Second half Pumas collapse hands win to Wallabies

A record-setting second half collapse saw Argentina blow a 31-7 lead and crash to an embarrassing 45-34 defeat at Salta on Saturday. The 24-point deficit overcome by the Wallabies is a Rugby Championship record, with Australia scoring 38 points after the break including five tries. In doing so the Pumas are again condemned to finish at the bottom of the table despite a first-ever two-win campaign.

The tale of two halves began with Argentina in total command. A searing line break by Pablo Matera put the flanker in for a try in just the second minute. Australia looked to be working towards a reply but a Tomás Lavanini tackle dislodged the ball and instead a counter-attack from beyond halfway ended with Emiliano Boffelli sprinting clear.

Australia were next to score as captain Michael Hooper barged over but it would be the only points of the half for the visitors. A lovely offload from Jerónimo de la Fuente put his center partner Matías Orlando in under the posts, but Argentina suffered a significant blow in the process.

Nicolás Sánchez hobbled off to be replaced by Santiago González Iglesias. The latter wasted no time getting into the game, putting Boffelli into a hole and then himself charging clean through the line. A right-foot step left Will Genia for dead and the try was on. González Iglesias converted his own and added a penalty just before the break.

Whatever was said at halftime by a very animated Michael Cheika seemed to work as the Wallabies came out a completely different side. Izack Rodda got hands on Gonzalo Bertranou’s clearance and then took the return pass from Hooper to dash in for a his first international try. Just a couple minutes later Israel Folau scythed through the line to touch down behind the uprights. Simple hands then put Dane Haylett-Petty into the corner and the Pumas were looking out on their feet.

González Iglesias managed to get back a penalty goal but it only brought a temporary halt to the Australian onslaught. An attacking scrum set the platform for David Pocock to reach the line, with Bernard Foley’s conversion giving the Wallabies their first lead of the game. A botched clearing kick gave the ball straight back to Australia and Foley’s cross-kick resulted in a second try for Haylett-Petty.

With no petrol left in the tank for Argentina the chances of a losing bonus point were diminished by a Foley penalty kick. Tolu Latu was sent to the bin for a forearm strike on Santiago Garcia Botta, giving the Pumas a shot with an extra attacker but it would come to nothing as the Wallabies killed off the remaining time to secure third place overall in the Championship.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA 34
Tries – P. Matera (2’), E. Boffelli (4’), M. Orlando (27’), S. González Iglesias (31’)
Cons – N. Sánchez 3/3 (3’, 5’, 28’), S. González Iglesias 1/1 (32’)
Pens – S. González Iglesias 2/2 (38’, 61’)

AUSTRALIA 45
Tries – M. Hooper (14’), I. Rodda (44’), I. Folau (48’), D. Haylett-Petty 2 (51’, 66’), D. Pocock (64’)
Cons – B. Foley 6/6 (15’, 45’, 49’, 52’, 65’, 67’)
Pens – B. Foley 1/1 (75’)
Yellow cards – T. Latu (77’)

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (17 Santiago García Botta 67’), 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.) (16 Julián Montoya 52’), 3 Ramiro Herrera (18 Santiago Medrano 52’), 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini (19 Matías Alemanno 71’), 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Javier Ortega Desio (20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón 67’), 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (21 Tomás Cubelli 59’), 10 Nicolás Sánchez (22 Santiago González Iglesias 29’), 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Matías Moroni (23 Sebastián Cancelliere 67’), 15 Emiliano Boffelli

AUSTRALIA
1 Scott Sio (17 Sekope Kepu HT-73’), 2 Folau Fainga’a (16 Tolu Latu HT), 3 Taniela Tupou (18 Allan Ala’alatoa HT), 4 Izack Rodda (19 Rob Simmons 72’), 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Ned Hanigan (2 Folau Fainga’a 78’), 7 Michael Hooper (capt.), 8 David Pocock, 9 Will Genia (21 Nick Phipps 68’), 10 Bernard Foley, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Kurtley Beale (22 Matt To’omua 75’), 13 Reece Hodge, 14 Israel Folau, 15 Dane Haylett-Petty

Not used: 20 Caleb Timu, 23 Tom Banks

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistants: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
TMO: David Grashoff (RFU)