That’s it from me. Well done Wallabies and happy father’s day to all the dads in Australia. Hopefully a first win in nine Rugby Championship matches for the Wallabies will serve as a tasty gift for you.
It wasn’t pretty, and perhaps they got a bit lucky that Argentina took their eye off the ball towards the end. But a win on the road is a mighty feather in the cap of this developing team.
I’ll catch you next week, but here’s Angus Fontaine’s match report in the meantime:
Updated
That’s an eight-game losing streak in the Rugby Championship that’s just come to an end.
Updated
One to savour, that’s for sure!
HOW GOOD 💚💛
— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 1, 2024
A hard fought win on the buzzer.
Thanks for the game, @lospumas 🤝#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/HTqUpb5fUn
There’ll be some controversy around this one. Referee Doleman said there would be a restart after Donaldson’s penalty but then seemed to change his mind. The Pumas players weren’t happy, as you’d expect. Keep an ear out for any grumblings from Argentina in the week.
Unreal performance from Australia. They were 10 points down and barely looked like winning the thing for most of the game. But they kept their patience – a true hallmark of a Joe Schmidt team – and were rewarded.
Argentina will be kicking themselves. They should have had this sewn up but massive credit to the men in gold. This is a mighty, mighty win on the road.
Australia win it at the death!
Donaldson nudges over the extras and the Wallabies have snatched it by a point! They triumph 19-20.
79 min: Gleeson carries well and they’re five metres out. No sign of the drop goal yet. But they win a penalty! This will be the game. Vivas gives away the penalty and Donaldson will have the simplest task to nudge over the winner.
Updated
78 min: Australia have the line-out on Argentina’s 22. They go to the back of the line-out and then set a maul. They’re trying to win a penalty. Nothing doing so they crash it through the middle. Still they have it. Will they set a dop-goal? No, they keep hammering the line with Frost carrying big.
77 min: Matera picks up at the back of the scrum and carries into contact. Bazan Belez is taking his time to box kick. Koreoibete can’t hold on so Argentina can attack. But the ball is spilled and Australia have an overlap. They just need to give it hands. Jorgensen is clear but he can’t hold on and is tackled and spills the ball as he takes the hit. That was turnover ball that could have ended in an Australian try if only they were more accurate.
76 min: McDermott hoists a high box which is brilliantly fielded by Albornoz. Then Bazan Velez box kicks himself. Loloseio gets up to catch but knocks on and takes a knock himself. Scrum to Australia. That Albornoz catch might be the difference maker here.
Updated
75 min: Scrum penalty for Australia. Argentina’s front row collapses so Lolesio hoofs it out towards half-way. Not a lot of distance. Still 10 metres inside his own half. But they have the line-out.
74 min: The scrum is taking a while to set. In fact they have to reset. This won’t do Australia any good. They’re camped inside their own 22.
73 min: Creevy enters the field for the last time as a Test player. It’s his 110th appearance at 39-years-old. He’s his country’s most-capped player. Wouldn’t it be a story if he manages to score the decisive try?
71 min: Two consecutive takes under the high ball has Argentina on the front foot. Another high kick is well held by Lolesio but he’s pushed back into his own 22. It’s becoming a bit of kick tennis. Lolesio has to field another tough ball under pressure. Albornoz counters witha rampaging run. Argentina are into Australia’s 22 but there’s a spill. Australia escape with a scrum feed. That was a mad period. Both teams are going for it. What a great end to this game.
Penalty! Argentina 19-17 Australia (Albornoz, 70)
Argentina retake the lead. This is a proper ding-dong affair now. Great footy.
68 mins: Argentina shift the point of contact in the line-out and set a formidable maul. But Australia do well to stop it. They bring it down legally but then give away a penalty on the ground just five out. Argentina wrestle the ball over the line but after a double movement. Rather than go again with another line-out or a tap and go, Albornoz will take aim at the posts.
