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Argentina produced a record breaking performance against Australia on Saturday. Played at the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López in Santa Fé, Los Pumas were 67-27 winners over the Wallabies.
The result is Australia’s worst ever defeat, overtaking the 61-22 loss against South Africa in 1997. It was the second highest margin that the Wallabies have lost too. The record is 45 points when South Africa won 53-8 in 2008.
The Wallabies’ lost by a 40 point margin in Santa Fe; yet, Australia started the match very well. The teams were 3-3 early after Tomás Albornoz and Ben Donaldson exchanged penalties. From there the Wallabies scored through flanker Carlo Tizzano. His opposite, Marcos Kremer, hit-back but it was disallowed for obstruction.
The Wallabies scored both a second penalty and a second try to open up a 20-3 lead. The second score was impressive; a blindside move saw winger Max Jorgensen and fullback Andrew Kellaway working well together.
The Australian lead was big but it eroded quickly. Argentina responded with flair. Fullback Juan Cruz Mallía caught a long Australian touch-finder by jumping infield and passing to himself. He passed to Albornoz who put up and up-and-under which Mallía chase, leaped and gathered. Pablo Matera the made a half-break before offloading to Mateo Carreras who scored.
Julián Montoya celebrated his 100th test cap by scoring next. he Leicester Tigers’ hooker went over for a pick-and-go score. Albornoz converted. Australia’s lead was cut to 20-17 and Matera was within inches of putting Los Pumas ahead at half-time.
The win in Santa Fe was much different to the rain of La Plata in game one. The second half in Santa Fe was also much different to that of the second in La Plata. Los Pumas did not score a try in the second-half in game one but an in seven second-half tries in Santa Fe.
Argentina’s third score went to Juan Martín González. The flanker touched down in the 48th minute. It gave Argentina the lead. It also meant González extended his try-scoring streak against Australia to five matches.
Matera also scored from a pick-and-go as Argentina was now in complete control. There was plenty more to come as Argentina scored 38 points before Tate McDermott scored for Australia on 69 minutes.
The Wallabies’ were not playing well but the overriding theme of play was Argentina’s intend on spinning the ball throughout the duration of the contest. Los Pumas’ commitment was also of note as emphasized by Albornoz chasing down and tackling a rampaging Marika Koroibete over the sideline.
Mallía scored a double as did replacement N8 Joaquín Oviedo. In addition, center Lucio Cinto went into the try zone in the final play of the match. Mallía impressed with 93 running meters and 5 defenders beaten. Cinti ran 86 meters and Mateo Carreras ran 118. Argentina made 780 meters withal in hand compared to 493 meters by the Wallabies.
Australia play next at home. The Wallabies take-on New Zealand in a basement battle in Sydney on September 21. Argentina take-on South Africa at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero also on Saturday, September 21.
| LINE-UPS |
ARGENTINA (67)
Try (9) – M Carreras (29′); J Montoya (37′); JM Gonzalez (46′); P Matera (55′); J Oviedo 2 (63′, 78′); JC Mallia 2 (71′, 74′); L Cinti (80′)
Con (8) – T Albornoz 6 (30′, 37′, 47′, 56′, 64′, 74′); S Carreras 2 (79′, 80′)
Pen (2) – T Albornoz 2 (2′, 62′)
AUSTRALIA (27)
Try (3) – C Tizzano (14′); A Kellaway (27′); T McDermott (69′)
Con (3) – B Donaldson 2 (15′, 28′); T Lynagh 1 (69′)
Pen (2) – B Donaldson 2 (5′, 22′)
YC (1) – A Kellaway (79′)
| LINE-UPS |
ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo (Mayco Vivas 70′), 2. Julián Montoya (capt.) (Ignacio Ruiz 65′), 3 Joel Sclavi (Eduardo Bello 46′; Joel Sclavi 72′), 4 Guido Petti (Franco Molina 58′), 5 Tomás Lavanini (Joaquín Oviedo 46′), 6 Pablo Matera, (Santiago Grondona 67′), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Juan Martín González. 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (Gonzalo García 70′), 10 Tomás Albornoz, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Bautista Delguy (Santiago Carreras 41′), 15 Juan Cruz Mallía
AUSTRALIA
1 Angus Bell (James Slipper 41′), 2 Matt Faessler (Josh Nasser 46′), 3 Taniela Tupou (Allan Alaalatoa 37′); 4 Nick Frost (Josh Canham 65′), 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Rob Valentini (Langi Gleeson 60′), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.), 9 Jake Gordon (Tate McDermott 55′), 10 Ben Donaldson (Tom Lynagh 55′), 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Hamish Stewart 13 Len Ikitau (Josh Flook 65′) 14 Max Jorgensen, 15 Andrew Kellaway
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand); James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
