August 25, 2025 • 11 mins
It's disappointment for Kiwi fans - but great news for Argentinian fans after Los Pumas beat out the All Blacks last weekend.
The All Blacks were beaten 29-23 in their Rugby Championship match in Buenos Aires.
Argentinian rugby journalist Zuca Conti joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk Zed be taken off.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The back by Materia. He winds up Pablo Materira.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Michael himself held, I made a short Gonzado g seea.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Scores the half back dots down Argentina twenty four point
thirteen and a kick to come. Yeah, the decisive try
and yesterday's history making first ever a home win for
Argentina over the All Blacks by twenty nine points to
twenty three. A great pleasure to welcome back into the show.
Argentine rugby journalist out of ESPN, Zuka Conti, Zuka, great
(00:41):
to chat to you. We spoke to you before the game.
It seems like whenever you join us, the Pumas make
more history. How was that feeling as you watched Argentina
beat the All Blacks on home soil for the very
first time yesterday?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I made it their pleasure.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Today is for me because it was an amazing match
here in Argentina.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Great night here for our local funds.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Finally, finally, the Pumas beat the All Blacks here in
home soil, so we are delighted with the performance of
the team. With the performance of the fans, so in
the in the stands, it was like a perfect and
a dream match for all the rugby here in Argentina
(01:28):
and hopefully hopefully a.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Message for the old blocks, for the spring books.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
This is the last rugby championship, so and I think
that the Argentinian rugby always speak on the field, and
I hope yesterday it was a strong measure to the
spring Box, to the All Blacks not to cut off
the tournament and so still playing after twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Absolutely, I think it's a very very strong message in
one which we all hope has heard. What were the
main reasons in your eyes, Zuka for the when.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
I think that first of all the contact, the physical battle,
when Argentina it's good in that area, then the game
expanded differently. I think that in Paramatta was they are
the team in christ Sow and yesterday I think that
(02:28):
we have a mixed situation. For one side Argentina Argentina
being effective with the with his game, and for the
other side I saw erratic oil blocks that I never
in my life was really not always with the with
(02:50):
the kick.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Through taking points.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
I think that in the forty mis tackles. It's something
that we've never sort in in the oil blocks and
I think, for example, in the last twenty two thirty years,
so probably Robertson and the coaching staff stuff has lots
of work trying to understand why the team can make
(03:18):
a good performance and then a performance that I think
it's below the standards of Geogles.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And Date and Ded. When we spoke before the game,
you mentioned Pablo Materia as an important player iteen Caries
sitting up the final try, huge physical prisons. How big
a player is he for you?
Speaker 4 (03:41):
I yesterday I said, for me, Paulo Materia is one
of the three most important players in rugby history of
Argentina and probably he's going He's in the path to
be the most important rugby bay in Argentina. The way
he played the game, the way he speak and he
(04:04):
it's inspirational for all the kids.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I told you yesterday that I talked with Pablo and
he told me it was tomorrow is going to be
the best game of our season and he was encouraged
for going to that victory. And after the match, I
told Paulo, you know that you know that you told me.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
That, he said me.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Sometimes they play the game is played before and this one,
this one was like that. I think that it was
something in the year in the air that was different
and it was a great and amazing night.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Indeed, who were the other most impressive players yesterday in
the Argentina side.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I think that Tocobar is now is in his position
one of the best players in the world. Great match
of about Tadeli, Matteo Carridas and jocuros Malia back three
and I want to speak especially about Santiago Garridas. It
(05:18):
was a special match for him because here in Argentina
his critical criticized a lot because of his of him
playing as a number ten, and yesterday he has to
came into the game replacing Thomas Albornos, that is playing
(05:39):
his best rugby ever and he get in the game.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
He played a great performance.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
He used well the hands, well, the mental decisions, well
the strategy, the kicking game. I think that it was
a great performance and deserved performance for Santeogarridas.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Argentina have now won three of the last eight Taste
matches against the All Blacks have one in Parameda that won.
Why's here in New Zealand. Now that one there in
Argentina as well as Zuka, is the All Blacks aura
of invincibility disappearing now.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
No, no, no, But I don't know. I think that
we have to be humble here in Argentina to to
speak about the All Blacks because we admired the All
Blacks all our history.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
We we we.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Grew up watching New Zealand rugby that Super Rugby season,
so I remember being a kid and watching long more.
My favorite players always are from New Zealand. Andrew Martens,
Dan Carter Now I had good relationship with Body Barrett,
Daniel McKenzie. I used to play as number ten, so
(06:56):
I named that that kind of players.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
But I think that now it's it's a different moment Argentina.
