Another week and another win for the Wallabies, this time over Los Pumas. This is just getting so repetitive. Enough of this gloating though – how did this next notch on the Wallabies bed head unfurl?
The Vibe
It took just twelve minutes for the Wallabies to be three tries and 21 points up. You heard me, 21 in 12.
The first try in the first minute, used a skill we didn’t know the Wallabies had – straight forward draw and pass. On attack in Argentina’s half, it was Folau to Haylett-Petty to Hooper (a gorgeous dummy to draw the winger) and then Kerevi bounded his way over to dot down. All done at pace, on the advantage line and within the 15 metre channel. Forensics have identified Mick Byrnes’ fingerprints all over it.
Couldn't ask for a better start from Samu Kerevi who scored inside the opening minute! #StrongerAsOne pic.twitter.com/JjHmQHBDhN
— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 18, 2016
The second try was the sort of set piece gold that showed just what damage the lack of line-out has inflicted on the Wallabies. A clean take at the back by Coleman delivered off the top to Pocock who wrapped around to Genia at pace meant the world was the Australia backline’s oyster. And slurp that salty sea mollusc they did. Kerevi held the inside defence with a dummy cut-back, making space for Quade Cooper to put Haylett-Petty into a good sized hole with a no-look inside pass. DHP finished it off with a step at pace and a meat pie beside the sticks.
Hey @danehp, is there a better feeling than scoring at your home ground? #StrongerAsOne pic.twitter.com/gSXTYgTZFl
— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 18, 2016
Try three was a Genia something-from-nothing special. From a Puma lineout on their 10 metre line, his tackle disrupts the fly-halve’s pass and the ball squirts backwards. Sanchez then hacks the ball on, it sits up nicely before the line and boom. It’s a try that even the TMO couldn’t disallow.
GENIA, GENIA, GENIA ALL THE WAY! #StrongerAsOne https://t.co/Ub86c9Dnlz
— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 18, 2016
The next 28 minutes of the first half could be summarised by these stats:
- The Wallabies had just 27% possession
- Australia had to make 94 tackles to the Pumas 28
- Australia were penalised 11 times, Argentina twice
- Scott Sio was yellow carded for a team repeated infringement in the 33rd minute
- The Wallabies yielded just six points
On the one hand this didn’t make for spectacular viewing, especially the inability to kick for any territorial gain.
On the other hand, it was probably the best defensive effort from the Wallabies since the World Cup and players like Coleman, Hodge and Pocock put in a mountain of work in defence, the rookies being especially effective and hard hitting.
Second Half
Having defended so well for 40 minutes, the Wallabies then yielded a try within three minutes of the second half. From a scrum within the Pumas half, first a miss by Foley, and then poor choice by Kerevi put Cordero over.
For the next five minutes chip kicks from Hodge and Genia seemed to be heading the Wallabies into a well-known attacking cul-de-sac, but then more lineout ball at the right end of the field gave McMahon (on for the injured Pocock from half time) the chance to barnstorm his way to within inches of the line. Genia dummies from the base of that ruck and is over for his second.
Sixty three minutes in and the finishers make an impact – Tatafu Polota-Nau takes an intercept in the tight-loose and then trucks it up 20 metres with tacklers hanging off him. A few phases later and another no-look inside pass from Cooper at the line gives Michael Hooper a twenty metre clear run to the line. It’s 33-13 and the game is all but over.
But, instead of Bernard Foley picking off an intercept and scoring the Wallabies’ sixth, we’re reminded of what comes with those stunning inside passes – a late shoulder charge on a man without the ball earning Quade Cooper a yellow card. Question – how many other international 10’s have earned as many yellow cards as Quade Cooper?
As a result the momentum shifts and in the 71st minute Fecundo Issa (a great young player but with a name that’s on the nose) muscles his way over to make it 33-20.
Hodge knocks over a long range penalty and the match fizzles to a close, but not before the referee Barnes has completely contradicted earlier penalty decisions against the Wallabies at the breakdown. The lack of consistency between referees, and even within the same match is astounding.
Final Score 36-20
The game changer
More of a game ender than a changer, was Genia’s first try of the night and Australia’s third within twelve minutes. Game over.
The GAGR Man of the Match
Even the official MoTM got it right this week, Will Genia was back in his best ever form. Two tries, running, passing, kicking, tackling. He was everywhere.
Player Watch
Despite the Cheika selection merry-g0-round, surely Reece Hodge and Adam Coleman have booked themselves jerseys for the rest of the tournament. Pocock’s busted hand looks to have opened the door for Sean McMahon, who took his opportunity well.
Deets
Australia 36 (Will Genia 2, Samu Kerevi, Dane Haylett-Petty, Michael Hooper tries; Bernard Foley 4 cons; Reece Hodge pen) defeated Argentina 20 (Santiago Cordero, Facundo Isa tries; Nicolas Sanchez 2 cons; 2 pens)
