Australia claimed a comeback win over Argentina on Saturday in Townsville. The 28-24 victory came with the game clock deep in overtime. An 85th minute try from the Wallabies saw the home side securing the win to boost their chances of winning the 2025 Rugby Championship.
The win saw the Wallabies rebounding from a 21-7 half-time deficit. Los Pumas had been the better team in the first half but not in the second. Two tries to center Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii brought Australia back even and set-up a thrilling final quarter.
Australia scored four converted tries and did not kick any penalties. Santiago Carreras kicked three penalties, the first two of these had Los Pumas leading the contest 6-0 after 12 minutes. Wallabies’ veteran Nic White put the home side ahead. He scored after captain Harry Wilson charged from an attacking line-up. Tom Lynagh converted for a 7-6 lead early in the second quarter.
Argentina hit-back out wide. Winger Bautista Delguy scored from a scrum in which good ball saw Santiago Chocobares making a clear break . He passed to Juan Cruz Mallía who had the assist try for Delguy. Santiago Carreras’ conversion attempt was to the right.
Further enterprising play from Argentina followed. It was again from a scrum but this time the ball went left. Chocobares combined with Mallía before Lucio Cinti danced inside and passed to Santiago Carreras who put in the last pass for Mateo Carreras to score. Santiago Chocobares converted and added a penalty four minutes later for a 21-7 lead.
Argentina had one final opportunity to score points. An attacking penalty saw Julián Montoya calling for a scrum five meters out. Referee Paul Williams awarded Australia a free-kick to conclude the opening half.
Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i’s two second-half tries both came following Australian pressure up the middle. Argentina will review the footage pointing fingers at their own decisions and doing so while reviewing how they conceded 5 consecutive penalties.
In contrast, a call on 79 minutes may not be interpreted the same way. After Mallía had landed a penalty to put Argentina 24-21 ahead, with just over a minute remaining, Paul Williams called a knock-on from the kick-off. Los Pumas looked confused. Following play saw the Wallabies winning three penalties with Angus Bell scoring the match-winner on 85 minutes.
The two teams now travel south from Townsville to Sydney. The round four match of the Rugby Championship will see Australia looking to hold their spot at the top of there standings while Argentina look to respond and level the two match series ahead of facing South Africa.
- Boris Wenger and Gerónimo Prisciantelli debuted for Argentina.
- The match ended Juan Martín González streak of five tries in consecutive matches against Australia.
AUSTRALIA (28)
TRY – N White (22′); JA Suaalii 2 (46′, 62′); A Bell (85′)
CON – T Lynagh 2 (23′, 47′); J O’Connor 2 (63′, 86′)
ARGENTINA (24)
TRY – B Delguy (28′); M Carreras (31′)
CON – S Carreras (32′), JC Mallía (78′)
PEN – S Carreras 3 (4′, 12′, 36′)
YC – M Carreras (61′)
AUSTRALIA
1 Tom Robertson, 2 Billy Pollard, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Tom Hooper, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.), 9 Nic White, 10 Tom Lynagh, 11 Corey Toole, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Max Jorgensen, 15 Andrew Kellaway
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 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 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Juan Martín González, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera (vice-capt.), 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía (vice-capt.)
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruíz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Joaquín Oviedo, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 23 Benjamín Elizalde
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (England); Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