It's growing.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
That's that's true, and for me.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
That that's the important thing.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
The Argentina ten fifteen years ago was out of your
rugby championship.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
We used to play the Oil Blacks.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Once in ten years, so for us it was a
kind of impossible beating the Oil Blacks because we we
we do we don't play against them. So I think
that this is the best example of if you put
the the the teams in the in the way, in
(07:43):
the good position you give, you give me, give them tools.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
To play and grow the great the game grows.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
I think that New Zealand make a bad decision when
they cut off the South African teams of the Super Rugby.
I missed that Super Rugby of South as Africa, Australia
and New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Hopefully Howard is two, but of.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
That frie Nations, of course, I think that it's a
bad decision from spring Box and New Zealand now putting
down the rugby Championship. I think that the best decision
was is not to put that the rugby Championship. It's
about adding more teams FISHI Japan. We have to work
all together to make the rugby bigger. And the only
(08:36):
way that the rugby get bigger is most teams battling
in the same level, no meeting each other between four
years in the World Cup, and of course the difference
is going to be fifty zero because the lower teams
they can improve a lot in the four years if
(08:57):
they can't play. I think that Argent teenage a would
example for that. I respect the All Blacks, it's always
my favorite team.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
I admire.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
I'm so happy when the ol Blacks come here to Argentina.
The rugby of Argentina, it's like a weeks of festival,
having New Zealand here, eating barbecues, going to the stadiums.
It's amazing. So hopefully it's not the last time.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I totally agree. I totally agree with you. We all
have to grow together. The poemers will now hit to
Australia for two tastes. How confident do you feel about
their ability to win one or even both of those matches.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I'm confident.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
It's going to be hard because Australia I think that
it's growing and growing game.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
After game, so it's going to be tough. But I
think that.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
In the against the Oil Blacks and South Africa, we
are the underdogs teams. Now I think that it's fifty
to fifty against Australia. So it's going to be important
for the team. First of all, adapt to play without
Thomas Albornos because he's injured in his hand and he's
(10:13):
not going to be with a squad in this tour.
And then it's like a fifty to fifty game if
Argentina and again if Argentina is good in the in
the physical battle. I think that we have now the
volume on the game to damage any team in the world.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I thought of you immediately after the final were still yesterday, Zuki,
You've waited a long time for this. No more waiting,
no more whiting. Congratulations to the permise. Thanks as always
for your time. I look forward to catching up again soon.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I'm always be here to talk about rugby, about to
talk about the Pumas. It was a sorry night for
all all the rugby fans here in our country and
we are enjoying. But we are of course thinking about
the next couple of weeks that are going to be
important to to solid that that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
To grow of the of the team. That's step forward. Okay,
they have to be they have to do that in Australia.
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Great, No, thank you very much, Mike. What a what
a great blog. Zuka Conti the LVSPN and Argentina.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk Zed be taken off.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The back by Materia. He winds up Pablo Materira.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Michael himself held, I made a short Gonzado g seea.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Scores the half back dots down Argentina twenty four point
thirteen and a kick to come. Yeah, the decisive try
and yesterday's history making first ever a home win for
Argentina over the All Blacks by twenty nine points to
twenty three. A great pleasure to welcome back into the show.
Argentine rugby journalist out of ESPN, Zuka Conti, Zuka, great
(00:41):
to chat to you. We spoke to you before the game.
It seems like whenever you join us, the Pumas make
more history. How was that feeling as you watched Argentina
beat the All Blacks on home soil for the very
first time yesterday?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I made it their pleasure.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Today is for me because it was an amazing match
here in Argentina.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Great night here for our local funds.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Finally, finally, the Pumas beat the All Blacks here in
home soil, so we are delighted with the performance of
the team. With the performance of the fans, so in
the in the stands, it was like a perfect and
a dream match for all the rugby here in Argentina
(01:28):
and hopefully hopefully a.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Message for the old blocks, for the spring books.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
This is the last rugby championship, so and I think
that the Argentinian rugby always speak on the field, and
I hope yesterday it was a strong measure to the
spring Box, to the All Blacks not to cut off
the tournament and so still playing after twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Absolutely, I think it's a very very strong message in
one which we all hope has heard. What were the
main reasons in your eyes, Zuka for the when.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
I think that first of all the contact, the physical battle,
when Argentina it's good in that area, then the game
expanded differently. I think that in Paramatta was they are
the team in christ Sow and yesterday I think that
(02:28):
we have a mixed situation. For one side Argentina Argentina
being effective with the with his game, and for the
other side I saw erratic oil blocks that I never
in my life was really not always with the with
(02:50):
the kick.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Through taking points.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
I think that in the forty mis tackles. It's something
that we've never sort in in the oil blocks and
I think, for example, in the last twenty two thirty years,
so probably Robertson and the coaching staff stuff has lots
of work trying to understand why the team can make
(03:18):
a good performance and then a performance that I think
it's below the standards of Geogles.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And Date and Ded. When we spoke before the game,
you mentioned Pablo Materia as an important player iteen Caries
sitting up the final try, huge physical prisons. How big
a player is he for you?