67 min: Argentina have a penalty inside Australia’s 22. The Pumas are purring now and the crowd is matching their energy. Albornoz, on as a replacement on the wing, danced his way past two tacklers and Australia in their haste to halt the wave of blue and white gave away a penalty. They’re close to the corner. Might they look to maul again or will they choose to kick for points? Looks like the corner.
66 min: Gallo spills the ball over the line! Wilson with a try – perhaps match – saving tackle. The big Puma prop burst through a half gap and had to simply finish the move. He dived for the line and while he was in the air Wilson put in a hit that dislodged the ball. What a moment!
65 min: A scrappy period ends with an Australian knock-on inside their own half. Some kick-tennis as both teams searched for an opening. Lolesio fields a kick and chooses to run. That proves to be the wrong decision as he invites too much pressure on himself and then Frost who collected a loose pass under pressure. Argentina swarmed, won the ball but couldn’t stitch enough passes of their own to take advantage after the knock-on. Instead they’ll feed the scrum about 18 metres from the line.
63 min: Gordan picks up the quick ball from the back of the scrum and hoofs a lovely touch finder. Australia – apart from the restarts – are starting to click.
61 min: Argentina drift from right to left and eventually knock it on. S Carreras had created the space as he delayed his pass, but the ball to Cinti wasn’t ideal when it was delivered and the outside centre couldn’t hold on. Scrum to Australia inside their 22.
60 min: AGAIN! Another restart is botched by the Wallabies. Every time they score they invite pressure back on themselves. This time a ball is dropped so Argentina have the scrum feed inside the Wallabies’ 22.
Penalty! Argentina 16-17 Australia (Lolesio, 60)
Australia take the lead for the first time. After trailing by 10 points they have something to hold on to.
58 min: Bertranou slices his kick from the base of the scrum so it’s a big net gain for the Wallabies who’ll have the line-out throw on the 22. Now they have a penalty advantage from the resulting maul and could take the lead if they go for poles. Indeed they will. It’s certainly in range, but the angle might make this tricky for Lolesio who’ll be kicking from the left of the sticks.
55 min: Stewart spills the ball just as Australia were working through the hands inside Argentina’s 22. That’s frustrating but the way the Wallabies’ scrum is firing this might not be such a bad outcome.
A quick shout for Ikitau who is a leading light in that midfield. A wonderful game from him so far.
54 min: Another penalty for Australia and it’s that man Tizzano yet again. The Wallabies line-out falters so there’s a loose ball that needs getting. Bertranou pounced but Tizzano was there to get over it and secure the penalty.
53 min: Scrum penalty this time for Australia. Bell gets the better of the new man Bello.
52 min: Australia just haven’t got their restarts right. Not for the first time they cough up easy possession after scoring points. Argentina look a little disjointed but they’ll have the scrum feed a few out from Australia’s 22.
TRY! Argentina 16-14 Wallabies (Valetini, 50)
Boom! That is more like it! It’s capped off by a busting burst from close range by the man they call Bobby V, but plaudits must go to Ikitau – who is having a top game – for finding space in the backline and igniting the move by losing two defenders. Gordan recycled and found the right runners before shovelling a short ball for the rampaging Valetini who would not be stopped from only a few metres out. Lolesio converts and suddenly we’ve got a mighty close game on our hands.
49 min: In the blink of an eye we’ve gone from Australia feeding the scrum five metres out to throwing a line-out on the half-way line. Argentina secured their own line-out and hoofed a mighty clearance up field. Australia have to be smarter than that.
48 min: What a waste! A truly poor decision as Australia choose to go down the blindside. But there was little more than five metres to play with and Argentina rallied to shove the men in gold out over the line.
47 min: Australia will have a five metre scrum. It started with a brilliant steal from Bell – are we sure he’s a prop? – and then it went down through the hands. Kellaway nudged a grubber ahead and Koroibete chased and forced the covering Puma back over his own line. A wonderful opportunity here for the Wallabies. First they have to get their scrum secure.
Penalty! Argentina 16-7 Australia (S Carreras, 45)
Argentina go beyond a converted try. That’s a big blow for the Wallabies at the start of this second half.
