'Somebody will write a book about it' - Argentina coach Ledesma after historic defeat of All Blacks

SHOWS:

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (NOVEMBER 14, 2020) (QANTAS WALLABIES - NO RESALES)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARGENTINA COACH MARIO LEDESMA SAYING:

"I think we will remember this for a long time coming, not only because of the game but of this special situation that got us to the game, yeah. I guess somebody will write a book about it or something.”

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARGENTINA COACH MARIO LEDESMA SAYING:

"Um, yeah kind of surreal, with what just happened out there. But not the result but just even playing that game was surreal for us. We were sitting down just watching the boys get on the field after everything that has happened this year for us in Argentina and it’s even happening now, so just being out there and playing like they did, I would have said the same even if we lost, I would have been more disappointed, but as proud as I am right now."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND COACH IAN FOSTER SAYING:

"There's no excuses, it's an All Blacks' jersey and we have to do our best every time. But there certainly was two contrasting intensity levels in those two teams today."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND COACH IAN FOSTER SAYING:

"You can tell by my body language that I'm not excited by it. We've got to... we're all hurting in there, it's been, you know, it's been a massively difficult year for everyone and everything sort of feels a little bit different when you come to the game, you know, we've prepared well, but we've been met with a team who had a little bit too much passion for us, we've got to sort that out."

STORY: Argentina served up one of the biggest upsets in test rugby history when they stunned New Zealand 25-15 in the Tri-Nations on Saturday (November 14), beating the three-times world champions for the first time in 30 attempts going back 35 years.

An inspired Nicolas Sanchez scored all of Argentina's points with a try, six penalties and a conversion, and the Pumas held off a fierce late onslaught from the All Blacks to secure a famous victory in their first test for more than a year.

The Argentines were given almost no chance of registering a victory in their tournament opener after being kept off the pitch, mostly in quarantined environments, for almost the entire season by the global health crisis.

The Western Sydney Stadium was a most unlikely venue for their first win over the All Blacks but the ecstatic Pumas players gathered in front of a small band of their compatriots at the final whistle and celebrated with song and dance.

"It's kind of surreal," said Puma's coach Mario Ledesma. "I think we will remember this for a long time coming, not only because of the game but of this special situation that got us to the game, yeah. I guess somebody will write a book about it or something."

"There's no excuses, it's an All Blacks' jersey and we have to do our best every time," said New Zealand coach Ian Foster. "But there certainly was two contrasting intensity levels in those two teams today.

"We're all hurting in there, it's been, you know, it's been a massively difficult year for everyone and everything sort of feels a little bit different when you come to the game, you know, we've prepared well, but we've been met with a team who had a little bit too much passion for us, we've got to sort that out."

New Zealand remain top of the standings with six points ahead of Australia and Argentina, who both have four, but that mattered not a jot to the Pumas after they finally completed the full set of wins over the top tier rugby nations.

The teams meet again in Newcastle, Australia on November 28.

(Production: Mike Brock)