The biggest crowd ever seen in Rugby World Cup history crammed into Wembley Stadium to see the All Blacks and Argentina duke it out in a blockbuster Pool C clash.
After 80 minutes of pulsating action, the crowd of 89,019 was not disappointed as the All Blacks clawed their way back from a halftime deficit to take a narrow victory. Here are the 10 moments that mattered:
1: All Blacks strike first (4th minute)
After a nervy start by both teams, the All Blacks swooped onto attack and drew a penalty when Argentina infringed at the breakdown. Dan Carter coolly slotted the three points to the give the All Blacks the early lead.
2: Seeing yellow (9th minute)
With the All Blacks looking rampant inside the opposition 22, Argentina were again penalised at the breakdown. Aaron Smith took a quick-tap and was instantly collared by Pablo Matera. Referee Wayne Barnes had no choice but to yellow-card the Argentina blindside flanker and Carter slotted another three points.
3: Argentina crash over (20th minute)
With just 14 men on the field, Argentina muscled their way towards the All Blacks line before lock Guido Petti Pagadizaval crashed over from close range for his first International try. Nicolas Sanchez knocked over the conversion to close the gap to 9-7.
4: Captain’s yellow (29th minute)
After being awarded a penalty on the half-way line, Argentina openside flanker Juan Fernandez Lobbe took a quick tap and spilled the ball forward. Replays showed that All Blacks captain Richie McCaw had tripped his opposite number and Wayne Barnes produced a yellow card to reduce the All Blacks to 14 men. Sanchez slotted the long-range penalty to give Argentina a one point advantage.
5: Down to 13 (37th minute)
With Argentina hot on attack, Conrad Smith was deemed to be off his feet when he won the ball in a ruck close to the line. For the third-time in the match, Wayne Barnes produced a yellow card and the All Blacks went down to 13 players. Sanchez knocked over the simple penalty to take the lead to 13-9.
6: Dead-eye Sanchez (42nd minute)
After the All Blacks were caught off-side inside their 22, Nicholas Sanchez landed his third penalty to give Argentina a 16-12 lead and the early second-half momentum.
7: Sonny the super-sub (45th minute)
Coming on for Ma’a Nonu early in the second-half, Sonny Bill Williams made an immediate impact which would continue throughout the rest of the match. ‘SBW’ sparked the All Blacks backline into action with his trademark tackle-busting runs, off-loads and crunching defence.
8: Smith scoots through (56th minute)
In a brave move, captain Richie McCaw opted for a line-out close to the line instead of a shot for goal following an Argentina penalty. The All Blacks line-out drive looked to have been successfully countered before half back Aaron Smith scorched through a gaping hole to take the lead back for the All Blacks.
9: The Cane plane (66th minute)
In the most fluent attacking piece of the match, backs and forwards combined to swiftly move the ball into the hands of an unmarked Sam Cane out wide. Carter added the extras to push the lead to 26-16.
10: ‘The Bus’ has arrived (80th minute)
With time up on the clock, Julian Savea put a crunching hit on his opposing wing Santiago Cordero to snuff out any chance of late Argentina counter-attack. The whistle blew soon after to give the All Blacks a hard-fought 26-16 victory.
