Argentina, showed great intensity and application to earn their first ever Rugby Championship win. The Wallabies, much like last week, were well in the contest but struggled to keep the ball and earn territory.
The Match
The match started quite well for the Wallabies, their first scrum was competitive and they were playing with some great intensity.
The first try came early and easily, Hooper intercepting a loose pass, linking up with Higginbotham to take play to the twenty two. From there the ball was simply put through the hands until Kuridrani straightened off a Folau pass and went over with little argument. When Foley kicked the extras the Australians were ahead 7-0 with under five minutes played.
Argentina were in the mood to hang onto the ball but were let down by some poor handling, early perhaps nervous from the occasion. Australia however, were showing little worry, scoring through Higginbotham in the fifteenth minute. The attacking move displayed a good use of decoy runners before Faingaa held the ball up fractionally for the big number eight to finish next to the sticks. Once again Foley added the conversion to make it 14-0 and you had to wonder if this was going to be a blow out.
Argentina’s lineout was looking a little rusty but it was more than made up for at the scrum. While the first fifteen minutes had been spent going end to end, the next ten were spent in the shadow of the Argentine’s goal posts.
Argentina had shrugged of their early jitters and were now supremely dominant at the scrum. They should have been on the scoreboard in this period but were held at bay through some desperate Wallaby defense. Special mention to Hooper who forced a penalty at a ruck a meter or so from the line he was defending.
Argentina just kept coming and the Wallabies looked set to break their tackling record from last week, struggling to get possession and territory. The defense was good, Fardy at one stage perfectly slide tackling a loose ruck ball, much to the surprise of his opponents.
With ten minutes to go all the tackling had taken it’s toll on the Wallabies. Toomua got a head knock and did not return, Horne taking his place. Horne was initially penalized for not rolling away, but backed up to continue to repel the Argies, along with Horwill and Higginbotham, saving tries.
It couldn’t last forever though and Argentina secured a well worked try trough the hands to Senatore, the pumas powerful number eight, going over in the right corner untouched. Argentina were finally on the board in the 36th minute, although fly half Sanchez missed his second kick of the night leave to make it 5-14.
Both teams looked keen to get another score in before the half time whistle, running the ball at will. Argentina got the best opportunity though when Horwill used his hands in the ruck (which was and then wasn’t a yellow card), allowing Sanchez another go at the poles. This time he made no mistake, the number ten drawing the hosts closer, 8-14 at half time.
The second half started as poorly as possible for the Wallabies. They were instantly under the pump through Phipps getting a yellow card in the first 2 minutes. Although Phipps did little wrong, the Australians had ridden their luck for some time, so a card was not that surprising. Sanchez knocked over the penalty and the Pumas were only three down, 11-14, at forty two minutes.
The Wallabies were given a good opportunity when Sanchez inexplicably knocked on from a simple pass, five meters from the line. While Australia’s scrum was going backwards, the ball came out and the visitors could attack the line. Folau managed a freakish off load while getting taken over the right touch line, this was scooped up by Kuridrani who kept his body weight low to barge over the line. As there was no absolute evidence of grounding of the ball on the replay though, Nigel Owens decided the try would not stand and the Wallabies had to settle for a shot at goal from in front. Foley had no issue and the score was 11-17 with forty seven minutes to go.
With the man advantage the Pumas looked full of belief. They attacked an often unguarded ruck, as Australia seemed to forget they were missing their nine. Their scrum was nearing a near nuclear level of power, as thoughts of the Gold Coast loss must have been driving them on. It was from that platform that winger Imhoff scooted in untouched to the right corner as they made expert use of their numerical advantage, Tomane left with three players to cover. Sanchez converts and the Pumas go ahead much to the delight of the very vocal fans, 18-17, twenty five minutes left in the match.
Australia looked to hit back quickly and while hot on attack Folau, for reasons only he knows, grubber kicks through. The ball strikes a defenders foot and turns into a bomb which Amorisino jumps high for and takes. Folau follows and accidentally/on purpose makes contact with the winger and Amorisino spirals to the ground. The ref initially gives Folau a yellow, then reverses the penalty for Israel being pushed into the contact, then it’s back to the original call but Folau stays on the field.
The Argentines are soon attacking in good territory, their lineout and maul functioning well. Wallabies still unable to get consistent possession infringe at the ruck and Sanchez pushes his conversion wide, the score remains 18-17, to the hosts. Around this time the Wallaby bench is unloaded and with twenty minutes remaining it’s still anyone’s game.
Next it’s Foley’s chance at a long range penalty, from a rare Pumas scrum infringement. He misses badly and is jeered by the increasingly intimidating crowd.
With the game entering the final ten minutes the Wallabies found themselves back in the attacking twenty two. Folau and Kuridrani were showing there worth and the visitors were rewarded for multiple phase play by earning a penalty. This was very kickable, on the twenty two, slightly left and if converted would put Australia back on top. It wasn’t to be, Foley hit the post flush and Folau again grubbered through allowing the Pumas to clear when Hooper lazily tackled the receiver high.
From here the Wallabies needed something special to get back in front. The effort was there but the execution cost them. Skelton followed his captain’s example and got done for another high tackle. The resultant long range penalty attempt was missed by reserve Puma, Cubelli.
Hooper next went for an aggressive charge down that turned into a flying hip and shoulder into Puma full back Tuculet. While you could argue about his intent, the resultant yellow card was to be expected, especially following the two recent high tackles Owens had taken issue with.
As is the rule for offenses against the kicker the resultant penalty was taken from where the ball landed. This made it quite kickable, slightly right of center on the forty meter line. Sanchez struck this one quite sweetly and the Argentines were up 21-17 with a numerical advantage and five minutes to play.
While the Wallabies managed to get the ball back into attacking territory they couldn’t secure it. The Australians were desperate to avoid a scrum, knowing their disadvantage and with such little time to go, but that’s exactly how it went.
The Wallabies, with their own feed, in their attacking half the scrum was reset three times. The time was gone and the final scrum was a penalty against Alexander for an illegal bind, Argentina could clear and as the siren sounded they secured their first ever Rugby Championship win.
[one_third last=”no”]
The Game Changer
Kuridrani’s dissallowed try in the second half. Looked good to the naked eye and could have seen the Wallabies out by 10.
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
The G&GR MOTM
The Argentine front row did this business and I’m not going to split them : Ayerza, Creevy and Chaparro.
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
Players to watch
For the Wallabies both Kuridrani and Folau looked hard to stop, Fardy kept up the form from last week.
Big number eight Sentore looked dangerous for the hosts and Sanchez was great in 10.
[/one_third]
The Details
Crowd:
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]Argentina: 21
Tries: Senatore 35′, Imhoff 53′
Conversions: Sanchez 1/2
Penalties:Sanchez 3/5[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Australia: 17
Tries: Kuridrani 4′, Higginbotham 14′
Conversions: Foley 2/2
Penalties: Foley 1/3[/one_half]
Cards & citings
Yellow Cards : Phipps 42′, Hooper 73′ Honourable mentions: Horwill and Folau
