Australia secured a thrilling 28-24 victory over Argentina in Townsville on Saturday, with Angus Bell's try in the 86th minute sealing the win. The Wallabies trailed 21-7 at half-time but mounted a stunning second-half comeback, turning down three opportunities to kick a match-tying penalty in favour of going for the win.
Captain Harry Wilson said the team believed they could finish the job despite the temptation to settle for a draw. 'Everyone feeling the moment and there was 25,000 fans pleading for us to tap it,' he said. 'We weren't at our best but to find a way against a really good opposition is a real credit.'
Argentina had taken a 21-7 lead into the break after a dominant second quarter, with tries from Bautista Delguy and Mateo Carreras, plus a further score from Carreras. The Wallabies struggled early, with Taniela Tupou penalised twice for no-arm tackles, but Nic White's try just before half-time kept them in touch.
The second half saw a revival led by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who scored two tries, the second after Carreras was yellow carded for repeated infringements. James O'Connor's conversion levelled the scores at 21-21. Argentina regained the lead through a Juan Cruz Mallia penalty with two minutes remaining, but the Wallabies' relentless pressure paid off when Bell barged over in the dying seconds.
The win continues the momentum built under outgoing coach Joe Schmidt, following a historic comeback victory over South Africa at Ellis Park earlier in the season. The Wallabies now look ahead to their next challenge, having demonstrated resilience and determination in front of 20,162 fans.
