Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Wallabies clinch last-gasp comeback win in Argentina

By AAP
Players of Australia celebrate after winning the Rugby Championship Test match between Argentina and Australia at the UNO Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, on August 31, 2024. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images

The Wallabies have rallied in the wet for a comeback 20-19 defeat of Argentina thanks to a Ben Donaldson penalty kick on the siren.

ADVERTISEMENT

Australia trailed 10-0 and 16-7 at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata, just south of Buenos Aires on Sunday (AEST), but found a way in driving rain to improve to 1-2 in the Rugby Championship.

Centre Len Ikitau was a bright spark in attack despite the conditions, halfback Jake Gordon impressed, props Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou and loose forwards Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini and first-time skipper Harry Wilson were influential.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

The Wallabies had scored just one try in two comprehensive losses to South Africa to begin the series and their offensive punch was again lacking early, unable to score despite making just five tackles to the host’s 75 in the first 15 minutes.

Momentum

0'
HT
FT
Argentina
Australia

They held the ball for 27 phases in the opening exchanges, wary of playing too expansively in driving rain.

But they only went backwards, five-eighth Noah Lolesio’s eventual grubber kick easily collected and Argentina gaining territory and opening the scoring with a penalty.

Los Pumas then marched down-field again, Juan Martin Gonzalez scoring from a driving maul as they went ahead 10-0.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ikitau provided the spark for the visitors, breaking the line after a strong Valetini run and offloading to Tom Wright.

Related

The fullback then flipped a pass to impressive halfback Gordon, who collected around his boot laces and scored under the posts.

Lolesio’s narrow penalty kick miss on halftime left the visitors 13-7 down at the break.

Australia then defended stoutly on resumption but lost a scrum against the feed and the hosts went ahead by nine.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wilson then regretted his decision to attack the blind side off a five-metre scrum when he was pushed into touch.

But again Ikitau made something happen, beating two players before Valetini crashed over for a vital try to make it a two-point game with 30 minutes to play.

Player Carries

1
Pablo Matera
19
2
Harry Wilson
19
3
Santiago Carreras
16

Ten minutes later Lolesio’s penalty kick put Australia ahead 17-16 but the No.10 then put his side under pressure, going himself from a kick return then throwing a wobbly pass to an isolated Nick Frost that led to a turnover and penalty.

Argentina edged back ahead, by two points, with 10 minutes remaining and missed a chance to seal the result when Gonzalez had the ball knocked from his grasp as he dived to score.

Lolesio then found space after Argentina chipped ahead but couldn’t find freshly-introduced winger Max Jorgensen, who spilled the pass as he tore down the right flank.

They pressed on though, hammering the Argentina line in the centre of the field until winning a penalty with one minute on the clock.

Substitute Donaldson, with his first touch, then soaked up the remaining seconds and slotted the winning kick as the full-time buzzer sounded.

Enter now to stand a chance of winning tickets to all three British & Irish Lions Tests vs Australia
You can also enter our ticket giveaway to win tickets to watch them take on Argentina in Dublin for the first time ever!

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 43 minutes ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

1 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Robertson on why Sam Cane keeps starting for the All Blacks Robertson on why Sam Cane keeps starting
Search