Argentina have pulled off one of the great test rugby upsets, stunning the All Blacks 25-15 for the first time - and leaving rugby fans questioning the new era under coach Ian Foster.
The fallout is coming thick and fast, with many - including All Black great Sir John Kirwan - questioning the All Blacks' discipline and leadership. Foster, who has just two wins in his first five tests in charge, admits his players were "rattled again".
The Pumas' maiden triumph over the All Blacks, in their 30th attempt, will be celebrated throughout a proud rugby nation but so, too, does it deserve the upmost recognition for the circumstances in which it arrives.
That they did it in Sydney, after spending two weeks in quarantine and last playing a test 402 days ago, speaks volumes of the achievement. The tears from many of their players, and coach Mario Ledesma, tells you everything about what this means to the Pumas.
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Argentina have been oh so close on so many occasions against the All Blacks but they, finally, have their historic moment after 27 straight losses since the 21-21 draw in 1985 in Buenos Aires.
Those Argentineans in the 9063-strong crowd were celebrating in style after watching their men dominate the All Blacks from the outset.
Collectively the All Blacks were left in a state of disbelief and captain Sam Cane was extremely disappointed.
"The lesson is in test match rugby you've got to turn up with the right intent, the right attitude every single weekend, or you get it handed to you," Cane said.
"They were good tonight and we weren't good enough. Their defence was outstanding."
The All Blacks were supposed to respond from last week's defeat to the Wallabies in Brisbane but despite returning to his first-choice side, Ian Foster's tenure was instead punctured by successive losses to further heap pressure on his shaky new era.
The inconsistency that has plagued the All Blacks this season again reared its ugly head.
Tomas Cubelli of the Pumas thanks the crowd after stunning the All Blacks in Sydney. Photo / Getty
Ill-discipline, urgency and execution were all lacking for the All Blacks and they blew repeated chances – botching a lineout five metres out and Rieko Ioane dropping the ball with Caleb Clarke unmarked outside him – in the second spell as they attempted to haul in a 16-3 halftime deficit.
Countless times in previous years we have witnessed the All Blacks pull off great escapes but that clinical composure was nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps most concerning of all, though, was when passes hit the deck almost every time a player in blue and white dived on it first. Based on body language alone, the Pumas certainly wanted this victory more.
Argentina were dominant at scrum time, they found success with their maul and in Nicolás Sánchez, who calmly collected 25 points, they had the superior playmaker.
Foster said the underdone Pumas turned a "disadvantage into an advantage".
"It was the second week in a row we haven't had good composure when things didn't go our way," Foster said.
"We're hurting greatly but they should be very proud of their team. It was a historic win for them."
Defensively the Pumas were superb – defying predictions they would struggle to hack the pace in their return to the test arena by restricting the All Blacks to one line break all game. Their tackle intent and accuracy regularly stopped the predictable All Blacks' ball carriers in their tracks which bred frustration and wayward kicking options.
The breakdown was a similar story, with Argentina bringing far more hunger to this area to disrupt the All Blacks' ability to build pressure.
Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, now in the Pumas coaching box, was likely an influential figure there while captain Pablo Matera proved a frequent source of inspiration, putting on big shots and winning breakdown turnovers. None were more crucial than the one he snaffled in the 74th minute with the All Blacks hot on attack.
The temperamental All Blacks, however, did not help themselves with several moments of madness making a mockery of the need for better discipline after last week's defeat.
Shannon Frizell and Dane Coles were both penalised for needless slaps on opposing players that offered the Pumas easy escapes. In Coles' case it was worse still with the penalty reversed.
New Zealand's Caleb Clarke and Ardie Savea, right, react following the Tri-Nations rugby test between Argentina and New Zealand. Photo / AP
Referee Angus Gardner did have one deadset shocker, though, when he pinged Jordie Barrett for an innocuous collision following a kick.
Sánchez's early try was somewhat fortuitous after he regathered his chip kick from a rebound off a teammate's shin but there was nothing lucky about the Pumas' 13 point halftime lead.
That margin would have been more, too, but for Aaron Smith's desperate try-saving tackle on Pumas wing Juan Imhoff following a breakaway.
When Richie Mo'unga kicked dead from a penalty, as the All Blacks attempted to hit back before the break, it was clear they were rattled.
In the second half the All Blacks went to their kicking game – a clear sign of respect for the staunch Pumas defence.
Argentina's Nicolas Sanchez dives across the line to score his team's first try during the Tri-Nations rugby test between Argentina and New Zealand. Photo / AP
The All Blacks needed 53 minutes to finally crack the Pumas line. That came from a quick lineout throw, and a rolling maul which finished with Cane crossing.
Hoskins Sotutu injected impact from the bench and Clarke bagged his first test try but it was all too, little too late, for the All Blacks.
While the Pumas thoroughly deserve their historic victory, serious questions must now be asked about this All Blacks side.
