Welcome to live coverage of the Wallabies’ second Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in San Juan!
For the second week in a row, the Wallabies will have to come from behind after Michael Cheika’s Pumas made Dave Rennie’s side pay for their mistakes.
Rennie’s side conceded a try after just 60 seconds when Jordan Petaia slipped a ball too hot to handle to fellow back Tom Wright and the home side ran away to score.
Argentina had a second after just six minutes to leave the Wallabies stunned. But the stunned Wallabies rallied and finally got their hands on the ball after some brilliance from Fraser McReight at the breakdown won the visitors some possession.
From a lineout soon after, Rob Valetini charged over the gain line and captain James Slipper scored again.
Three points from the kick-off shirt, the Wallabies closed to within four points.
Rob Valetini (C) got the moves going for the Wallabies’ first try. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
The Wallabies looked like they would take the lead but James O’Connor’s try midway through the second half was disallowed after Slipper was called for an illegal clearance.
Former All Blacks star Andrew Mehrtens criticized referee Kael Dickson’s call to overturn the decision, calling it “ridiculous”.
The decision turned out to be a 14-point swing soon after, as Jerónimo de la Fuente scored in the 24th minute.
Six minutes later, Juan Martín González scored to extend his lead to 26-10.
The Wallabies had a bit of luck when Emiliano Boffelli was denied a try after TMO Marius van der Westhuizen could find no reason to overturn Dickson’s initial no-try ruling. Boffelli’s loose ball came after some brilliance from Marika Koroibete in defence.
Mehrtens, however, disagreed, saying, “I’m struggling to understand how the ball hitting the ground is not conclusive evidence.”
After a quieter start to the second half, at least from a points perspective, Wright’s inexperience as a winger was exposed again in the 52nd minute as the Brumbies fullback opted to win the ball back in place to launch He isolated him when the Pumas got on the ball to win a penalty, which allowed Boffelli to add three more points from the kicking tee to see the home side take a 29-10 lead.
Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright; Jordan Petaia, Len Ikitau, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete; James O’Connor, Nic White; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight; Jed Holloway, Darcy Swain, Rory Arnold; Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Lonergan, James Slipper (c)
Reservations: Billy Pollard, Matt Gibbon, Bond, Nick Frost, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Irae Simone, Reece Hodge
Argentina (15-1): Joan Creu Mallia; Emiliano Boffelli, Matthias Moroni, Jerome Of The Fountain, John Imhoff; James Racing, Gonzalo Bertranou; Paul Matera, Mark Kremer; Thomas Lavanini, Matthias German; Francisco Gomez Code, Julian Montoya (c), Thomas Rooster
Reservations: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Joel Sclavi, Facundo Isa, Rodrigo Bruni, Tomas Cubelli, Tomas Barnús, Lucio Cinti