Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade has pardoned his troops for relinquishing a seven-point Test lead against the All Blacks with 30 minutes remaining, saying the Kiwis' second-half revival wasn't their fault.
A fast-finishing All Blacks secured a 39-22 win over Los Pumas on Saturday, but only after trailing 22-15 and losing Beauden Barrett to the sin bin.
Despite their extra man, Hourcade's Pumas couldn't turn the screw on the world champions, and instead conceded a barnstorming try to Vaea Fifita.
Further second-half efforts to Damian McKenzie and Barrett, as well as steady goalkicking from reserve Lima Sopoaga, then closed out the Test.
Nevertheless, Hourcade didn't blame his side for the loss.
After two poor performances against South Africa, the Argentinians had played an intelligent game, packing the breakdown and forcing Kiwi errors.
But an All Blacks scalp was still a bridge too far.
"We have to put up the merits of the All Blacks - they didn't give up the ball, they had the ball and it wasn't our fault, they're very strong," Hourcade said.
"It was a really tough game and, after our best moment, the All Blacks showed the best of what they have, even though they had a player in the sin bin."
Los Pumas bagged a single try in New Plymouth, capitalising on a botched All Blacks lineout to cross through playmaker Nicolas Sanchez before halftime.
Otherwise, they relied upon penalty and drop goals to score.
Hourcade said those conservative tactics were deliberate.
"When you have the possibility to score points, you have to score. During the first half we had many breaks but were unable to score - at that moment of the game we needed to score, and did with three-pointers," Hourcade said.
Argentina will cross the Tasman to face Australia next weekend.
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