The Qantas Wallabies have fought off a spirited Argentina Pumas side to claim a narrow four-point victory at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast this evening.
In the first ever Rugby Test at the venue 22,278 turned out on the Gold Coast for a game that started slowly but finished with a flurry and a last ditch push by the Pumas for their first victory on Australian soil since 1983.
After trailing 3-6 at half time the Qantas Wallabies found themselves trailing by two tries within 12 minutes of the second half starting.
The Pumas crossed for the first try of the match in the 50th minute through Tomas Leonardi and then followed up with another just two minutes later from Julio Farais Cabello.
Unfortunately the Pumas couldn’t add the extras, however in the 58th minute added three more points from a penalty goal to lead by 13 points.
The flurry of attacking forays by the Argentinians seems to spark the Qantas Wallabies to life and after a number of phases a hard running Pat McCabe crossed to get the Qantas Wallabies back within six points with 20 minutes to play.
The Gold Coast crowd didn’t have to wait long for a second Qantas Wallabies try after new scrum half, Nick Phipps spotted a gap on the blindside and after missing three tackles released man-of-the-match Digby Ioane.Barnes added the extras and earned himself a rest after some solid work at full back.
The Qantas Wallabies went further ahead in the 79th minute when substitute Kurtley Beale slotted a long range penalty goal from close to the side line.
With just a minute left on the clock the Pumas had one last chance to steal a victory after Tatafu Polota-Nau knocked on from the kick off, however some solid defending saw the Qantas Wallabies register their second win of the Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship.
Minute by Minute:
First Half – kick off 8:05pm by Argentina.
1st: Knock on by Argentina – scrum Australia.
1st: Free kick to Argentina – quick tap.
2nd: Penalty to Argentina, offside Australia – kick at goal.
3rd: Penalty goal attempt by Juan Martin Hernandez successful – Australia 0 – Argentina 3.
4th: Knock on by Argentina - scrum Australia.
6th: Forward pass by Australia – scrum Argentina.
7th: Knock on by Argentina – play on.
8th: Penalty to Australia – kick at goal.
9th: Penalty goal attempt by Berrick Barnes unsuccessful – Australia 0 – Argentina 3.
10th: Knock on by Australia – scrum Argentina.
12th: Penalty to Argentina – kick at goal.
12th: Yellow Card Pat McCabe.
13th: Penalty goal attempt by Juan Martin Hernandez unsuccessful – Australia 0 – Argentina 3.
14th: Knock on by Argentina – scrum Australia.
16th: Penalty to Australia, Argentina not releasing the Ball – kick at goal
17th: Penalty goal attempt by Berrick Barnes unsuccessful – Australia 0 – Argentina 3.
18th: Knock on by Australia – scrum Argentina.
21st: Knock on by Australia – play on.
22nd: TMO Decision on Try by Australia – Radike Samo.
22nd: TMO Decision no Try, ball was dropped – scrum five metres to Argentina.
25th: Penalty to Australia, hands in the ruck – kick at goal.
26th: Penalty goal attempt by Berrick Barnes successful – Australia 3 – Argentina 3.
27th: Knock on by Argentina – scrum Australia.
28th: Penalty to Argentina, offside Australia – kick at goal.
29th: Penalty goal attempt by Juan Martin Hernandez successful – Australia 3 – Argentina 6.
30th: Knock on by Australia – scrum Argentina.
30th: Substitution by Australia, Benn Robinson replaced by James Slipper.
30th: Replacement by Australia, Dom Shipperley replaced by Kurtley Beale.
31st: Knock on by Argentina – scrum Australia.
33rd: Knock on by Australia – scum Argentina
34th: Penalty to Argentina, collapsing the scrum – kick to touch.
36th: TMO Decision on Try by Australia – Nathan Sharpe.
36th: TMO Decision no Try, ball was held up in goal – scrum five metres to Australia.
37th: Penalty to Argentina, not releasing the ball – kick to touch.
38th: Knock on by Australia – scrum Argentina.
40th: Scrum to Australia
40th: Substitution by Argentina, Gonzalo Camacho replaced by Juan Imhoff.
Half Time: Australia 3 – Argentina 6.
Second half
41st: Replacement by Australia, Kurtley Beale replaced by Dom Shipperley
41st: Substitution by Argentina, Juan Figallo replaced by Juan Pablo Orlandi.
43rd: Knock on by Argentina – scrum Australia.
