Flat second half costs Argentina against Australia in Mendoza

Australia were 41-26 winners over Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on Saturday. A crowd of 31,342 in Mendoza saw what appeared to be a home win for Los Pumas, only for a strong Wallabies response to catch Argentina flat.

Argentina were 19-10 ahead at half-time. The nine point lead mattered for little in the end, though at the interval the South Americans certainly could consider themselves unfortunate to not have scored an additional first half time and also to have conceded one.

It is all elementary; however, as Australia were far and away the superior team in the second half. They responded to a sensational try to Juan Martin González with three of their own. They overturned a 26-17 deficit at the time of the try to win 41-26.

The game start with a bang for the home side. An attacking lineout saw tricks from first Julián Montoya to Emiliano Boffelli and second from Santiago Carreras to Pablo Matera. The initial one had Boffelli breaking to go close. Recycled ball resulted in Matera through a clear gap to score. Boffelli converted to make  it 7-0 after six minutes.

Australia hit-back through Quade Cooper. His 9th minute penalty was also quickly responded to from Los Pumas. Boffelli made it 10-3 after 12 minutes. With advantage, Cooper ran to attract defenders. Jordan Petaia was too fast for Matías Orlando. The Wallaby skinned the Puma for a try.

Cooper converted Petaia’s score while Boffelli landed three penalties, the last to close out the half. Argentina’s lead was by a notable margin. The home side appeared to be in control. The Wallabies were there to win; and win they did. The maul proved a potent weapon as Australia scored three tries from mauls.

Argentina’s forwards miss-read the Wallabies attack for the first. Fraser McReight somehow got through to sore as the Pumas pack was looking to stop the drive in a disjointed manner.

A brilliant response came from Juan Cruz Mallía. Running from fullback, the Toulouse-man went down the  left to run out from his own 22. He ran some 40 meters, beating a defender and passing long and wide to Matera. An unmarked Juan Martín González was outside Matera to get the final pass and score. Boffelli’s conversion had Argentina 26-17 up. Rather than winning, it all fell apart from this point.

The second Wallabies maul try followed. The opportunity came after Argentina lost a scrum penalty in their own half. Australia kicked for the corner and won the line-out. The resulting maul was awarded a penalty try. Los Pumas’ were also down to 14-men as Matías Alemanno was yellow carded.

The third maul try was the match winning moment. Before it, though, Reece Hodge slotted a penalty to put Argentina ahead up one point. Folau Fainga’a’s maul try demonstrated a weakness that the Australians had identified. Micheal Cheika admitted as much post match in regards to three tries from mauls.

Argentina looked to score a bonus point late. However, with the home side losing possession the Wallabies scored. They pulled a rabbit out of the hat as Len Ikitau scored in overtime to give his side a bonus point win.

Conceding 31 second-half points was far too many. Argentina have work to do ahead of next Saturday’s match in San Juan.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA (26)
Try – P Matera (6′), JM González (55′)
Con – E Boffelli (6′, 56′)
Pen – E Boffelli (12′, 16′, 22′, 40′)
YC – M Alemanno (62′)

AUSTRALIA (41)
Try – J Petaia (17′), F McReight (46′), Penalty Try (62′), F Fainga’a (69′), L Ikitau (80′)
Con – Q Cooper (18′); R Hodge (47′, 70′, 80′)
Pen – Q Cooper (9′), R Hodge (66′)

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 5 Matías Alemanno, 6 Juan Martín González, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Santiago Cordero, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía

Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Tomás Albornoz, 23 Matías Moroni

AUSTRALIA
1 James Slipper (capt.), 2 Folau Fainga’a, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Darcy Smith, 5 Matt Phillip, 6 Jed Holloway, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Rob Valentini, 9 Nic White, 10 Quade Cooper, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Hunter Paisami, 13 Len Ikitau, 14 Jordan Petaia, 15 Tom Wright

Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Jake Gordon, 23 Reece Hodge

ATTENDANCE
31,342

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Adamson (UK)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (UK); Chris Busby (IR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (ZA)