Wallabies edge brave Pumas
15 Sep 2012
GARETH DUNCAN watched the Wallabies overcome a 19-6 second-half deficit to beat Argentina 23-19 in the Gold Coast.
Argentina had the better of the hosts for most parts of the match, while Wallabies wasted many of their opportunities and were errant on defence. This saw the South Americans hold a 6-3 half-time lead, before an impressive second-half blitz built a 13-point buffer.
However, the Pumas’ fight died down in the final quarter and the Wallabies managed to build vital momentum during the closing stages. Tries from inside centre Pat McCabe and wing Digby Ioane proved to be the telling scores, with the boot of Berrick Barnes and Kurtley Beale sealing victory.
Robbie Deans and his team will be very relieved as they avoided a shock defeat against Argentina, who haven’t won on Aussie soil since 1983.
And it looked to be the Pumas’ night early on.
Hardly anything went the Wallabies’ way in the first half, which included a nightmare start to the game. After flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez kicked an early penalty, Australia lost a man to the sin bin as McCabe was punished for a professional foul after chasing down an Argentine counter-attack.
The Wallabies still created scoring opportunities with a player down, but No 8 Radike Samo and skipper Nathan Sharpe butchered their chances, while Barnes missed his first two shot at goal. It took the hosts 24 minutes before Barnes finally slotted a three-pointer.
Hernandez secured Argentina a slim advantage at the break thanks to his second penalty.
Then came the Pumas blitz.
After Barnes levelled the scores shortly after the second-half restart, replacement flank Toms Leonard charged down flyhalf Quade Cooper’s clearance from the resulting kick-off to score the opening try of the game.
This inspired the tourists, who went on to break the Australian defence several times thereafter. And it was a run from speedster Juan Imhoff that created the Pumas’ second try.
The reserve wing broke away down the right side of the field, and his offload saw flank Julio Farias Cabello cross the whitewash. Although replays showed Imhoff’s foot hit the touchline, the try still stood. Hernandez missed both conversions, but his third penalty gave Argentina a comfortable 19-6 advantage.
The Wallabies then enjoyed an impressive spell of play, which began after McCabe’s try. The No 12 powered through after running on to Cooper’s pass 5m out from the chalk.
Argentina began losing grip, especially as their forwards tired up front, and it wasn’t too long before Ioane dotted down following scrumhalf Nick Phipps’ break. Barnes added both conversions before Beale slotted a late penalty.
It was a good comeback win for Australia, but Argentina will be encouraged following three impressive and competitive outings against the top three nations in world rugby. They will definitely be targeting an Aussie scalp at home.
204 Comments
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15 Sep 2012, 13:25 pm
Been a good second half so far.
15 Sep 2012, 13:25 pm
Rocky McCabe!
15 Sep 2012, 13:25 pm
@Puma-87:
Showing your neutrality Puma.
And yes they are brilliant. At the WC they were awesome. They (the Argie fans)remained in the stadiums after-match, for an hour or more waiting for their players to return. Which they did, every match.
15 Sep 2012, 13:25 pm
@kaksioek-95: but you dont derive nearly as much pleasure as I do in winding up you japies
seems an unfair bet
15 Sep 2012, 13:25 pm
@sandeno-93: Agree totally. Respect to them. They have made the comp so much better for being in it. Also their supporters are brilliant, watch them singing the whole game. We here just sing that absolutely mind daft ‘Ole’ the whole time.
15 Sep 2012, 13:27 pm
Nerves! Getting scared to log-on here!
15 Sep 2012, 13:27 pm
@poppa69-104: But there’s no risk involved – the Boks couldn’t possibly beat the Wallabies, could they? Come on, put your money where your mouth is
15 Sep 2012, 13:27 pm
@cane-103: Great to have them in this comp Cane.
Yes, loving their supporters. Brilliant to see them singing non-stop for the whole game.
We all should try it, would make more of a atmosphere.
15 Sep 2012, 13:28 pm
Come on Pumas, don’t let the Wallabies back in this.
15 Sep 2012, 13:28 pm
oz blew thier load against boks last week
15 Sep 2012, 13:29 pm
@kaksioek-107: actually, I was correcting your obvious arrogance..
dont let that fact escape you
15 Sep 2012, 13:32 pm
a try wins this for Oz, Argies will be deflated
15 Sep 2012, 13:32 pm
@poppa69-111: OK, so you aren’t man enough to take the bet. I understand.
15 Sep 2012, 13:33 pm
Nice try to oz, got a close one!
15 Sep 2012, 13:33 pm
Blimey, Pumas falling apart.
15 Sep 2012, 13:34 pm
Try Aussies
Why Cooper’s still on the field
15 Sep 2012, 13:34 pm
@kaksioek-113: again, and I quote
@Nils-10: The Boks will beat both the ABs and the Wallabies in SA – despite Meyer.
