Argentina conquered Australia in an intense battle in Sydney. Los Pumas were 28-26 winners in a round four match of the 2025 Rugby Championship. It was similar to the round three match in Townsville in that Argentina held a comfortable second-half lead in both matches but the Wallabies unleashed late comebacks. This time Argentina held on for victory.
Both Argentina and Australia have two wins and two losses from the four rounds played thus far in the 2025 Rugby Championship. The same is true of New Zealand and South Africa. This means that the tournament is the closest in history with no team presently being positioned clearly ahead of the others and, likewise, no team notably behind.
Argentina had plenty of territory and possession but had a hard time scoring tries. This match was won via penalties with Santiago Carreras kicking seven of them. El Cordobés scored 23 points for Los Pumas with his captain, Julián Montoya claiming the only try of the afternoon for the South Americans and the 15th for his country.
It was Santiago Carreras who opened the scoring with a penalty. Australia responded immediately. The re-start was not cleanly won and the Wallabies ultimately capitalized. Star center Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii scored down the right side. Tane Edmed kicked for a 7-3 lead.
However, the afternoon was not a dream starting debut for Edmed. A mistake from a free-kicks aw Montoya charging down the fly half and regathering to score. Santiago Carreras converted for a 10-7 lead on 7 minutes. Los Pumas would remain in front for the duration of the contest.
As the first-half unfolded, Argentina took control by winning collisions and the aerial battle. It saw Argentina having clear statistical advantages in both possession and territory.
While attacking down the left, Australia were punished with Max Jorgensen yellow carded for an intentional knock down with Argentina having an overlap. Los Pumas looked to score with the 15 on 14 advantage but ended up settling for a penalty.
Australia looked to turn the side with Tane Edmed landing a 50/22 but Argentina won a turn-over following the lineout. Santiago Carreras extended Los Pumas’ lead and added one more in the half for a 19-7 lead at the break.
In looking to regain momentum, the home side went to the replacements in the second-half. Prop Angus Bell was among them. He was penalized for obstruction and then made up for it with a clean break. Argentina scrambled to hold on and clear their lines.
Argentina’s defensive line was steady and winning penalties. The boot of Santiago Carreras slotted three in the second-half to establish a 28-7 lead. Yet, what was a career-highlight for the playmaker suffered a set-back with him yellow carded for a mirror incident to that of Jorgensen in the first-half.
Australia punished the 14-men Pumas. The home side found life to score two tries in two minutes with Andrew Kellaway and Fijian Filipo Daugunu scoring. Replacement James O’Connor converted one of them to make it a 9 point deficit with just over 11 minutes remaining.
Los Pumas were now playing to protect their lead. It saw them giving away a penalty to hand Australia the ball. What followed was a third second-half try to the Wallabies with Daugunu scoring for the second time. However, the try should not have been awarded. TMO Glenn Newman did not check for what were two clear forward passes: James O’Connor’s pass to Fraser McReight and Andrew Kellaway’s pass to Filipo Daugunu.
The error meant the game was alive. The Wallabies had under half a minute to complete their come-back. Argentina defended well to win a penalty and seal victory. The error from the officials will be felt by New Zealand and South Africa as it meant that Australia claimed 2 bonus points: 1 for tries scored and 1 for losing by 7 or less.
For Los Pumas, the outcome means they retain the Pumas Trophy for 2025. Next up is a September 27 battle against the Springboks in Durban, South Africa. Australia travel to New Zealand to face the All Blacks in Auckland, also on September 27.
Joe Schmidt (Head Coach)
“I felt that we had enough of the game to get the result. A lot of it was our own errors. The Argentinians, they’re a really good team, but we’re making 11 line breaks to three and scoring four tries to one and we don’t get a result.”
Felipe Contepomi (Head Coach)
“Five matches in the past two years have been decided in the final 2 or 3 minutes and in all five there were controversial rulings in the final minutes. Unfortunately those rulings went against us. So, it leaves a bit of bitterness, actually frustration.”
“I am frustrated with some things that we didn’t control and others that we did, some mistakes resurfaced. My joy comes from the dedication of the players, they fought until the end, not giving up. We let them back in the game, and I’m tired of the things that we aren’t in control of.
- A record crowd of 41,912 were in attendance at the Sydney Football Stadium.
- Argentina overtake Australia in the World Rankings. Argentina are now 6th and Australia 7th. It is an important result in terms of World Rugby rankings ahead of the World Cup draw in December.
- Santiago Carreras kicked 100% of his goals (8/8) for Argentina.
- James Slipper earned his 149th test cap. He is on track to be the first Australian to 150 caps.
- Hunter Paisami, Josh Nasser and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto earned their first caps of 2025.
- Julián Montoya captained Argentina for the 50th time in test matches.
- The teams both had 50% possession.
- Argentina concede 14 penalties, double that of Argentina’s 7.
- Australia ran 597m compared to Argentina’s 528m.
- Argentina completed 181 tackles and Australia 166.
- Juan Cruz Mallía had most meters gained with 119.
- Joaquín Oviedo had most carries with 15.
- Mateo Carreras had most defenders beaten with 9.
- Andrew Kellaway had 2 try assists.
AUSTRALIA (26)
TRY – JA Suaalii (3′); A Kellaway (66′); F Daugunu 2 (68′, 79′)
CON – T Edmed 1/1 (4′); J O’Connor 2/3 (67′, 80′)
YC – M Jorgensen (18′)
ARGENTINA (28)
TRY – J Montoya (6′)
CON – S Carreras 1/1 (7′)
PEN – S Carreras 7/7 (13′, 25′, 37′, 43′, 52′, 63′)
YC – S Carreras (65′)
AUSTRALIA
1 James Slipper, 2 Billy Pollard, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Jeremy Williams, 5 Tom Hooper, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.), 9 Nic White, 10 Tane Edmed, 11 Corey Toole, 12 Hunter Paisami, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Max Jorgensen, 15 Andrew Kellaway
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu
ARGENTINA
1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Juan Martín González, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía (vice-capt.)
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruíz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Pablo Matera (vice-capt.), 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Justo Piccardo, 23 Ignacio Mendy
| RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS |
| # | TEAM | WIN | LOSS | POINTS |
| 1 | AUSTRALIA |
2 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 |  SOUTH AFRICA |
2 | 2 | 10 |
| 3 |  NEW ZEALAND |
2 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 | ARGENTINA |
2 | 2 | 9 |
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland); Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
