Zealand at home for the first time ever. — YouTube match analysis

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Argentina’s upset victory tested the dominance of the All Blacks history, boasting a 76% win rate and three Rugby World Cup titles.

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