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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Angus Fontaine

Wallabies refuse to panic after horror half hour even as familiar problems resurface

Argentina's Los Pumas centre Lucio Cinti is tackled by Australia's Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou and centre Hamish Stewart
The Wallabies conceded their highest score in 125 years as Argentina ran riot with nine tries to send Australia to last place in the Rugby Championship. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

It was a record obliteration, a nightmare defeat low-lighted by a half hour from hell. But the Wallabies must take heart from three good halves of football in Argentina and try to forget the final one that cost them 50 points in 33 minutes on Sunday. At least that’s the message from coach Joe Schmidt after Australia’s spectacular implosion in Santa Fe.

The 67-27 beatdown – the most points scored against the Wallabies in 125 years – is all the more demoralising for the fact Schmidt’s men looked so comfortably in control early in the Test. After 29 minutes they were up 20-3 and, despite letting Los Pumas in for two tries before the break, still had their noses in front 20-17 at half-time.

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