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 10-0 Argentina, 13 mins
The kick-off is the one area that Australia have looked sloppy so far, another one fumbled but Skelton tidies up and no harm done.
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 10-0 Argentina (Quade Cooper, 12 mins)
Good work by the Australian forwards again and they win a penalty. Right in front of the posts, a few metres outside the 22, and Quade Cooper makes no mistake.
Australia 7-0 Argentina, 10 mins
Illegal cleanout from Argentina, forced by Will Skelton and Australia move up past halfway for the lineout.
Skelton has been involved at the breakdown a couple of times already.
Australia 7-0 Argentina, 8 mins
Argentina debutant Rodrigo Isgro jumps well from the kick-off to snatch it away and give Los Pumas possession in the attacking third. The ex-sevens star showing his athleticism.
A grubber kick goes to touch though, Jed Holloway claims the lineout well but the clearance clear is half charged down. Another good attacking platform for Argentina.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 7-0 Argentina, (Len Ikitau, 5 mins)
Good maul by Australia marching towards halfway and then they win a penalty. Quickly-taken and Tom Wright is suddenly in the Argentina 22.
And Australia think they’ve scored! Worked wide with a looped pass from Quade Cooper to Len Ikitau who tries to go over in the corner. Emiliano Boffelli covering with the tackle, aiming to push him into touch.
It’s no try on the field but we go to the TMO and it’s a TRY! Grounding is good! Ikitau has hurt his shoulder during the score but hopefully he can continue.
Superb conversion from the touchline by Quade Cooper. Aussies on top
PENALTY MISS! Australia 0-0 Argentina, 3 mins
Wow! That’s a collector’s item. A very kickable penalty for Emiliano Boffelli, who is normally metronomic from the tee.
But he hits the right upright from the 22, to the left of the posts. A missed opportunity. Pumas are then offside trying to block the clearance kick, so an Australia penalty.
Australia 0-0 Argentina, 2 mins
Lovely scything run from Lucio Cinti cuts through the Australian defence with a sidestep of Len Ikitau and finds Carreras to take the Pumas into the 22.
A stabbed grubber kick through is placed behind Tom Wright but the ball goes dead before Mateo Carreras can get there. Back for an Argentina penalty. Good start by the visitors.
KICK-OFF! Australia vs Argentina
We’re underway! Santiago Carreras boots the ball into the air and it’s safely claimed just outside the 22.
Australia vs Argentina
‘Advance Australia Fair’ sung by Justin Smith (with help from the stadium as a whole). A bit more grandiose than the Argentine anthem but another good one.
Right, kick-off is now imminent at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. Will Australia or Argentina bounce back from last week’s slightly embarrassing losses?
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