Player ratings: Pitiful finish
Argentina ended their debut in the Rugby Championship on a disappointing note, a 19-25 loss to Australia in Rosario on Saturday.
After the early promise they showed, especially the draw with South Africa, this was by far their worst performance of the season.
The Pumas looked very lethargic, almost complacent, at the start of the game. They conceded seven penalties and a yellow card in the first quarter, while their options were also very poor.
The standards in general in this game were well below par and showed how much better New Zealand are than the rest
Jan de Koning rates the Argentinean players!
15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino:
His field kicks were rather ordinary and he made poor decisions. Had a couple of decent runs.
4/10
14 Gonzalo Camacho:
There was a great tackle on Digby Ioane to stop a dangerous Wallaby move and he looked dangerous with the few times he got ball in hand. However, he also lost the ball in a tackle.
6/10
13 Marcelo Bosch:
Several runs, without making much ground. Took over the goal-kicking duties in the second half and landed crucial conversion. Steady rather than spectacular.
5/10
12 Santiago Fernandez:
He made all his tackles, but otherwise had no impact on the game.
5/10
11 Horacio Agulla:
Penalised in the tackle early on, but then worked hard on defence and was solid.
5/10
10 Juan Martin Hernandez:
Had some early success as a goal-kicker, but missed two kickable goals late in the first half. His out-of-hand kicks were not always as accurate – poor by his standards.
5/10
9 Martin Landajo:
Mostly a link and missed a number of tackles. His decision-making was poor and generally poor day at the office.
3/10
8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (captain):
Great on the restarts, made his tackles and took line-out ball. A very high workrate as usual and one of the few Pumas who could hold his head high.
7/10
7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon:
Conceded a silly penalty, but then put in a great touchfinder that drive Aussies back to their 22. Had an enormous tackle count and it was a surprise when he was replaced early in the second half.
6/10
6 Julio Farias Cabello:
Mostly reduced to a defensive role and struggled with ball control. They may well have replaced the wrong flank early in the second half.
5/10
5 Patricio Albacete:
Conceded penalties on the ground and was then yellow carded for repeated infringements. It didn't get any better in the second half.
3/10
4 Manuel Carizza:
Spilled the ball in contact. Made a few tackles and took his line-out balls, but was largely quiet.
4/10
3 Juan Figallo:
Other than scrumming did not offer much.
4/10
2 Eusebio Guinazu:
His best aspect was his defence. However, there was one crucial line-out throw on attack that went awry.
5/10
1 Rodrigo Roncero:
Still a strong scrummager, but at times the old body struggled to stay up with the pace of the game. Had one really strong run in the second half. We decided to give him full marks for a glittering career – it is our parting gift for the veteran prop, who retired after the game. (His rating in this game would have been 6/10)
10/10
Replacements:
16 Agustin Creevy (on for Eusebio Guinazu, 63rd min):
A few runs, but no real impact.
5/10
17 Juan Pablo Orlandi (on for Juan Figallo, 70th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
18 Leonardo Senatore (on for Julio Alfredo Farias Cabello, 74th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
19 Tomas Leonardi (on for Juan-Manuel Leguizamón, 47th min):
It was a big mistake to bring him on. They took of pone of their best players, who was visibly upset.
4/10
20 Nicolas Vergallo:
Not used.
21 Nicolas Sanchez (on for Juan Martin Hernández, 60th min):
Failed to provide the sparked that lacked in the Puma backline.
5/10
22 Juan Imhoff (on for Horacio Agulla, 67th min):
Got a late try that kept Puma hopes alive, but not enough time to be rated.