44 min: Argentina win the scrum penalty and their entire pack leaps up in celebration. Big win for the home side. Tupou is the guilty party but I genuinely have no idea how the referee can make a call there. Looked like both props went down. Anyway, S Carreras will line up this gimme kick.
43 min: Great defence from Australia. They’ve shown great patience when defending as well as attacking. And eventually they force the error, there’s a knock-on at the base of the ruck so Australia will have the scrum feed on their own 22.
41 min: We’re back and Argentina have picked up where they left off, attacking with zippy hands and an eagerness to go wide. Seven phases in and they’re up to Australia’s 22.
Half-time: Argentina 13-7 Australia
Lolesio needed a mate to hold the ball steady for him but it didn’t help. His penalty attempt sails wide and that’ll be half-time. Scrappy, as you’d expect with the conditions, but Australia did show some fight. Both teams a long way off their best. More will be needed to secure a win in the second half.
Back in a bit.
38 min: Faessler goes to the front of the line-out and finds his jumper. Down the line they go. Wilson on the angle. Bell cuts against the grain. They’re looking for holes on the fringe of the close exchanges. Short passes. Stiff runs. Argentina’s defence holds. But Matera comes in from the side so it’s a straight-arm penalty. Lolesio tells his skipper he can hit the poles from here. About 37 metres but with a breeze in his face.
37 min: Bell with a penalty on the ground! Excellent from the big unit who might be playing prop but performed the job of a loose forward there. That gives Lolesio the chance to clear upfield where the Wallabies will have another throw.
37 min: Argentina are good value for their lead, but they’re also getting the bounce of the ball at the minute. A high hopeful kick lands and bounces back towards their onrushing players. Then a cross-field kick lands and bounces out inside Australia’s 22, where Faessler will throw under pressure to find a jumper.
Penalty! Argentina 13-7 Australia (S Carreras, 34)
Six point game. After some confusion around the shot clock, which saw a bunch of Wallabies get rather excited and wave their arms about, Argentina’s fly-half calmly slots a penalty he could have knocked over with his eyes closed.
32 min: A real helter-skelter period inside Australia’s 22 ends with a penalty to Argentina. Credit to the Wallabies defence which has stood firm. But a moment of ill discipline from Stewart – who illegally entered a ruck – means Argentina should stretch their lead by three.
29 min: How deflating. From the restart Australia spill the ball so Argentina have the scrum feed inside the Wallabies’ 22.
TRY! Argentina 10-7 Australia (Gordan, 28)
Australia find their way through! They kept targeting the fringe of the breakdown and eventually a stiff carry breaks the wall. It’s a slick inside pass from Ikitau that finds Wright against the grain. He’s tackled but has the awareness to off-load for Gordan on the support line. Great try that’s converted by Lolesio.
27 min: Australia are keeping their passes short with runners carrying into traffic. They’re hammering the line and now have a penalty. Eight phases. This is looking good…
25 min: Another penalty for Australia, this time inside Argentina’s half. The Pumas had the line-out but the Wallabies did well to disrupt. Under pressure the Pumas couldn’t organise themselves and there’s an infringement – for off-side I think. Either way, Australia have a platform from the line-out about 15 metres out.
23 min: A big steal from Tizzano saves Australia’s skins! Argentina were starting to fizz the ball through the hands and were once again threatening inside Australia’s 22. But the Western Force flanker got over the ball and nicked a penalty on the deck.
21 min: Lolesio lands a brilliant clearing kick. Australia then get their hands back on the ball and choose to go through the hands past the second receiver. Much better. Oh, but they lose it. Just so frustrating. Argentina back on the attack again with a cross-field kick testing both wingers. Wright emerges with it and Gordan lands a solid box kick out of touch.
19 min: Sharp hands from Argentina has them moving the ball up field from a line-out. They’re just far more incisive with ball in hand than the Wallabies. They get into Australia’s 22 but there’s a knock-on so the chance to set a scrum and clear for the visitors.
17 min: Another soft error. Koroibete, from the restart, takes out an Argentina player in the air so coughs up a needless penalty. The Pumas will have the throw close to half-way after a good touch finder. They secure the ball and then Australia give away another penalty after illegally interfering with the set maul. The Wallabies really need to sharpen up.
