Wallabies punish errant Pumas
6 Oct 2012
GARETH DUNCAN watched the Wallabies capitalise on an ill-disciplined Argentine display to secure a 25-19 victory in Rosario.
This was the Pumas’ last chance to secure victory in the Rugby Championship.
Many believed that this encounter was their best chance to do so as they faced a weakened and wounded Wallabies outfit … one low on confidence after a demoralising defeat against the Springboks in Pretoria last weekend.
However, Argentina were central in their own downfall as they delivered their poorest overall performance of the season.
They lacked the intensity and urgency shown in their previous Tests. Their attacking play was uninspiring, and their errant defence cost them any chance of victory against Australia, who didn’t fare much better.
This will be remembered as the worst Test of the tournament.
Fullback Mike Harris played a telling role for the visitors as he kicked 20 points to secure the win.
Most of those points came in the first half, which proved to be a kicking contest between the two teams. Argentina were guilty of poor discipline throughout the opening 40, which saw Harris kick five penalties to build Australia a comfortable buffer.
Referee Craig Joubert lost his patience with the hosts by the 25th minute, and veteran lock Patricio Albacete was sent to the sin bin moments after his team received a final warning moments before.
The Pumas remained within reach as flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez kicked three penalties. The Wallabies led 15-9 at the break.
Wing Digby Ioane then landed the killer blow in the 65th minute.
After a third quarter which saw substandard play from both sides, a smart backline move set up Ioane’s rush through a big gap in the Argentine guard for an easy rush to the whitewash. Harris converted, and went on to kick his sixth three-pointer soon thereafter.
The Wallabies were reduced to 14 men in the 74th minute as reserve scrumhalf Brett Sheehan was yellow carded after spending 60 seconds on the park.
The Pumas then secured a lifeline at the death as replacement wing Juan Imhoff powered over, which reduced the deficit to six.
But Argentina failed in their pursuit for what would’ve been a match-winning try in the final movement of general play. They lost the ball after a couple phases, to the relief of under-fire Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
The Pumas will have to wait until 2013 to achieve their first Rugby Championship victory. However, they proved to be worthy contenders during their first tournament run against the giants of union, and could likely end up winners sometime during the next campaign if they can continue their rapid rise and learn from this year’s lessons.
Here’s hoping the outing in Rosario was a once-off disappointment.
21 Comments
7 Oct 2012, 00:16 am
Let’s see these blue and white dragons teach those Aussies a lesson
7 Oct 2012, 01:02 am
Go Pumas! If they fail to beat at home injury decimated Australia, first season will be a failure.
7 Oct 2012, 01:07 am
Great to see local atmosphere, it may look like River Plate is going to take on Boca Juniors.
But no, that’s welcome Pumas.
7 Oct 2012, 01:57 am
Aus kickers being lasered, both Beale and the other kid. Sky UK commentators oblivious.
7 Oct 2012, 02:03 am
@Esoteric-4: Yes, it’s pretty poor. It reportedly happened to the Kiwis too – although I didn’t notice it during their game. But it has been very obvious this time. It isn’t working, either.
7 Oct 2012, 02:19 am
nobody wants to score a try seemingly? both teams butchering golden opportunities. don’t see Arg coming away with a win unfortunately.
7 Oct 2012, 02:22 am
Harris lasered again. very poor. can’t believe commentators haven’t mentioned it???
7 Oct 2012, 02:28 am
Come on Pumas, dig deep!
7 Oct 2012, 02:31 am
****.
7 Oct 2012, 02:41 am
Aussies — if they win here, as seems likely — will end up with 3 wins out of 6 to nudge the Boks into 3rd place and they will also reclaim their #2 IRB ranking, again driving SA down to #3 again.
Progress under Heineken Meyer? Zero. Zilch. Nada.
And a number of EOYT opponents will be fancying their chances of tipping over the Boks too — especially as injuries rule out some key Bok players.
Prospects under Heineken Meyer? I see a bad moon rising…
7 Oct 2012, 02:46 am
Big deal you turncoat twat. It’s just a game.
7 Oct 2012, 03:08 am
25 – 12. Are you sure, Gareth?
7 Oct 2012, 08:06 am
@kwas-12: Keo forcing his minion which he did not do – don’t know where he dreamt up that score.
7 Oct 2012, 09:55 am
@TheTackler-10: HA! We’re second! HA!
7 Oct 2012, 10:53 am
So even a the weak WAllabies beat the Argies. Where as the Boks could only manage a draw!! Jeez our Boks has fallen this year under Meyer. Sort of give me a feeling of the Straeuli era. Really hope we don’t fall to that level. We need to go and now beat all on our eoyt tour, somehow think we may get beat by Ireland and England. Hope I am wrong.
7 Oct 2012, 10:53 am
@Puma-15: should read – have fallen
7 Oct 2012, 19:57 pm
taking a cursory glance at the first half without giving any real, determined observation i have picked up just a few of the new zealanders infringements. of course the second half was / is far, far more littered with filthy play than the first (how else would they win):
1. driving off players without the ball.
2. hands.
3. macaw falling onto the wrong side of the ruck.
4. different players going onto the wrong side of the ruck.
5. hands.
6. offsides.
7. going off feet / to ground at ruck.
8. hands.
9. taking up position ahead of the ruck.
10. ab prop drops bind *should be an immediate penalty*.
11. disengaging early from scrum.
12. lineout distance infringement.
13. macaw blocking at scrum.
14. entering maul from side and continuing to play.
15. hands in ruck playing ball.
16. tackling support player without the ball intentionally – nonu.
17. *spear tackle* – retalick (is this even a debate…?..but i’ll bet you the citing commisioner if a saffa let it go).
18. offsides.
19. macaw slowing ball in ruck blatantly.
20. forward pass read – try.
21. sealing off at ruck.
22. obstructive running.
23. offsides again.
——————————————————–
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
this is just the first half and is by no means a full and final assesment of their filth.
7 Oct 2012, 23:28 pm
I´m not sure if we could talk about punishment when the score was 25-19.
I´m not sure about 3 scores if we have a decent kicker (SA in Mendoza 3 penalties an one drop missed; AUS in Gold Coast and AUS in Rosario, where we missed 3 penalties -Hernandes kick with injured foot- , and Beale missed 2 impossible penalties).
The RCH is history now, we must keep our efforts to still join with the big 3.
We have an epic effort to stay here without super rugby and whit one HC who can´t understand the importance to have a decent kicker (like Bustos Moyano who keep warm the seat in all this RCH).
About the laser is a shame, but the commentators can´t talk about it the OMERTA law is heared when the money talks.
Thanks SA for your support and goodbye for now.
7 Oct 2012, 23:46 pm
Well done Wallabies, to go over there with a second string team and win is a testament to their will power and determination, They may just re claim the No2 in the world as well, A lot of handling errors which was disappointing but apart from that I thought they looked the most dangerous,
Watch out next year when all our guys are back
8 Oct 2012, 03:27 am
@uhuru-14:” Victory for the Wallabies over Argentina would see them revert to second place in the IRB World Rankings at the expense of South Africa – provided New Zealand beat the Springboks to extend their unbeaten run to 16 Tests. ” — IRB website.
And the latest ratings are as at 1 October — that’s BEFORE the Wallaby-Puma and SA-NZ tests of 6-7 Oct.
So, pilgrim, you’re really NOT ranked second. You’re ranked third.
Third-rate?
8 Oct 2012, 10:16 am
@17 0h Lord, a real meltdown here
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