Angus Bell will never have to buy a beer again in Townsville after the prop’s match-winning try in the 86th minute saw the Wallabies come back from 14 points at halftime to beat Los Pumas 28-24.
The 20,163 fans who turned up in Townsville enjoyed a dogged, scrappy affair in hot, windy conditions, with the visitors leading for most of the match and taking advantage of some scrappy discipline from the hosts early on.
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However, two tries to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and an effective injection from James O’Connor and Bell off the bench swing momentum back the hosts way, setting up a grandstand finish.
Centre Len Ikitau was inspirational for the Wallabies in a player-of-the-match performance as the Australians once again dug deep for a comeback victory.
The Pumas opened the scoring in the first five minutes, with the hosts picking up consecutive penalties and Santiago Carreras not hesitating to take the points on offer.
The Argentine would double the score only a few minutes later, with the hosts conceding four penalties inside ten minutes, including two to Taniela Tupou for dangerous tackles.
Following this, the Wallabies wrestled back momentum and got their discipline under control, but the Puma defence proved up to the task, knocking back Australia’s first real chance at their line.
The Wallabies would not be denied five minutes later, however, as Nic White crashed over to score and the hosts took the lead for the first time.
However, the Pumas pressure was starting to show, and they took the lead back with two tries in five minutes, with wingers Bautista Delguy and Mateo Carreras scoring in both corners through brilliant long range play.
The Wallabies' discipline continued to slip as they conceded their eighth penalty of the half, with Carreras taking a further three points to stretch the margin out to two converted tries at halftime.
The Wallabies came out firing in the second half, with Bell proving effective and Max Jorgensen asking questions on the right flank.
Their new pressure was rewarded with a try to Suaalii in the 46th minute, with the match descending into a scrap before an injection of the Wallaby bench saw the outside centre bag his second try in the 57th minute to tie the game up.
The result saw Mateo Carreras sent to the bin for repeated offside infringements, the Pumas kept the time off to one try, setting up a grandstand finish.
The 77th minute saw the 20,163 faithful expecting to go home with a loss, after Juan Cruz Mallia nailed a crucial penalty to give the visitors a slender lead.
However, a penalty after the clock went red saw the Wallabies bravely opt for the corner, and after three tap and go attempts, it was third time lucky as Bell crashed over to complete a remarkable comeback.
Both sides now head to Sydney with the Pumas Trophy still live, and critical World Cup rankings hanging in the background of a tight Rugby Championship ladder.
The Wallabies will have injury concerns as well, with Tom Lynagh failing an HIA early in the second half, with Nic White and Taniela Tupou also departing early.
Wallabies 28 (White, Suaalii 2, Bell tries; Lynagh 2, O'Connor 2 cons) def Argentina 24 (Delguy, M. Carreras tries; S. Carreras con; S. Carreras 3, Mallia pens)