TRY! Argentina 10-0 Australia (Gonzalez, 16)
Argentina are over! And it was so easy. Clean ball at the line-out, they set a solid maul. Australia’s defence crumbles and the No8 at the back simply has to fall over. S Carreras converts and now it’s a 10 point game.
15 min: Australia win the restart and set an attack. Quick hands from Tupou generates some go-forward. Loelsio hoists a high cross-field kick which lands on his team’s side but Argentina have it back shortly after. They clear ahead and an intercept suddenly has Australian defenders back-peddling. In a flash they have their heels on their wn try line and Faessler is rushed into a ruck which he seals off illegally so Argentina have the penalty five metres out. They kick to the corner.
Penalty! Argentina 3-0 Australia (S Carreras, 12)
The Gloucester man slots the penalty. First points on the board for the home side.
11 min: Australia give away a penalty as Argentina set their attack from the line-out. They’re more direct with ball in hand as they look to spread it wide. But there’s a spill so we’ll come back for the penalty in range. Montoya points to the poles and asks S Carreras to take aim.
9 min: Australia are back on attack. Lolesio dinks a kick over the onrushing defence and they retain possession. Another kick though is fielded by Mallia and a big boot has the ball bobbling near Australia’s try-line. That was a really kind bounce. Australia’s return kick is hooked so Argentina have the line-out feed inside Wallaby territory.
8 min: This move is now 20 phases long but Australia aren’t going anywhere. Still, they have the ball and keep hammering the blue and white wall. 25 phases now. It’s all a bit too one dimensional. Wright throws a dummy but no one is buying. Eventually there’s a speculative kick ahead from Lolesio and it dribbles into the in-goal area and is safely dotted down. 27 phases for nothing to show.
6 min: Wilson secures the line-out and Australia keep the ball. Valetini twice carries into traffic. Seven phases becomes eight but they’re pushed back to the 22. Wilson carries again. Gordan is now well behind the 22. Ikitau tries to wriggle round the edge but again Argentina repel the men in gold. They’ve gone backwards about 20 metres from where the line-out was taken.
4 min: Australia get the scrum penalty. Big shove from Tupou. Out of range for Lolesio so he boots a long touch finder. About 12 metres from the Pumas’ line.
3 min: It’s a poor throw from Montoya. Too short and Australia manage to steal the ball. Gordan then puts up a contestable kick which is knocked on so the Wallabies will have the scrum feed just inside half-way.
2 min: Rubiola is going off the field for an HIA and Lavanini enters the scene. He’ll be a target at this line-out for Montoya.
1 min: Lolesio kicks off and Argentina have the ball. There’s a long raking kick that Wright fields but the return kick is sliced. So Argentina have the throw inside Australian territory.
There’s a late change for Argentina. Gonzalo García comes in for Lautaro Bazán Vélez, who picked up a knock in the warm-up
Intense passion from the Argentina players. They’re up for this. we’re seconds away from kick-off now.
Time for the anthems. The players are shivering! My goodness it looks grim.
It is bucketing down! Wet, windy, no doubt slipper underfoot. Might be a stodgy game.
Argentina have won their last two meetings with the Wallabies.
Last year they edged Australia 34-31 in Sydney and the year before that they hammered Dave Rennie’s team 48-17 across a seven try demolition job in San Juan.
“Not good enough,” was Rennie’s entry into the understatement of the year award.
One of my favourite rugby podcasts is optimistic about Stewart’s debut. Anyone out there share this sentiment?
Something real test cricket about Hamish Stewart debuting. Really deserves it. 100 super rugby caps, went to the Force when he could have left, 26 years old. He might be the answer to lighten Noah’s load and encourage us to play a bit wider than 9.
— Rugby Report Card (@rugby_podcast) August 31, 2024
Joe Schmidt is backing young Harry Wilson to lead with distinction.
