WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Veteran Agustin Creevy scored a try in the 69th minute as Argentina beat New Zealand 38-30 on Saturday in a thrilling Rugby Championship match which saw five lead changes in the second half.
The 39-year-old hooker came off the bench in the last quarter to score his seventh try in tests and secure Argentina’s third win over New Zealand in 42 meetings.
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New Zealand's Mark Tele'a dives over to score a try against Argentina during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Cortez Ratima, left, is tackled off the ball by Argentina's Santaigo Carreras during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's players celebrate their win over New Zealand in their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Sevu Reece, left, dishes the ball off as he is tackled by Argentina's Lucio Cinti during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Sam Darry, left, celebrates with teammate Ethan Blackadder after scoring a try against Argentina during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Sevu Reece, left, takes a high ball in front of Argentina's Mateo Carreras during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Matias Moroni, right, scores a try despite the efforts of New Zealand's Damian McKenzie during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Matias Moroni, right, races away fro the New Zealand defense to score a try during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Mateo Carreras, right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Mateo Carreras scores a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Pablo Matera, center, is tackled by New Zealand's Ethan de Groot, left, and Ardie Savea during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Matias Moroni, right, runs from New Zealand's Ethan Blackadder during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Santiago Carreras, center, take a high ball in front of New Zealand's Sevu Reece during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Lucio Cinti, right, chases after New Zealand's Damian McKenzie during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand players perform at the haka in front of Argentina's team, bottom, ahead of their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Agustin Creevy and Pablo Matera celebrate a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Creevy's try in Wellington stemmed from a moment of abject panic among the All Blacks who, with two wild passes, retreated from near halfway to their own goal line where they conceded a five-meter scrum. The Pumas scrum held steady and Creevy was able to drive the ball through the defense under the posts.
Santiago Carreras converted, then kicked a penalty in the 77th minute which made the margin eight points and snuffed out the possibility of an All Blacks rally. Carreras finished with seven goals from eight attempts for 18 points.
“I’m 39 and this is the first time for me winning a game in New Zealand,” an emotional Creevy said. “That is one game. But there is another game next week and that is the next thing. Winning two games in a row.”
The teams meet against at Auckland’s Eden Park next Saturday.
While the All Blacks scored tries through lock Sam Darry, center Anton Lienert-Brown and winger Mark Telea to lead 30-25 after 53 minutes, Argentina stuck with them all the way and gave their opponents no breathing space in the second half.
Carreras cut the New Zealand lead to two points with a penalty in the 55th and that created the opportunity for Argentina to snatch the win with a late try.
“I think we had a great preparation and we had a plan and stuck to the plan even when the score was not in our favor,” said Argentina captain Pablo Matera, who was a tower of strength for his team.
“We just kept going and got the win.”
Argentina dominated large parts of the match and the All Blacks fumbled for long periods in their own half. Few All Blacks teams have had a better preparation for domestic test matches than this one. But they seem to have made little progress under new head coach Scott Robertson.
New Zealand was disjointed, disorganized and made far too many errors to press Argentina or hold them out at the end.
“It’s hugely disappointing,” All Blacks captain Ardie Savea said. “We prepared all week to come here and get the win but it wasn’t our night tonight.
“All credit to Argentina, they stayed with us, put us under pressure and we couldn’t hold them.”
Discipline was Argentina’s only Achilles heel in the first half in which they matched the All Blacks’ two tries and after which they trailed 20-15. The Pumas conceded 10 penalties and received an official warning before halftime and that did more than anything to give the All Blacks a solid foothold in the half.
Damian McKenzie opened the scoring with a penalty in the 12th after the All Blacks were unable to gain an advantage when they took lineouts instead of goal kicks.
Darry then scored the first try to mark his starting debut for New Zealand. McKenzie kicked ahead and regained possession, then passed to Beauden Barrett who center kicked. The bounce eluded Lienert-Brown and Telea but fell to Darry who scored in the 15th minute.
The Pumas produced a superb reply and a try to center Lucio Cinti. Matera held the ball up for a long time in midfield, then dropped it off to Santiago Chocobares in a gap who linked with Cinti 40 meters out.
McKenzie and Santiago Carreras exchanged penalties and the score was 13-8 after 30 minutes.
Lienert-Brown scored New Zealand’s second try when a penalty gave it an attacking lineout. The All Blacks pressed the Pumas’ line then tricked the defense when they went to the backline. McKenzie had Jordie Barrett and Lienert-Brown in support and went wider to Lienert-Brown who spun through a tackle to score.
Again, Argentina replied immediately. In a contest for the ball in the air, Sevu Reece batted the ball back New Zealand’s way but Mateo Carreras ran onto the bounce and stepped McKenzie at pace to score.
Argentina claimed the lead for the first time immediately after the restart. Carreras drilled the ball into the corner from a penalty and at the lineout the Pumas threw up a dummy jumper. The All Blacks were deceived and the ball went to Franco Molina at the front who drove over.
The lead then changed three times in quick succession. A penalty from McKenzie put the All Blacks back in front and another from Santiago Carreras restored Argentina’s two-point lead at 25-23.
Then Telea scored for the All Blacks in the 52nd. After New Zealand’s most sustained attack in which Savea had a crucial carry, the ball went to Telea behind a ruck and he was able to find space close in to score, putting New Zealand ahead 30-25.
