Boffelli’s conversion put the Pumas a point ahead,and his fifth penalty 13 minutes from time ensured New Zealand would need a converted try just to draw.

New Zealand,who chased the game for the last nine minutes with 14 men after Shannon Frizell was shown a yellow card,will almost be plunged back into the crisis that seemed over after their win over South Africa two weeks ago.

The home series loss to Ireland in July and defeat to the Springboks in their Rugby Championship opener had coach Ian Foster in danger of losing his job until the impressive victory at Ellis Park.

Tries from hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and winger Caleb Clarke should have given the All Blacks a comfortable lead at half-time on Saturday but ill-discipline throughout the match cost them dearly and they held only a 15-12 lead at the break.

“It certainly felt in the first half that we were a lot more dominant than the scoreboard showed,” captain Sam Cane said. “But a lot of credit has to go to them for the way they stuck at it and turned the tables and put us under a lot of pressure in the second half.

“We didn’t respond the way we wanted and they were good enough to get the win tonight.”

New Zealand,who have now lost four of six games this season,get a chance for immediate revenge in the fourth round of the championship next week.

“We travel up to Hamilton tomorrow and we get another crack. We better be better than we were tonight,” Cane said.

Reuters

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