Tomas Cubelli seeks breakthrough win against All Blacks that eluded his father

WE MEET AGAIN: Tomas Cubelli will renew acquaintances with the All Blacks after defeat in Christchurch in July 

LONDON, 19 Sept - The Cubelli family are rugby royalty at Belgrano Athletic, the club from which Alejandro (father) and Tomas (son) progressed to become Pumas.

On Sunday, Tomas will get a chance to heal a wound that still feels raw to his father, who was on the pitch for Argentina’s only draw against New Zealand, 30 years ago. All other test matches between the sides have resulted in victories for the Kiwis.

One that got away

On the heels of the team announcement, Tomas Cubelli was visibly moved when retelling his father’s recollections from that game.

“I remember we’d just been to an incredible game between the Pumas and the All Blacks at the River Plate Stadium. We lost the game right at the end, despite being perfectly poised to win it. I was sad about the defeat, and then my father told me and my brother about the 1985 game,” said Tomas, who was 12 at the time.

“He told us about that draw and about the scrum towards the end that could have handed us the win. As soon as I got home I started searching for videos and reading about the game,” Tomas said, his voice trembling. He added: “You can’t give these guys an inch until the final whistle.”

Porta’s famous draw

On 2 November 1985 at the Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, the Pumas’ fortress in those days, the legendary Hugo Porta had a memorable game, scoring four penalties and three amazing drop goals for a historic 21-21 draw against the All Blacks. For New Zealand, John Kirwan (two), Murray Mexted and Craig Green scored the tries, while Kieran Crowley contributed a conversion and a penalty.

But seared into the memories of anyone who was there that day is the five-metre scrum in the dying seconds of the game. As the set piece, led by hooker Alejandro Cubelli, crossed the line to potentially win the game, number eight Ernesto Ure decided to get up and knocked on the ball, putting an end to both the game and the dream of victory.

That wasn’t the only time the Pumas came close to breaking the All Blacks’ unbeaten run against them, however. On 1 December 2001, Argentina had been near-flawless at the River Plate, one of the biggest stadiums in the country, and with minutes to go the Pumas were up 20-17. But when Felipe Contepomi failed to kick the ball out, the All Blacks mounted a blistering counterattack which ended in a try from number eight Scott Robertson for a final score of 24-20 for the Kiwis, who had Richie McCaw in the starting XV.

Two notable victories

The official head-to-head tells us the Pumas have never managed to get the better of the All Blacks. But outside senior rugby union, Argentina have recorded a couple of wins against New Zealand.

On 8 July 1998, Argentina’s U21 side defeated New Zealand 12-11 in the fourth edition of the Rugby Championship, in Cape Town. A late Felipe Contepomi conversion handed Argentina their first victory against any New Zealand side. On the pitch that day was Martin Gaitan, the Pumas’ assistant coach at RWC 2015.

The other win came at the USA Sevens in Los Angeles, on 13 February 2004, where the Pumas upset the All Blacks in the final to win 21-12 and secure Argentina’s first World Sevens Series title.

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