The Wallabies made a wet and wild comeback with a 20-19 win over Argentina, putting the new-look team firmly back in the Rugby Championship campaign.
A penalty from substitute Ben Donaldson on the final whistle ensured the ball was in and an end to the club’s eight-game losing streak in the Rugby Championship.
Australia trailed 10-0 and 16-7 on Sunday (AEST) at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata, just south of Buenos Aires, but still managed to improve the four-team tournament score to 1-2 in pouring rain.
Centre Len Ikitau was a bright spot in attack despite the conditions, halfback Jake Gordon impressed, mainstays Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou and free attackers Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini and debuting captain Harry Wilson were influential.
Centre Hamish Stewart, the Wallabies’ 15th debutant this year, was also very strong.
“Very proud. We made it difficult for ourselves a few times by giving them a great start at home, with a big crowd and difficult circumstances,” said coach Joe Schmidt.
‘We put ourselves under pressure again by missing the restarts but we fought… scored and created a couple of other chances which would have been great.’
The teams will meet again in Santa Fe in seven days, with better weather expected.
Australia’s Jake Gordon scores a try in the Wallabies’ thrilling win over Argentina
The Wallabies celebrate their defeat to Argentina’s Los Pumas in the Rugby Championship
“Hopefully it’s a stepping stone, but the circumstances are very different: we’re playing against another Pumas team,” Schmidt said.
‘At the very highest level, margins are small and things can change quickly.’
The Wallabies had scored just one try in their two early series defeats to South Africa. Their attacking prowess was also lacking in the early going, failing to score despite making just five tackles inside the home side’s 75-metre line in the first 15 minutes.
They held the ball for 27 phases in the opening minutes, fearing to play too stretched out in the pouring rain.
But they only went backwards as Noah Lolesio’s final kick in the fifth and eighth minute was easily saved and Argentina regained ground to open the scoring with a penalty.
Los Pumas then marched back onto the field, with Juan Martin Gonzalez scoring from a driving maul to put them 10-0 up.
Ikitau provided the spark for the visitors by breaking through the line after a strong run from Valetini and passing the ball to Tom Wright.
The full-back then passed to Gordon, who collected the ball around his laces and scored under the posts.
Lolesio narrowly missed the penalty at half-time, meaning the visitors went into the break trailing 13-7.
Los Pumas flanker Marcos Kremer is tackled by Australian Wallabies flanker Rob Valetini and hooker Matt Faessler
Wallabies winger Carlo Tizzano is tackled by Argentina’s Los Pumas winger Marcos Kremer
Australia defended strongly at the restart but lost a scrum against the feed and the home side took a nine-point lead.
Wilson regretted his decision to attack the blindside after a five-metre scrum when he was pushed out.
But once again Ikitau provided some news by beating two players before Valetini scored a crucial try to make it 2 points with 30 minutes remaining.
Ten minutes later, Lolesio gave Australia a 17-16 lead with a penalty, but the No. 10 then put his team under pressure by taking a back kick himself and then making a wobbly pass to an isolated Nick Frost, leading to a turnover and a penalty.
Argentina regained the lead with 10 minutes to go, by two points, but missed a chance to secure the result when Gonzalez knocked the ball out of his hands as he went to score.
Lolesio then found space after Argentina took the lead, but newly introduced winger Max Jorgensen failed to clear the pass as he ran down the right flank.
However, Australia persevered and found the Argentine line in the middle of the pitch before being awarded a penalty with one minute left on the clock.
Substitute Donaldson took the ball first, but saved the remaining seconds with his shot before firing home the winning goal as the final whistle blew.