New Zealand v Argentina, Rugby Championship, September 8
Pumas out to upset the form book
ESPN Staff
September 2, 2012
New Zealand's Brad Thorn touches down for a try, New Zealand v Argentina, Rugby World Cup quarter-final, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, October 9, 2011
Brad Thorn scored one of two tries against the Pumas at Rugby World Cup 2011 © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Rugby Championship

Argentina travel to face New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, with the Pumas out to overturn the weight of history in their first Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks.

The two sides have met 14 times through the years, with New Zealand coming out on top on 13 occasions.

Argentina's best effort was a 21-21 draw back in 1985, when the great Hugo Porta landed all of their points.

Argentina have fared badly at times, with a 93-8 humbling in Wellington in 1997 a particular lowlight. Carlos Spencer was Argentina's tormentor-in-chief that day, the mercurial fly-half scoring two of his side's 14 tries as well as contributing 23 points off the kicking tee.

The form guide suggests that the Pumas will have to wait for the comforts of home before mounting a serious charge at the All Blacks, with their last meeting in Buenos Aires in 2006 finishing 25-19 to the visitors after a hard-fought encounter.

The teams met most recently at last year's Rugby World Cup, when the All Blacks survived an early scare to pull through 33-10 thanks to tries from Kieran Read and Brad Thorn.

Argentina v New Zealand

All-time record: Played 14; Argentina won 0, New Zealand won 13, drawn 1

Biggest winning margins: Arg: N/A; NZ: 85 (93-8 Wellington, 1997)

Highest score: Arg: 21 (21-21 Buenos Aires, 1985); NZ: 93 (93-8 Wellington, 1997)

Most tries: Arg: 2 (20-24 Buenos Aires 2001, 20-33 Buenos Aires 1985, 14-28 Buenos Aires 1991, 19-67 Christchurch 2001); NZ: 14 (93-8 Wellington, 1997);

Most points (individual): Arg: 65 Hugo Porta; NZ: 103 Grant Fox

Most tries (individual): Arg: 3 Lisandro Arbizu; NZ: 8 John Kirwan

Click Here for Argentina's full Test record courtesy of Statsguru

Click Here for New Zealand's full Test record courtesy of Statsguru

Click Here for a full record of all Argentina v New Zealand matches courtesy of Statsguru

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