The Wallabies have pulled off a victory to savour, coming from behind to defeat Michael Cheika’s Argentina 41-26 in Mendoza.
Despite losing Michael Hooper 24 hours before kick-off due to mental health reasons and Quade Cooper midway through the second half, the Wallabies denied the odds to secure an important, character-filled victory.
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It finished in the sweetest way possible too, with Len Ikitau scoring the Wallabies’ fifth try in the 85th to give the visitors an important bonus point, which saw Dave Rennie’s men move ahead of the Springboks into top spot on The Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies trailed 19-10 at half-time, but scored three tries, including a penalty try, to claw their way back and silence the strong Argentinian crowd. That seemed an unlikely case after 55 minutes, as Juan Martin Gonzalez finished off a stunning counter-attacking try from long-range.
But the penalty try, yellow card to Matias Alemanno for illegally collapsing a maul, saw referee Mike Adamson deliver the telling blow.
Folau Fainga’a’s try in the 69th minute and Reece Hodge’s conversion from out wide gave the Wallabies an important eight-point buffer that ultimately proved too great.
The victory snaps a two-match losing streak and comes at an important time, with the Wallabies missing a lot of experience, none more so than Hooper who withdrew late on Thursday (local time) because he felt he wasn’t in the right “mindset”. It saw the skipper leave Argentina, accompanied home by hooker Dave Porecki, who was ruled out earlier in the week due to concussion.
In his absence James Slipper, who captained the Wallabies against Wales last November, was outstanding. The veteran prop played 72 minutes and his composure and calm head was pivotal in the Wallabies’ come-from-behind win.
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The Wallabies benefited from a 16-14 penalty count in their favour, with the majority of those in the second half as the visitors made the most of the wave of momentum.
The Wallabies’ forward pack was talismanic, with their front-row outstanding and their second-row industrious.
But after an error-ridden, ill-disciplined first-half, the Wallabies got back through the beauty of simplicity. Big Tests are rarely won without winning the fundamentals of the game, and Dan McKellar’s influence around the set-piece, particularly the rolling maul, was pivotal.
Fraser McReight had a strong second half particularly to have a memorable debut after he was called into the team from outside the matchday squad following Hooper’s Friday withdrawal.
McReight scored the Wallabies’ crucial second try — and first of the second half — as he was slung over the line by Jed Holloway, who along with Rob Valetini had a fabulous second half, after breaking away from the rolling maul.
Early on the Wallabies were on the back foot and looked clunky in attack. They weren’t helped by Adamson refereeing the breakdown hard.
After Pablo Matera’s early try for the Pumas, the Wallabies showed what they were capable of in the 17th minute as Cooper held the ball and the opposition defence before putting Jordan Petaia in some space.
But Cooper’s afternoon, which started with a forced offload that heaped pressure on the Wallabies, ended in frustration as the 34-year-old was forced from the field early in the second half. He was seen wearing a moon boot and is in major doubt for the rest of the Rugby Championship.
While Reece Hodge enjoyed a fabulous afternoon, kicking goals and playing the link role well, James O’Connor and Noah Lolesio will likely wear the No.10 jersey next week.
While Lolesio was preferred against England in Cooper’s absence, O’Connor’s experience and leadership in a side missing Hooper could see Rennie pick the Reds playmaker.