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 10-10 Argentina, 35 mins
Great scrum by Australia as they obliterate the Argentine front row on halfway and win the penalty, which Quade Cooper boots miles into touch in the Pumas 22.
Australia 10-10 Argentina, 34 mins
Here’s that opening try by Len Ikitau, by the way. Sadly his shoulder injury suffered there later forced him off.
Australia 10-10 Argentina, 30 mins
WHAT A TACKLE! Try-saving in fact. Argentina spill the ball in the Australia half, Carter Gordon scoops it up and the whizz kid is away down the left wing.
He looks sure to score but a brilliant chase by Lucio Cinti and a desperate, diving tap tackle does just enough to trip Gordon into touch about 10 metres from the try-line. Great rugby all round!
TRY! Australia 10-10 ARGENTINA, (Jeronimo de la Fuente, 25 mins)
Argentina probe and probe and finally get the breakthrough as Jeronimo de la Fuente burrows over!
It’s great patience by the Pumas as they get into the 22, then work to five metres out and keep things tight with the forwards.
Good, disciplined defence by Australia but eventually so many men get sucked in that Bertranou flat passes out to De la Fuente who splits two men and crashes over.
Boffelli nails the conversion and we’re all level in Sydney.
Australia 10-3 Argentina, 22 mins
Mark Nawaqanitawase soars high to grab the kick-off but loses the ball on landing. Unlucky.
Carter Gordon looks to be playing at 12 by the way, with Samu Kerevi out to 13. Shades of Marcus Smith-Owen Farrell or even George Ford-Owen Farrell with two No 10s as a double playmaker pivot. Eddie Jones doing what he knows!
PEANLTY! Australia 10-3 ARGENTINA (Emiliano Boffelli, 20 mins)
Simple kick for Emiliano Boffelli from bang in front and Argentina are on the board
Australia 10-0 Argentina, 19 mins
Matias Alemanno scampers through, maybe more marauds, given his height. More possession in the 22 for the Pumas anyway.
Gonzalo Bertranou wants runners as Argentina keep it tight, before a couple of probes with the backs. Solid defence by the Wallabies so far. Eventually a penalty as Allan Alaalatoa gets caught off his feet at the breakdown and they’ll kick at goal.
Australia 10-0 Argentina, 18 mins
Really good defensive set from Australia, maintaining their shape. Santiago Carreras tries the stabbed grubber but Marika Koroibete is quick to turn and touch down in his own in-goal area for a goal-line drop-out.
Ah, bad news for the Wallabies. Len Ikitau hasn’t recovered from injuring his shoulder while scoring that try and he’s forced off. On comes Carter Gordon - the talented young No 10. May be that he goes to 15 and Tom Wright to 13? We’ll see.
Australia 10-0 Argentina, 16 mins
Argentina probe down the left through Mateo Carreras. Then they go right and Rodrigo Isgro has a half-break but Samu Kerevi makes a superb tackle.
Up to the five-metre line though.
Australia 10-0 Argentina, 15 mins
The spider cam cables get git by a Gonzalo Bertranou box kick but we play on. Decent attacking lineout opportunity for the Pumas but they can’t execute, stolen by Australia.
A better lineout this time from Argentina. But then great work by Allan Alaalatoa at the breakdown to steal the ball, only for the visitors to steal it straight back. They’re up to the 22 now.
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