And, seriously, the physicality of the Pumas and the added travel is going to hit the Aussies hard. I firmly believe the Pumas will move above the Aussies in the rankings before too long, with the Boks hopefully above them. It is little short of a miracle that the Wallabies are above the Boks now, with the Boks having dominated most of the last two games these teams played.
the bolded bit, winnign 7 from 8 and being ranked 2nd compared to 3rd would dispute your post..
just saying, perhaps one shouldnt be so quick to mouth off???
15 Sep 2012, 13:36 pm
@poppa69-117: Whatever, your unwillingness to take the bet proves me right. Now keep it down, will you?
15 Sep 2012, 13:38 pm
how is the australian player able to just lie there? never an Oz penalty
15 Sep 2012, 13:39 pm
How is Slipper not penalized there? What about the hands in? What a joke.
15 Sep 2012, 13:39 pm
Slipper came right round the side and dived on the ground. Pitiful.
15 Sep 2012, 13:40 pm
@kaksioek-118: okay, but keep the arrogance up…
1 win in your last 4 games really is something to be proud off
15 Sep 2012, 13:41 pm
@Puma-108:
Hi Puma
I think Bok fans must either be very shy or just can’t get into the party spirit!
You get the odd cry of ‘Go Bokke’ echoing round a stadium and frankly that is about it!
Do you lot have a song like ‘Swing Low’ or ‘Bread of Heaven’ that everyone knows?
15 Sep 2012, 13:41 pm
Nice scrum Wallabies.
15 Sep 2012, 13:41 pm
Not sure is Hernandez reliable drop kicker anymore.
15 Sep 2012, 13:41 pm
Poppa shut it…. Your giving all cannibals out there a bad name
15 Sep 2012, 13:41 pm
Perhaaps you could alter the words of ‘De La Rey’ as everyone knows the tune!!
15 Sep 2012, 13:41 pm
opps spelling
15 Sep 2012, 13:42 pm
its an English ref, surely Big Hit youre not complaining about “the best ref in the world” ? hahahah
15 Sep 2012, 13:42 pm
@poppa69-122: Thanks Mr Pooper. That means a lot coming from you.
15 Sep 2012, 13:42 pm
@grant100-126: still upset the boers lost?
dumb dumb dummy
15 Sep 2012, 13:44 pm
@poppa69-129: even the greatest can make the odd error
15 Sep 2012, 13:44 pm
Poppa i told you i supported nz in that game because of the boer genocide…
15 Sep 2012, 13:44 pm
@carol-123: Hello Carol, How you doing?
Nope, we don’t have a song at all. We sing that mindless ‘ole’ thing the whole time. NOT ME..
15 Sep 2012, 13:45 pm
@kaksioek-130: youre the one spouting off how you dont know how the wallabies are ahead of you..
read this slowly
its because they have beaten you 7 out of the last 8 times..
its not that hard to understand surely?
15 Sep 2012, 13:45 pm
Tense finish!
15 Sep 2012, 13:47 pm
Congratz oz fans. Nice come back by the wallabies.
15 Sep 2012, 13:47 pm
Alas, my optimistic view was short-lived. Hard luck Pumas, congrats Wallabies.
Arghhhhh … happiness was so farken close.
15 Sep 2012, 13:48 pm
Don’t cry for me Argentina.
15 Sep 2012, 13:48 pm
@carol-123: During the 95 world cup we did get into the spirit of singing ‘Shosholoza’ which was great. Now we into this daft ‘ole’ thing the whole time.
15 Sep 2012, 13:48 pm
@grant100-133:
And after only 18 years you expect the black Saffas to get over apartheid?
15 Sep 2012, 13:48 pm
so close
hard luck arg
15 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
@kaksioek-130: actually, does that win mean Aus are ahead of SA now?
I think they are second on the table..
eish
15 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
@poppa69-135: Pooper, if you engage your head muscle, you may be able to deduce that it is miraculous that the Wallabies won both of the last two matches against the Boks when they were clearly outplayed. Nobody denies this. If you don’t mind, and even if you do, I will ignore you from now on because I have better things to do than argue with someone who lacks the courage of his convictions. Have a nice life.
15 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
@Puma-134:
All good here thanks Puma.
I can not see these games, probably just as well. Everyone has been so gloomy about the selections made by Mayer in the last few weeks it is as though the bloggers wrote the script, and the players were actors doing what was predicted!!!
15 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
well played by argies that 2nd argie try was awesome best try of the weekend with daggs try
15 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
Good effort Argentina, but Australia came back well and I think they were the better team.
15 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
Hard luck Argentina. That was a magnificent effort. Congrats Wallabies.
Just pleased the Argies are in this tourney. They most definitely make it a whole lot more exciting. Good start to this tourney as well. Playing very well and not laying down for any team.
15 Sep 2012, 13:50 pm
Sharpe’s injury stop changed the game
15 Sep 2012, 13:52 pm
Hopefully the top 14 games to come saves my rugby evening, outs been a **** night of rugby championship, best half of rugby? CountiesOtago
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