AUSTRALIA CLUNG ON to snap a four-Test losing streak with an unimpressive 14-13 victory over Argentina in their Rugby Championship Test at Patersons Stadium.
In wet and windy conditions that made slick ball handling difficult, the Wallabies led 14-3 at half-time, but failed to score after the break and were lucky the Pumas were unable to capitalise on some late errors by the home team.
Although the win didn’t answer too many questions about their form, it was the Wallabies’ first victory under new coach Ewen McKenzie in his fourth match at the helm. However, Argentina threatened to snatch the match when they scored the only try of the second half and the Wallabies missed three potentially crucial chances in the dying minutes.
Christian Leali’ifano missed two penalties in the last 10 minutes and substitute Matt Toomua completely shanked an attempt at a drop goal. The Pumas had a chance to attack in the final minute, but were penalised for not throwing in straight at the line-out.
It all started so well for the Pumas, who were first on the scoreboard as Nicolas Sanchez slotting a penalty in the eighth minute. The Wallabies had the strong wind at their backs and leveled through the boot of Leali’ifano four minutes later. The home team then took the lead through Leali’ifano in the 17th minute.
Leali’ifano was again involved in the first try of the match, his creativity ending with the impressive Israel Folau beating four Pumas to dive over the tryline in the 28th minute. Another Leali’ifano penalty after the half-time siren meant the Wallabies led 14-3 at the break, the first time they have gone into the break in the lead in six Tests.
Desperate for their first win in the Rugby Championship, Argentina’s forwards severely tested the defence of the Wallabies in the opening minutes of the second half, camping on the Australian try line.
The Wallabies’ makeshift scrum was under siege, as was the case in the 38-12 loss to South Africa last weekend, and the penalties started to flow. They somehow held firm and finally won a penalty to ease the pressure, having enjoyed just 18% of the possession in the first 10 minutes since the resumption.
In driving rain in front of a crowd of 18,214, there was little to enthuse about for spectators until the Pumas suddenly produced the best rugby of the night mid-way through the half.
The visitors moved the ball across the ground with purpose and speed and were eventually rewarded when Juan Manuel Leguizamon barged over for their first try in the 65th minute. When Sanchez duly converted, the Wallabies only led 14-13 and the scene was set for a tense final 15 minutes.
