The Wallabies have produced a stunning second half fightback to defeat Argentina 45-34 in Salta on early Sunday morning (UAE Time).
The Wallabies trailed by 24 points at the main break, with a try inside the opening two minutes by surging back rower Pablo Matera sparking a four-try first half blitz from the Pumas, who by the half time whistle had already registered their highest Test score against Australia.
Going into the dressing rooms at 31-7 down, the response from the men in gold was emphatic as they ran in five unanswered second half tries to run away with the most unlikely of victories. Australia outscored the Pumas 38 to 3 ijn the second period.
Putting a frantic and panicked first half performance behind them, the turnaround kicked-started four minutes after the break when Michael Hooper’s charge down close to the line gifted Izack Rodda his first Test try.
Israel Folau then chimed in on the act as he swerved through the middle and dotted down under the posts after the Wallabies had built 11 phases of attack. Another patient build-up three minutes later allowed Dane Haylett-Petty to cross for the first of his second half double.
A powerful effort from David Pocock, who cleaned up a loose ball and carried three defenders over the line, set up the first lead of the match for the visitors, and they never looked back. Pocock was again involved in Haylett-Petty’s second, turning the ball back to the Wallabies fullback after he had batted a Bernard Foley cross-field kick back inside.
The second half comeback was the largest ever in a Rugby Championship Test, and meant that the Wallabies avoided finishing in last position in the 2018 tournament.
Haylett-Petty took man of the match honours, but it was the Wallabies leaders who stood up when it mattered most and sparked a remarkable fightback.
Australia 45 (Dane Haylett-Petty 2, Michael Hooper, Izack Rodda, Israel Folau, David Pocock tries; Bernard Foley 6 cons; Bernard Foley pen) defeated Argentina 34 (Pablo Matera, Emiliano Boffelli, Jeronimo De la Fuente, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias tries; Nicolas Sanchez 2, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias 2 cons; Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias 2 pens)
AS IT HAPPENED:
2 mins: Pablo Matera try; Nicolas Sanchez con AUS 0-7 ARG
4 mins: Emiliano Boffelli try; Nicolas Sanchez con AUS 0-14 ARG
14 mins: Michael Hooper try; Bernard Foley con AUS 7-14 ARG
27 mins: Jeronimo De la Fuente try; Nicolas Sanchez con AUS 7-21 ARG
31 mins: Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias try; Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias con AUS 7-28 ARG
38 mins: Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias pen AUS 7-31 ARG
44 mins: Izack Rodda try; Bernard Foley con AUS 14-31 ARG
48 mins: Israel Folau try; Bernard Foley con AUS 21-31 ARG
51 mins: Dane Haylett-Petty try; Bernard Foley con AUS 28-31 ARG
61 mins: Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias pen AUS 28-34 ARG
63 mins: David Pocock try; Bernard Foley con AUS 35-34 ARG
66 mins: Dane Haylett-Petty try; Bernard Foley con AUS 42-34
75 mins: Bernard Foley pen AUS 45-34 ARG
77 mins: Tolu Latu yellow card
TEAMS
Wallabies
- Dane Haylett-Petty 14. Israel Folau 13. Reece Hodge 12. Kurtley Beale (22. Matt Toomua, 75 mins) 11. Marika Koroibete 10. Bernard Foley 9. Will Genia (21. Nick Phipps, 68 mins) 8. David Pocock 7. Michael Hooper © 6. Ned Hanigan (replaced by Faingaa at 78 mins) 5. Adam Coleman 4. Izack Rodda (19. Rob Simmons, 71 mins) 3. Taniela Tupou (18. Allan Alaalatoa, 40 mins) 2. Folau Faingaa (16. Tolu Latu, 40 mins) 1. Scott Sio (17. Sekope Kepu, 40 mins, replaced again by Sio at 73 mins)
*replacements in brackets
Argentina
- Emiliano Boffelli 14. Matias Moroni 13. Matias Orlando 12. Jeronimo De la Fuente 11. Ramiro Moyano 10. Nicolas Sanchez 9. Gonzalo Bertranou 8. Javier Ortega Desio 7. Marcos Kremer 6. Pablo Matera 5. Tomas Lavanini 4. Guido Petti 3. Ramiro Herrera 2. Agustin Creevy © 1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Reserves: 16. Julian Montoya 17. Santiago Garcia Botta 18. Santiago Medrano 19. Matias Alemanno 20. Juan Manuel Leguizamon 21. Tomas Cubelli 22. Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias 23. Sebastian Cancelliere
Match Notes:
First Australia-Argentina Test played in Salta
Izack Rodda – first Test try
Israel Folau becomes Australia’s leading tryscorer in The Rugby Championship (14)