46th: Penalty to Australia, not releasing the ball – kick to touch.
49th: Penalty to Australia, offside Argentina – kick at goal.
49th: Penalty goal attempt by Berrick Barnes successful – Australia 6 – Argentina 6.
49th: Substitution by Argentina, Juan Manuel Leguizamon replaced by Tomas Leonardi.
50th: Try to Argentina, Tomas Leonardi – Australia 6 – Argentina 11.
51st: Conversion attempt by Juan Martin Hernandez unsuccessful – Australia 6 – Argentina 11.
52nd: Try to Argentina, Julio Farais Cabello – Australia 6 – Argentina 16.
53rd: Conversion attempt by Juan Martin Hernandez unsuccessful – Australia 6 – Argentina 16.
54th: Substitution by Australia, Radike Samo replaced by Scott Higginbotham.
56th: Penalty to Argentina – kick to touch.
57th: Penalty to Argentina, offside Australia – kick at goal.
58th: Penalty goal attempt by Juan Martin Hernandez successful – Australia 6 – Argentina 19.
60th: Try to Australia, Pat McCabe – Australia 11 – Argentina 19.
61st: Conversion attempt by Berrick Barnes successful – Australia 13 – Argentina 19.
61st: Substitution by Argentina, Eusebio Guinazu replaced by Agustin Creevy.
62nd: Penalty to Australia, Argentina entering from the side of the ruck – kick to touch.
64th: Knock on by Australia – scrum to Argentina.
65th: Penalty to Argentina, Australia deliberately wheeling the scrum – kick to touch.
66th: Free kick to Australia, Argentina line out not straight – kick.
66th: Substitution by Australia, Dom Shipperley replaced by Kurtley Beale.
67th: Scrum to Australia.
67th: Penalty to Australia, Argentina collapsing the scrum – kick to touch.
69th: Try to Australia, Digby Ioane – Australia 18 – Argentina 19.
70th: Conversion attempt by Berrick Barnes successful – Australia 20 – Argentina 19.
70th: Substitution by Australia, Berrick Barnes replaced by Anthony Fainga’a.
71st: Knock on by Argentina – scrum Australia.
72nd: Penalty to Argentina, Australia lifting in the scrum – kick to touch.
74th: Penalty to Australia, Argentina not releasing the ball – kick to touch.
74th: Substitution by Argentina, Rodrigo Roncero replaced by Juan Figallo.
74th: Substitution by Argentina, Julio Farias Cabello.
74th: Scrum to Argentina, Australian line out not straight.
75th: Penalty to Argentina, Australia lifting in the scrum – kick to touch
76th: Substitution by Australia, Dave Dennis replaced by Liam Gill.
76th: Scrum to Australia, Argentina line out not straight.
77th: Penalty to Australia, Argentina lifting in the scrum – kick to touch.
77th: Penalty to Australia, collapsing the maul – kick at goal.
78th: Substitution by Australia, Ben Alexander replaced by Benn Robinson.
79th: Penalty goal attempt by Kurtley Beale successful – Australia 23 – Argentina 19.
80th: Knock on by Australia – scrum Argentina.
Full Time: Australia 23 – Argentina 19.
The Qantas Wallabies will play the Pumas for the first time in The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship this weekend, the first match between the two countries since the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Australia were able to win that match 24-8, despite the solitary try of fullback Ignacio Corleto, although the Stade Francais back was the hero four years later, where he scored a try against Les Bleus in each of the Pumas wins over the 2007 World Cup hosts.
That Pool A Rugby World Cup match, Argentina’s last battle against Australia, was also notable for the fact that a young Juan Martin Hernandez sat on the bench, while current Pumas coach Santiago Phelan started at blindside flanker that day.
Of the Wallabies, only Nathan Sharpe will suit up for action again nine years later, wearing the captain’s armband no less.
The 2011 Tri-Nations champions recorded their maiden win of The Rugby Championship in Perth during Round Three, defeating the Springboks 26-19, a welcome respite after losing back-to-back test matches against the All Blacks.
The hosts overcame a ten point deficit early in the match, winning thanks to tries from Scott Higginbotham and Ben Alexander in the second half, with the visitors only able to score via Bryan Habana – which was his fifth try in Perth in three appearances.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans felt that his team’s success came from putting into practice aspects that weren’t evident against the All Blacks a fortnight ago.
