Australia vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as Pumas beat Wallabies
Australia 31-34 Argentina: Juan Martin Gonzalez’s last-gasp try snatches victory for the Pumas in Sydney
Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a late winner as Argentina stunned Australia 34-31 in the Rugby Championship to leave the Wallabies in disarray and without a win two games into the second Eddie Jones era.
Australia had scored two quick tries late in the game to overturn a 10-point deficit and take a 31-27 lead with five minutes remaining but the Pumas loose forward dived over a ruck on the Wallabies line to secure a famous victory.
Cheered on by a small but noisy band of their compatriots at the same Parramatta Stadium where they first beat the All Blacks in 2020, the Pumas secured only a third win over the Wallabies on Australian soil.
Samu Kerevi, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau and Nic White scored Australia’s tries, while Jeronimo de la Fuente, skipper Julian Montoya and Mateo Carreras also crossed for the Pumas.
Relive a dramatic Rugby Championship clash below:
Australia 17-17 Argentina, 58 mins
Poor kick by Emiliano Boffelli, out on the full so it’s an Australian lineout back in the Pumas half.
But Argentina steal the set-piece. Good recovery work!
Australia 17-17 Argentina, 57 mins
Oof, big hit involving Samu Kerevi. Lucio Cinti makes decent ground but good defence by Australia as they tie up the Pumas and drive them into touch.
Matt Philip, the lock who has just come on for the impressive Will Skelton, among those involved.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 17-17 Argentina (Nic White, 53 mins)
Great vision by Nic White and he snipes over for the try.
Solid scrum, White looks to go left but pressure from Gonzalo Bertranou forces him back right and there’s no protection there as the Pumas have over-committed, so he snipes round the edge of the scrum and over for the score.
Easy conversion and we’re back level
Australia 10-17 Argentina, 52 mins
Lineout secured and Australia up to five metres. Carter Gordon, then Quade Cooper probe the line but another penalty coming.
Take the gimme three? Nope, a five-metre scrum.
Australia 10-17 Argentina, 50 mins
Decent carry by Rob Valetini as he powers into contact.
Then a bit of a cheap shot on Aussie scrum-half Nic White, off the ball and from the side by Pablo Matera. Just a penalty and the Wallabies kick to the corner. A good chance here.
Agustin Creevy on for Julian Montoya. Veteran hooker for veteran hooker
Australia 10-17 Argentina, 48 mins
Big turnover on halfway for Australia as Juan Martin Gonzalez takes too long to use the ball at the back of a scrum.
Richie Arnold’s sin-bin is over, so the Wallabies are back to a full complement of 15, although they trail by seven points now.
TRY! Australia 10-17 ARGENTINA (Julian Montoya, 46 mins)
Tomas Lavanini has a look but short. But then Julian Montoya does get over!
Gets outside the middle of Allan Alaalatoa who’s protecting the ruck, ball in his outside arm and has enough leverage to churn the legs to get over the line. Just veteran quality form Montoya close to the line.
Easy conversion and Argentina make the most of the man advantage to lead.
Australia 10-10 Argentina, 45 mins
Julian Montoya peels off the maul and barrels into defenders. Five metres out for the visitors.
Australia 10-10 Argentina, 44 mins
Early maul engagement from the Wallabies, another penalty coming.
Argentina try the cross-kick, Rodrigo Isgro catches, steps inside Tom Wright and has to score. But no!
Wright hangs on to a bit of him Samu Kerevi comes steaming across and Isgro ends up with his back to the line and doesn’t get the ball down. Great defence but the winger has to finish that...
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