“Harry’s been really good for us and I think he’s led himself really well,” Schmidt said on Friday morning from Argentina. “He has a natural propensity to express himself well, but with very few words, and I don’t think that we want to be doing too much talking, it’s about the actions that he’s going to deliver and lead from the front effectively.
“We’re pretty happy with the selection amongst the coaching group and even talking to some of the players about who would be best to step up, there was a lot of confidence around Harry.”
For those who missed it, the Springboks beat the All Blacks in a stunner in Johannesburg.
Here’s the report:
Creevy starts on the bench for his final Test
Agustin Creevy will call time on his international career at the final whistle. No doubt the 39-year-old with over 100 caps for his country will make an impact when he steps on as a replacement hooker.
Felipe Contepomi has selected 14 of the 15 starters who beat New Zealand in the opening round of the competition. The one change is on the wing where Santiago Cordero replaces Matias Moroni.
Elsewhere it’s a formidable outfit that will confront the Wallabies. The back row of Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer and Juan Martin Gonzalez is right up there with the best combinations in the world and Santiago Carreras has the ability to unlock any game from fly-half.
Argentina: Mallia; Cordero, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (cap), Scalvi, Molina, Rubiolo, Matera, Kremer, Gonzalez.
Replacements: Creevy, Vivas, Bello, Petti, Lavanini, Grondona, Bazan Velez, Albornoz.
¡Los 23 que defenderán la camiseta en La Plata! 🇦🇷
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) August 29, 2024
🔜 TRC Fecha 3
🆚 Australia 🇦🇺
📆 Sábado 31 de agosto
⏰ 19:00 h
🏟️ Estadio Uno de Estudiantes de La Plata#SomosLosPumas pic.twitter.com/UqW95HlsfQ
Updated
Another new captain leads beefed-up Wallabies
Harry Wilson becomes the fourth skipper in just the sixth match of the Joe Schmidt era. It’s a remarkable turnaround for the No8 after he was left out of Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad and he’ll be itching to impress with the added leadership duties.
There are five changes in total to the team that put in a spirited performance against the Springboks two weeks ago. Allan Allalatoa, the most recent captain, starts on the bench as Taniela Tupou starts in the front row amidst an improved looking tight five.
Hamish Stewart makes his debut at inside centre as he replaces his injured Reds teammate Hunter Paisami.
Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Stewart, Koroibete; Lolesio, Gordan; Bell, Faessler, Tupou, Frost, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, Tizzano, Wilson (cap)
Replacements: Nasser, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Williams, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Jorgensen.
TEAM LIST vs. Los Pumas 🦘
— Wallabies (@wallabies) August 29, 2024
🗓️ Sunday 1st Sept | 8:00am AEST
🏟️ Estadio Uno, La Plata
📺 @stansportau#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/8vcibJkGZU
Premable
If the wins against Wales and Georgia were caveated by the weakness of the opposition, and the losses against the world champions Springboks were considered inevitable, then perhaps this can be regarded as the first true test of Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.
World Rugby’s rankings aren’t perfect, but few would argue that Argentina’s spot in sixth, three places above Australia, is an inaccurate reflection of their quality. The Pumas beat New Zealand in the opening round of the Rugby Championship and finished fourth in last year’s World Cup. They’re on a two-game winning streak against the Wallabies and will fancy themselves on their own patch this evening.
Does this mean that Australia have little hope of winning? Of course not. There have been obvious improvements under Schmidt and he’s named what could potentially be the best XV of his tenure so far. There’s a new skipper, an imposing tight five and the knowledge that they’ve arrived in Beunos Aires as underdogs.
Which means the pressure is all on the home side. Having beaten the All Blacks, and with New Zealand playing two Tests in South Africa, there’s an outside chance of them finishing second in the competition for the first time in their history. To do that, though, they’ll need to beat Australia twice.
I say this for most games in this tournament but this really could be a banger.
If you’re as amped for some quality footy as I am and want to share your thoughts with the group, drop me a mail or hit me up on X. How do you see this one going?
Teams and further updates to follow.
Kick-off at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi is at 8am AEST/11pm BST/7pm local time.
