Don’t let the scoreline throw you off. This was a boring game, and one the Wallabies should have been well ahead in before a late surge from the Pumas. The rain put a damper on things, but the conditions weren’t as bad as some of the decision making.
Michael Hooper scored a soft try early on, jogging through a Sydney-sized hole in a befuddled defensive line. It was an ominous sign, and one pretty indicative of a very lacklustre opening half from Argentina. Manuel Montero’s long distance gallop down the sidelines was completely against the run of play and otherwise the Pumas had no ball and no clue.
With such a ridiculous disparity in territory and possession Australia should have been a good 20 points clear at the half, and instead strolled off only one score up. Nick Phipps took a quick tap from directly in front of the posts that was a jailable offense. Whether it was his decision or Hooper’s was immediately unclear, but whoever it was should be tarred and feathered.
Bernard Foley deserves a tongue lashing at least for his shameful dummy with a wide open Rob Horne ready to walk in under the sticks. Had Nicolás Sánchez not done the exact same thing late in the second half, those blunders could have cost them the win. Martín Landajo and Tomás Cubelli didn’t fare any better either, each throwing abominable forward passes and making multiple unforced errors.
The scrum was a shambles all game long, through no fault of Glen Jackson. His decision to free kick Cubelli at the end, however, was bizarre to say the least. Undoubtedly it was one borne of frustration with both sides content to disrupt and collapse at ever opportunity. The Pumas might feel aggrieved at the decision but had Sanchez passed to Juan Imhoff just before they would have been kicking at goal for the win instead.
Legality aside Argentina got no change at all out of James Slipper at the scrum, but did start to get the shove on when Pek Cowan came on. Their lineout was similarly bad. Rob Simmons knicked a couple and Agustín Creevy had a very forgettable day with his throw-ins.
That the Pumas didn’t show up until the last fleeting minutes will be of major concern to Daniel Hourcade. Similarly Ewen McKenzie will want to know why his team faded so badly and allowed a beaten side to come back into the game. The fans meanwhile just hope this was an aberration and pray for better weather and better rugby in two weeks time.
AUSTRALIA 25 vs 32 ARGENTINA
Saturday, September 13, 10:05 GMT, Gold Coast
SCORING
02 mins – M. Hooper try 5-0
07 mins – M. Montero try 5-5
07 mins – N. Sánchez con 5-7
15 mins – B. Foley pen 8-7
38 mins – B. Foley pen 11-7
40 mins – B. Foley pen 14-7
44 mins – M. Hooper try 19-7
44 mins – B. Foley con 21-7
50 mins – N. Sánchez pen 21-10
55 mins – B. Foley pen 24-10
58 mins – N. Sánchez pen 24-13
59 mins – P. Betham try 29-13
64 mins – M. Bosch try 29-18
65 mins – N. Sánchez con 29-20
71 mins – J. Tuculet try 29-25
74 mins – B. Foley pen 32-25
AUSTRALIA
I. Folau; P. Betham (N. White 72), T. Kuridrani, M. To’omua (K. Beale 53), R. Horne; B. Foley, N. Phipps; J. Slipper (P. Cowan 50), T. Polota-Nau (J. Hanson HT), S. Kepu (B. Alexander 58); S. Carter (J. Horwill 61), R. Simmons; S. Fardy (S. Higginbotham 50), M. Hooper (capt.), B. McCalman (M. Hodgson 72).
ARGENTINA
J. Tuculet; J. Imhoff, M. Bosch, J.M. Hernández (J. de la Fuente 50), M. Montero (J. González Amorosino 79); N. Sánchez, M. Landajo (T. Cubelli 56); M. Ayerza (B. Postiglioni 50-58, 68), A. Creevy (capt.) (M. Cortese 72), R. Herrera (N. Tetaz Chaparro 58); M. Galarza (B. Macome 65), M. Alemanno; J.M. Leguizamón (R. Báez 50), J. Fernández Lobbe, L. Senatore (B. Macome 35-40).
Referee: G. Jackson (NZRU)
Assistants: G. Clancy (IRFU) & M. Fraser (NZRU)
TMO: B. Skeen (NZRU)
