Australia secured a tenacious 28-28 draw with Argentina in Mendoza to clinch their first series win on Argentinean soil, keeping coach Les Kiss unbeaten after four Tests in charge. Despite falling behind late in the second half, a 70th-minute penalty try was enough to seal the historic result.
Missed opportunities and historic deadlock
The Wallabies will rue this result, squandering a two-try advantage early and a two-man advantage late that should have secured their first five-Test winning streak since 2021. This draw continues a historic deadlock between these rugby nations, with their last six Tests producing different winners, and squared series since 1987.
Last week Australia climbed over Argentina in the world rankings with their 27-21 victory in Jujuy. But this brave draw, played in swirling winds, was a tougher Test. Returning Wallabies winger Filipo Daugunu dropped the kickoff, setting the tone for a torrid, error-riddled first quarter in which neither team drew blood.
Wallabies' bright start and Argentina's response
The Wallabies finally found their mojo, with a volley of passes down the right blind side resulting in a try. Although the score was later disallowed when Ryan Lonergan was found to have fractionally crossed into touch, five minutes later they got it right. Captain Harry Wilson drove over to secure a 7-0 lead after 30 minutes.
Australia had found Argentina's underbelly and drove ever deeper to win an easy penalty in front. But Wilson, back as captain after resting for the first Test, wanted more. Australia tapped and ran. Fraser McReight was held up over the line, but it cost Argentina anyway as Franco Molina was yellow-carded for a professional foul.
Second-half drama and penalty try
The Wallabies made them pay, sending the ball wide for Max Jorgensen to cross untouched and extend their lead to 14-0. For the first time all year Australia had not conceded a try in the first half hour. But when Jeremy Williams went to the sin bin for cynical play, Los Pumas steadied and struck, captain Pablo Matera touching down.
A minute later, it was 14-all as a Los Pumas lineout win set up a sublime Joaquín Moro inside pass to Ignacio Mendy. As the siren sang, Australia erred again when Tom Wright was tackled in goal, his shove glancing the chin of Simón Benítez Cruz. Some football theatrics won a penalty but Argentina went for a try and were repelled.
Back in 2018, Michael Cheika had delivered an apocalyptic spray on his Wallabies when they slumped to 31-7 at half-time in Salta. It inspired the biggest half-time comeback in tier-one rugby history. Kiss is far more mild-mannered but whatever he said inspired Australia's strong start, which alchemised McReight's try soon after.
But the home side came again, rolling downfield and patiently punching away at the line until Ignacio Ruiz dotted down from close range to square the scoreline. Sensing the danger, Kiss brought on his bomb squad of bench stars. Carter Gordon returned as playmaker, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto as enforcer, Aidan Ross as bulwark.
The fresh legs weren't enough as relentless pressure during a long 23-phase siege cracked the gold wall as Matera crossed for his second to take the lead. Australia weren't done though. They won a crucial lineout and stayed composed, finding the overlap and winning a penalty try when Daugunu's certain try was knocked down.
Another yellow card reduced Argentina to 13 men but clunky errors and a leg injury to Gordon left them without the creative spark to clinch victory. They walk away with some history, securing the Puma Trophy, but the road ahead is uphill, with a one-off Test against the Springboks in Perth to follow before the Bledisloe Cup series.
“It was a tough battle out there,” a frustrated McReight said afterwards. “We started really strong and were lucky right on that half-time break not to concede more points. That second half was quite up and down, but we’re grateful that we maintained an unbeaten record for the past four weeks. But there’s clearly a lot to work on.”