Speaker 4 (03:41):
I yesterday I said, for me, Paulo Materia is one
of the three most important players in rugby history of
Argentina and probably he's going He's in the path to
be the most important rugby bay in Argentina. The way
he played the game, the way he speak and he
(04:04):
it's inspirational for all the kids.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I told you yesterday that I talked with Pablo and
he told me it was tomorrow is going to be
the best game of our season and he was encouraged
for going to that victory. And after the match, I
told Paulo, you know that you know that you told me.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
That, he said me.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Sometimes they play the game is played before and this one,
this one was like that. I think that it was
something in the year in the air that was different
and it was a great and amazing night.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Indeed, who were the other most impressive players yesterday in
the Argentina side.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I think that Tocobar is now is in his position
one of the best players in the world. Great match
of about Tadeli, Matteo Carridas and jocuros Malia back three
and I want to speak especially about Santiago Garridas. It
(05:18):
was a special match for him because here in Argentina
his critical criticized a lot because of his of him
playing as a number ten, and yesterday he has to
came into the game replacing Thomas Albornos, that is playing
(05:39):
his best rugby ever and he get in the game.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
He played a great performance.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
He used well the hands, well, the mental decisions, well
the strategy, the kicking game. I think that it was
a great performance and deserved performance for Santeogarridas.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Argentina have now won three of the last eight Taste
matches against the All Blacks have one in Parameda that won.
Why's here in New Zealand. Now that one there in
Argentina as well as Zuka, is the All Blacks aura
of invincibility disappearing now.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
No, no, no, But I don't know. I think that
we have to be humble here in Argentina to to
speak about the All Blacks because we admired the All
Blacks all our history.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
We we we.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Grew up watching New Zealand rugby that Super Rugby season,
so I remember being a kid and watching long more.
My favorite players always are from New Zealand. Andrew Martens,
Dan Carter Now I had good relationship with Body Barrett,
Daniel McKenzie. I used to play as number ten, so
(06:56):
I named that that kind of players.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
But I think that now it's it's a different moment Argentina.
It's growing.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
That's that's true, and for me.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
That that's the important thing.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
The Argentina ten fifteen years ago was out of your
rugby championship.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
We used to play the Oil Blacks.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Once in ten years, so for us it was a
kind of impossible beating the Oil Blacks because we we
we do we don't play against them. So I think
that this is the best example of if you put
the the the teams in the in the way, in
(07:43):
the good position you give, you give me, give them tools.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
To play and grow the great the game grows.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
I think that New Zealand make a bad decision when
they cut off the South African teams of the Super Rugby.
I missed that Super Rugby of South as Africa, Australia
and New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Hopefully Howard is two, but of.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
That frie Nations, of course, I think that it's a
bad decision from spring Box and New Zealand now putting
down the rugby Championship. I think that the best decision
was is not to put that the rugby Championship. It's
about adding more teams FISHI Japan. We have to work
all together to make the rugby bigger. And the only
(08:36):
way that the rugby get bigger is most teams battling
in the same level, no meeting each other between four
years in the World Cup, and of course the difference
is going to be fifty zero because the lower teams
they can improve a lot in the four years if
(08:57):
they can't play. I think that Argent teenage a would
example for that. I respect the All Blacks, it's always
my favorite team.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
I admire.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
I'm so happy when the ol Blacks come here to Argentina.
The rugby of Argentina, it's like a weeks of festival,
having New Zealand here, eating barbecues, going to the stadiums.
It's amazing. So hopefully it's not the last time.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I totally agree. I totally agree with you. We all
have to grow together. The poemers will now hit to
Australia for two tastes. How confident do you feel about
their ability to win one or even both of those matches.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I'm confident.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
It's going to be hard because Australia I think that
it's growing and growing game.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
After game, so it's going to be tough. But I
think that.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
In the against the Oil Blacks and South Africa, we
are the underdogs teams. Now I think that it's fifty
to fifty against Australia. So it's going to be important
for the team. First of all, adapt to play without
Thomas Albornos because he's injured in his hand and he's
(10:13):
not going to be with a squad in this tour.
And then it's like a fifty to fifty game if
Argentina and again if Argentina is good in the in
the physical battle. I think that we have now the
volume on the game to damage any team in the world.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I thought of you immediately after the final were still yesterday, Zuki,
You've waited a long time for this. No more waiting,
no more whiting. Congratulations to the permise. Thanks as always
for your time. I look forward to catching up again soon.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
I'm always be here to talk about rugby, about to
talk about the Pumas. It was a sorry night for
all all the rugby fans here in our country and
we are enjoying. But we are of course thinking about
the next couple of weeks that are going to be
important to to solid that that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
To grow of the of the team. That's step forward. Okay,
they have to be they have to do that in Australia.
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Great, No, thank you very much, Mike. What a what
a great blog. Zuka Conti the LVSPN and Argentina.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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