"We spent a little bit longer with the ball and ran some good lines both side of the breakdown, got in behind the shoulders, which is key when you're playing these blokes," Deans said.
Argentina continued their initiation into arguably the toughest international rugby championship in the world with their first match against the World Champion All Blacks, since facing them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup last year.
While the All Blacks eventually won 21-5, it was a tough battle, and tough openside flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon lamented how the Pumas dropped off at times.
“We play at a good level for more than 60 minutes, creating much pressure while we disrupted their systems (but equally), we made certain errors that they knew how to take and record two tries.
“In the second half we did not have possession of the ball, and they managed to seize the opportunity and we could not contain them.”
The Pumas hosted the Wallabies in a full test match in Buenos Aires in 1979, and claimed an impressive 24-13 victory, and four years later the Argentineans won 18-3 in Brisbane, with Ballymore privy to a matchup between Mark Ella and Hugo Porta – the latter who contributed ten points in the two tries to nil win.
Australia won the return match in Sydney, and since then have lost in 1987 and 1997, both times in Buenos Aires, although the Wallabies boast a four match winning streak stretching back to 2000.
The Wallabies have been rocked with the news that captain Will Genia has been ruled out for the remainder of The Rugby Championship, meaning veteran lock Nathan Sharpe will become Australia’s fourth captain this year.
Kurtley Beale has been dropped to the bench, while Kane Douglas comes into the second row to replace the injured Sitaleki Timani, while halfback Nick Phipps will earn his fifth test cap in just his second run on appearance for the Wallabies.
Sharpe was proud to lead his country.
"To have the privilege of leading Australia in the first ever Test to be played on the Gold Coast is an experience I will always treasure," he said, captaining the Wallabies for the third time.
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has made two changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against Australia, both in the backline.
Scrumhalf Nicolas Vergallo and full-back Martin Rodriguez drop to the bench, with Martin Landajo and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino the respective replacements.
Lock and vice-captain Patricio Albacete has been named to play his 50th Test, the only note in a pack that is unchanged after matching the All Blacks for long periods last week.
MATCH DETAILS:
15 September 2012
Wallabies v Pumas
Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Kick off (2005 local, 1005 GMT, 2205 NZT, 1205 SAT, 0705 ARG)
Referee: W Barnes (RFU)
AR: N Owens (WRU)
AR: G Jackson (NZRU)
TMO: M Goddard (ARU)
HEAD TO HEAD:
Played 17: Australia 12, Argentina 4, Drawn 1
Last match: Australia 24 – 8 Argentina @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney (RWC Pool A, October 10, 2003)
Australia record at Skilled Park: DEBUT MATCH
Australia record at home: Played 250, Won 153, Lost 90, Drawn 7
Argentina record at Skilled Park: DEBUT MATCH
Argentina record away from home from 1973: Played 112, Won 42, Lost 68, Drawn 2
Point’s aggregate: Australia 445, Argentina 249 (26-15)
Tries aggregate: Australia 54, Argentina 20 (3-1)
RECENT MATCHES:
8 September, 2012: Australia 26 – 19 South Africa (3rd round of The Rugby Championship)
25 August, 2012: Australia 0 – 22 New Zealand (2nd round of The Rugby Championship)
18 August, 2012: Australia 19 – 27 New Zealand (1st round of The Rugby Championship)
23 June, 2012: Australia 20 – 19 Wales (4rd test June tour)
16 June, 2012: Australia 25 – 23 Wales (3rd test June tour)
9 June, 2012: Australia 27 – 19 Wales (2nd test June tour)
8 September, 2012: Argentina 5 – 21 New Zealand (3rd round of The Rugby Championship)
25 August, 2012: Argentina 16 – 16 South Africa (2nd round of The Rugby Championship
18 August, 2012: Argentina 6 – 27 South Africa (1st round of The Rugby Championship)
11 August, 2012: Argentina 31 – 17 Stade Francais (friendly)
4 August, 2012: Argentina 21 – 25 Stade Francais (friendly)
23 June, 2012: Argentina 10 – 49 France (3rd test June tour)
TEAMS:
Australia: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Radike Samo, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore/Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Scott Higginbotham, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Kurtley Beale.
Argentina: 15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (c), 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon,6 Julio Faras Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete,4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Leonardo Senatore, 19 Toms Leonardi, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Martin Rodriguez, 22 Juan Imhoff.