Match Details

Argentina

VS

Qantas Wallabies

6

Buenos Aires Kick off times: 9:15am (Local) Sat 2 Nov

17

The Vodafone Wallabies Spring tour for 2002 kicked of in one of the most forbidding of rugby locations - in front of 70,000 fanatical Argentinians at the River Plate stadium. Whilst the Wallabies possessed the better overall record between the two rugby nations, we had only won twice before in Buenos Aires and this game would be a torrid tour opener with injury concerns before the game as well as many of the players suffering a stomach bug during the week. Daniel Vickerman and Mat Rogers were making their first run on appearances for the Wallabies with Rogers moving to full back. Adam Frier was on the bench awaiting his first Test cap and Toutai Kefu lined up for his 50th Test. The Pumas had picked their strongest side, with their best players from the European club scene returning - the Wallabies players had rested since the end of the Tri Nations and needed to switch on quickly against a team they would meet in next years Rugby World Cup opener.

On a clear and warm Saturday evening in front of large singing and chanting crowd, Kiwi referee Kelvin Deaker blew the whistle to get the action going again and Matt Burke kicked off into a slight cross breeze.

Useful tactical kicking by the Wallabies kept the Pumas on the back foot in the opening minutes. A high kick by Larkham into the left corner saw the Pumas fumble and the clearing kick was poor. From an Australian lineout 10m out the ball was moved to centrefield where a great pass to the right to an unmarked Smith was ruled forward by the ref and play came back for a previous offside penalty which Burke slotted from in front for the opening score in the 5th minute.

Australia were dominating possession, another clever kick by Larkham saw a lineout a few metres out in the right corner but the Pumas were able to clear. A midfield turn over allowed the Pumas to advance into Wallaby territory for the first time in the 10th minute and then Smith won the ball from a rolling maul. The scrums were messy, collapsing regularly and then it was Larkham sending Tune off down the right but disaster struck after a little chip ahead by the winger saw him clutch his thigh and he fell to ground with a hamstring injury. Sailor was on for his big chance as the Pumas advanced and drew a penalty for offside which set the crowd alight. The pushing and shoving continued and the ref tried to settle things down as Contepomi missed to the right with his kick on goal. Two minutes later he tried again after an error from the 22 drop out allowed the Pumas to come back downfield and with the successful kick it was 3 all. From the restart it was Larkham again controlling the action as he grubbered into the left corner for a lineout inside the opposition 22. A second line out was followed by a strong 35 metre rolling maul into the 22 and within sight of the try line. Playing under advantage Gregan popped off a drop attempt which missed but Burke, against a background of loud whistling, stepped up for the penalty from the left and he shut them up in the best way possible - with three points!

A penalty to the Pumas minutes later saw Contepomi have a shot from the half way line but once again he just missed. It was a very tight game, fast but without great continuity. Larkham again grubbered one through and Burke sprinted off, nailing his opponent in the ingoal area. Then a fumble from Burke allowed the Argies to counter from deep in attack and only a fortuitous forward pass in midfield allowed the Wallabies to regain possession. Sailor and Rogers combined down the right wing to work it to the 22 before the Pumas cleared. Larkham chipped again and raced off after the ball himself - as the Puma player, Pichot, watched the ball bounce Larkham dived onto the ball and it was sent for a decision from the video ref who took a very long time to decide that it was not a try.It was a fantastic first half by Larkham who was creating a lot of opportunities around the ground with his strategic kicking. From centre field the Wallabies came forward again in the 37th minute, and drew a penalty for Burke to take from about 43 metres out, but dead in front. He banged it through the middle to increase the lead and from the restart it was Australia on the charge once more. A high lob across field was taken by Mortlock but then they turned it over and the Pumas tried to work their way out of their own half. A lineout, followed by a rolling maul saw the home side win a penalty and Contepomi tried his luck with a kick on goal from the right touch line and it was 6 - 9 as the ball drifted through on the breeze. Contepomi stepped up for a penalty a minute later from over the half way mark but missed his third shot of the half. In the last minute the Wallabies brought up the first try of the game when from the lineout on the right wing Larkham ran through the middle and opened up the defence before spinning it wide to Mortlock on his left who then brushed aside a tackle and sprinted 22 metres before he crashed over in the left corner with a tackler hanging on unsuccessfully. Burke missed the difficult conversion and the Wallabies went in for drinks with a 14 - 6 lead after a solid performance.

The second half opened brightly with Larkham again kicking cleverly to create chances. Then the Pumas moved forward for the first time with precision as they took a lineout on the Wallaby 22 and tried to barge their way forward with the crowd lifting them. A turn over a few metres out allowed Rogers to clear temporarily but it was the home side returning after the lineout. With the try line in sight they pressured the Wallabies but seemed to lack a desire to spin it wide to stretch the defence, instead turning the ball back in time and again. After a string of penalties were awarded Contepomi settled on a three point attempt and missed again - a total of 12 points missed so far! Play restart with the Pumas again on the attack. They had dominated territory for 10 minutes without seeing any gain on the scoreboard as a succession of knock ons and turn overs robbed them of continuity. Contepomi missed his 5th attempt in the 55th minute and the crowd were not happy. The game was very stop/ start as the Pumas held possession but failed to use it effectively. A Wallaby fumble presented Pichot with a chance of an open paddock ahead of him but he knocked on as he tried to pick the ball up and as the game entered its last 20 minutes the Wallabies needed to lift and regain the momentum of the game. Larkham kicked ahead but when the Puma player marked the ball and played on his pass fell straight into Mortlocks hands but his pass went astray and the Pumas were very lucky not to have given away a try. A chip by Larkham saw Sailor motor onto the ball but the Argentine defence won the race and they could releive the pressure momentarily.

As the game approached the last ten minutes it was still an intense and even battle. The Wallabies made a host of changes with Freier and Giffin joining Croft who had come on earlier. Australia had not scored in the second half and had been lucky that Contepomi was having such an off night with the boot. The Wallabies had the play pinned down in the opposition half but it had been a niggly and mistake ridden period. Mortlock again showed his ability to find room when he went for a race down the right wing and was brought down only metres out. The Pumas opted for a two man lineout and relieved under pressure whilst the wrestling went on behind the play. A quick chip ahead by Pichot saw a rare Pumas attacking move and it took a desperate Wallabies defence to win the ball and kick it back upfield. The locals moved forward again, entering the Wallaby 22 but the Pumas were pinged for not letting go and Rogers kicked for touch. There were 5 minutes remaining as Larkham drifted a high kick to the left of field where a series of errors allowed the Pumas to attack deep into the right corner as the crowd lifted. They missed a strong try chance at first, and then opted for a penalty kick much to the annoyance of the home crowd who were jeering and whistling. Again he missed, handing the Australians victory off his errant boot. A minute later he tried again with the home crowd hot happy at all but he missed and big questions would be asked of the Argentine captains decisions after the game. Flatley stepped up for his first attempt of the night a minute later up the other end and sunk it truly, showing his Puma counterpart how to do it!

A late charge down the left touch line by the home side saw the touch judge ping Mortlock for a late shoulder charge and Longo for retaliating and both went to the bin. The Wallabies played out the last minute for a courageous victory in difficult conditions. It was a torrid and mistake ridden game that the Wallabies would be happy to win as they now focus on the European leg of the tour.