Argentina finished more strongly than New Zealand whose 30-year unbeaten record at Eden Park must now be under threat.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
New Zealand's Mark Tele'a dives over to score a try against Argentina during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Cortez Ratima, left, is tackled off the ball by Argentina's Santaigo Carreras during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's players celebrate their win over New Zealand in their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Sevu Reece, left, dishes the ball off as he is tackled by Argentina's Lucio Cinti during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Sam Darry, left, celebrates with teammate Ethan Blackadder after scoring a try against Argentina during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Sevu Reece, left, takes a high ball in front of Argentina's Mateo Carreras during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Matias Moroni, right, scores a try despite the efforts of New Zealand's Damian McKenzie during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Matias Moroni, right, races away fro the New Zealand defense to score a try during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Mateo Carreras, right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Mateo Carreras scores a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Pablo Matera, center, is tackled by New Zealand's Ethan de Groot, left, and Ardie Savea during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Matias Moroni, right, runs from New Zealand's Ethan Blackadder during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Masanori Udagawa/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Santiago Carreras, center, take a high ball in front of New Zealand's Sevu Reece during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Lucio Cinti, right, chases after New Zealand's Damian McKenzie during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand players perform at the haka in front of Argentina's team, bottom, ahead of their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Argentina's Agustin Creevy and Pablo Matera celebrate a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — As many in the entertainment industry navigate the devastating effects of the California wildfires, some will soon be decamping to cleaner air in the mountains. The annual Sundance Film Festival begins Thursday in Park City, Utah.
The 41st edition of Robert Redford’s brainchild will, as always, be a year of discovery and discussion. There are timely films:
— “Free Leonard Peltier,” which will premiere just days after former President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of the Indigenous activist nearly half a century after he was imprisoned for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.
— Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov’s“2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a joint production between The Associated Press and Frontline about an attempt to liberate an occupied territory in Ukraine
— Several films about trans rights including “Heightened Scrutiny,” about civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio. It's a topic even more pressing after President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday rolling back protections for transgender people.
There are even some controversies brewing: “The Stringer,” from documentary filmmaker Bao Nguyen, calls into question who took the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Napalm Girl” photograph. Retired AP photographer Nick Ut and the AP, which conducted a six-month investigation into the allegation, are contesting it vigorously and lawyers have asked for it to be pulled from the program.
“The film is an investigation,” said Eugene Hernandez, the director of the festival, who is moving forward with plans to screen it. “I think it will be a really important conversation that will come out over the next few days after the film is seen by more people.”
Don’t worry, it’s not all heavy. There’s drama of course, even a film about starting over after a fire (“Rebuilding,” with Josh O’Connor), horror, satire, literary adaptations, comedy, documentaries about famous faces, and some that simply defy categorization.
“There’s some really funny stuff in the program,” Hernandez said. One of those Hernandez cited is “Bubble & Squeak,” about a married couple accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where they’re banned.
For first time filmmakers, Sundance can be their chance to break through in a big way. That happened last year for “Dìdi” filmmaker Sean Wang. Some films that debuted last January are still in the awards conversation, like “A Real Pain” and “A Different Man.” For actors, the festival is both a casual respite to awards season glitz (snow boots are more likely on red carpets than high heels) and can be a chance to show audiences a new dimension of their talent.
“It’s a strong year of renewal for our artist community,” Hernandez said. “And we have a lot of really great voices and stories that we get to unveil in the coming days.”
Here’s everything you need to know:
Sundance runs from Jan. 23 through Feb. 2. There are about 90 features premiering across the 11 days, with screenings starting early in the morning through midnight. Award-winners will be announced on Jan. 31.
Stars with films premiering include Jennifer Lopez, Benedict Cumberbatch, Diego Luna, Conan O’Brien, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Ayo Edebiri, Olivia Colman, André Holland, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, Bowen Yang, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Lily Gladstone, Dev Patel, Emily Watson, John Lithgow, Marlee Matlin, John Malkovich, Rose Byrne, Chloë Sevigny, Josh O’Connor, Ben Whishaw, Dylan O’Brien, Lili Reinhart and Willem Dafoe.
One of the greatest things about Sundance is that it’s often the under-the-radar movies that become the breakouts.
But some of the higher-profile premieres going into the festival include: Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider-Woman,” starring Lopez; Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s documentary “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)”; “Opus,” a horror about the cult of celebrity with Edebiri and John Malkovich; Andrew Ahn’s “The Wedding Banquet,” with Bowen Yang and Kelly Marie Tran; the war satire “Atropia,” with Alia Shawkat; “Pee-wee as Himself,” about the late Paul Reubens; “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore”; and Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman’s doc “The Alabama Solution,” about a cover-up in one of America’s most notorious prison systems.
Festival organizers have been in dialogue with filmmakers, staff, audiences and donors about the effects of the fires, supporting and accommodating where possible including pushing back deadlines to allow filmmakers more time to finish. The festival will also have a QR code displayed before screenings for information on sharing resources or contributing to relief efforts.
“As hard as the last week has been, this will be a moment to come together,” Hernandez said. “The community’s really responding to support those who need it most right now. I think that’s going to be a profound aspect of this year’s festival.”
For the most part, yes. Starting in 2027 the festival will no longer be primarily based in Park City. It may stay in Utah but would operate mainly out of Salt Lake City. Other finalists are Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sundance Institute is expected to announce its final decision in the first quarter of 2025.
“Park City as the home of Sundance is such a special place,” Hernandez said. “I look at it optimistically because we have two more exciting years in this current configuration. I think we’re going to make the most of those two years and make them as memorable and meaningful as we can.”
Access to the movies premiering at Sundance doesn’t necessary require an expensive trip to Park City anymore. The festival has fully embraced an online component for many of their films.
What started as a necessary COVID-19 adjustment has become a vital part of the program. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, audiences can stream much of the program online. Prices start at $35 for a single film ticket and go up to $800 for unlimited access.
Otherwise, films that secure distribution can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year to hit theaters or streaming services. Steven Soderbergh's “Presence,” which premiered last January, is just hitting theaters this week.
For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
The marquee of the Egyptian Theatre is shown Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)