Australia earned a nailbiting away victory over Argentina on Saturday to snap their eight-match dropping streak within the Rugby Championship.
Alternative flyhalf Ben Donaldson landed the profitable penalty in extra time as Australia got here from 10-0 down to say a 20-19 victory – their first championship win since gorgeous South Africa 25-17 in 2022.
Tries by Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon and flanker Rob Valetini cancelled out an early one for Argentina by No 8 Juan Martín Gonzalez.
“It truthfully feels so good. We stayed in there, that second half was a troublesome grind,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson instructed Sky.
“It was clearly fairly tense there in the previous few minutes, however I simply cherished how composed we have been on the finish — going via our choose and drives and simply actually making an attempt to grind there till we acquired a penalty.”
After back-to-back dwelling defeats to the Springboks final month, Australia head coach Joe Schmidt was rewarded for blooding recent expertise in his squad.
Western Pressure centre Hamish Stewart made his debut in Australia’s midfield, the fifteenth new cap this season for the Wallabies.
“I used to be bloody nervous going into it, however I can solely maintain stepping my recreation up going ahead now,” stated Stewart. “I’ll take the win and I’ll take my debut and I’ll go and rejoice with the boys.”
Regardless of Australia shading the territory and possession within the first half on the Estadio Uno, a soccer stadium in La Plata close to Buenos Aires, the Wallabies have been 13-7 down on the break.
Flyhalf Santiago Carreras landed an early penalty and transformed a attempt after Gonzalez touched down, mauled over the road by the Pumas pack as Argentina took an early 10-0 lead.
The Wallabies struck again rapidly to remain within the hunt.
Fullback Tom Wright punched a gap within the defence shut earlier than Gordon took an inside go to cross contained in the posts for a transformed attempt.
Carreras prolonged the hosts’ lead with a penalty after the break, however the Wallabies narrowed the scores to 16-14 when Valetini barged over for a attempt after Australia carved holes within the defence.
The Wallabies took the lead for the primary time with 20 minutes left when flyhalf Noah Lolesio landed a penalty.
Australia had a large let off when Pumas prop Thomas Gallo picked up from a close-range ruck and charged over, however misplaced management of the ball as he dived over the road.
Alternative again Tomas Albornoz restored the Pumas result in 19-17 with ten minutes to go in pouring rain when he stroked a penalty between the posts.
Veteran hooker Agustin Creevy, 39, earned loud applause when Argentina’s most capped participant got here off the bench within the remaining levels for his one hundred and tenth and remaining look for Los Pumas.
When Argentina conceded a penalty in entrance of the posts, Donaldson — on for Lolesio — held his nerve by touchdown the profitable kick within the 81st minute.
© Agence France-Presse
Photograph: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Photos
