Los Pumas survive late Wallaby onslaught
MATCH REPORT: Argentina survived a late comeback by Australia to defeat the hosts by 28-26 in Sydney.
It’s almost unheard of in the Rugby Championship that the side that scored three tries more than the opposition to earn a bonus point ends up losing the match, but it’s exactly what went down at the Sydney Football Ground on Saturday.
The difference was the boot of Santiago Carreras, who slotted seven penalties to punish an ill-disciplined Wallaby outfit.
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Argentina had a fast start, attacking off an early scrum inside their 22 to earn a penalty inside Australia’s half.
Flyhalf Santiago Carreras slotted the kick at goal in the third minute to open the scoring for his side.
The Wallabies struck back after retrieving the ball from the restart.
They patiently played a couple of phases before going wide to Joseph-Akuso Suaalii, who powered his way over for a try in the fifth minute, which Tane Edmed converted.
It didn’t take long for Los Pumas to respond as captain Julian Montoya charged down a kick by Edmed and had the pace to dot the ball down in the eighth minute, which Carreras converted.
The visitors earned a penalty for a high tackle by Corey Toole and opted for the line-out outside of Australia’s 22, and earned another penalty for no release in the tackle.
Carreras stepped up and slotted the kick at goal to edge out a six-point lead in the 13th minute.
Australia earned a breakdown penalty in the 15th minute and opted for the attacking line-out inside Argentina’s 22.
The Aussie forwards kept things narrow and bashed away at the Los Pumas line before Rob Valetini appeared to go over, but after a TMO check, it was determined that he had lost the ball.
Winger Max Jorgensen was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on inside his red zone in the 18th minute.
Argentina opted for the line-out but didn’t get the reward after a crossfield kick on attack bounced into touch.
Los Pumas earned a breakdown penalty inside Australia’s 22, and Carreras slotted his third penalty of the afternoon for a nine-point lead in the 25th minute.
Argentina missed a scoring opportunity in the 28th minute with Jorgensen off the field after working a stunning attack into the Aussie 22 metre area, but Carreras knocked the ball on with players on free on his outside.
The momentum shifted immediately when Edmed slotted a 50/22 kick to earn his side an attacking line-out, but Argentina stole the line-out.
Argentina earned a breakdown penalty after Suaalii got himself isolated and opted for the posts. Carreras made no mistake and slotted the kick in the 38th minute.
Australia had an attacking scrum seconds before half-time, but Guido Petti scooped up the loose ball as the visitors kicked the ball to touch to end the first half.
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Argentina won a penalty for offside in the 42nd minute, and Carreras kept the scoreboard ticking for the visitors a minute later.
The Wallabies’ discipline continued to let them down after conceding another penalty for going off their feet at the breakdown.
Carreras stepped up once again and slotted another three points in the 52nd minute.
The trend continued as Los Pumas won another kickable penalty in the 54th minute for holding on, but this time they rolled the dice and opted for the line-out inside the Aussie 22.
The decision backfired as Marcos Kremer lost the ball in contact five metres from the line.
Australia conceded another penalty for offside, and Los Pumas opted for the shot at goal, which Carreras slotted in the 63rd minute.
The Wallabies earned a penalty advantage for not rolling away and played the ball wide.
Carreras stopped the play through a deliberate knock-on in the 65th minute and was sent to the sin-bin for his indiscretion, which opened the floodgates for the hosts.
Australia opted for the tap and go play, and it paid off as space opened up for Andrew Kellaway, who scored the hosts’ second try, which James O’Connor converted in the 66th minute.
The Wallabies went back-to-back on attack and went wide to Filipo Daugunu, who sprinted down the touchline to score two tries in as many minutes. O’Connor missed the conversion.
Argentina earned a penalty for obstruction and opted to kick to the corner for the line-out.
Los Pumas formed a rolling maul, but Australia managed to stop it legally and earn the defensive scrum feed.
Australia were almost in for a try again, but a forward pass to Jorgensen saved the day for Los Pumas.
The Wallabies won a penalty and tapped it quickly, but Zane Nonggorr knocked it on.
Luckily for the hosts, they earned another penalty for an off-the-ball incident before the knock-on and opted for the line-out.
The Wallabies worked it wide to Daugunu, who bagged his brace in the 79th minute, which O’Connor converted for a nail-biting finish.
Australia attacked from deep inside their own half, but a loose pass led to a penalty for holding on to Argentina, ending a bizarre and entertaining contest.
Player of the match: Joaquin Oviedo – The No.8 ended the match as the top tackler with 18 tackles behind Australia’s Rob Valentini and Lucio Cinti, who both completed 17 tackles.
Scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Suaalii, Kellaway, Daugunu 2
Cons: Edmed, O’Connor 2
For Argentina:
Tries: Montoya
Cons: Carreras
Pens: Carreras 7
Yellow card: Max Jorgensen (Australia, 18′ – Cynical foul: deliberate knock-on), Santiago Carreras (Argentina, 65′ – Cynical foul: deliberate knock-on)
Teams:
Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martín González, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Justo Piccardo, 23 Ignacio Mendy.
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
