Australia declare first Rugby Championship win in two years as dramatic fightback flooring Los Pumas; Wallabies stay backside of standings on 4 factors after three matches; South Africa maintain eight-point benefit on the summit after recording third victory in a row over New Zealand
Final Up to date: 01/09/24 9:04am
Australia ended their two-year winless run within the Rugby Championship
Australia kicked a last-gasp penalty to edge hosts Argentina 20-19 in La Plata and declare their first victory of the 2024 Rugby Championship on the third time of asking.
The Wallabies trailed going into the dying minutes in abysmal climate circumstances at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, however substitute Ben Donaldson slotted the ultimate kick of the sport over to safe Australia’s first victory within the competitors since August 2022.
Australia outscored their hosts two tries to at least one with Jake Gordon and Rob Valetini each going over, fly-half Noah Lolesio including a penalty and two conversions.
Juan Martin Gonzalez crossed early for Argentina whereas Santiago Carreras contributed 11 factors from the tee with three penalties and a conversion.
The victory offered a well timed tonic for the Wallabies after being comprehensively crushed at residence by South Africa of their opening two matches of this 12 months’s championship, although they continue to be rooted to the underside of the standings on the midway mark.
“[I’m] really proud,” stated Australia coach Joe Schmidt. “We have a lot of work to do but we’re pleased to get the four points and we’re in the contest.”
Australia captain Harry Wilson, who skippered the Wallabies for the primary time, added: “It gives us a lot more confidence. We’re a young group and we’ve been building since the start of the year.
“We performed some respectable footie towards the Boks, however they’re the perfect on this planet and we did not get the outcomes there. It felt as if we improved in these video games after which, tonight, we confirmed some extra enchancment. Simply to get the win offers us that little bit extra confidence to maintain enhancing.”
Ben Donaldson held his nerve to kick Australia to victory with the final kick of the game
After repelling more than 30 phases from Australia from kick-off, Argentina opened the scoring with a 12th-minute Carreras penalty before a driving maul saw Gonzalez cross for their first try three minutes later.
Argentina’s defence were busier than their attack, however, and they held out under persistent attack from the visitors until the Wallabies eventually managed to prise them open with a 27th-minute try from scrum-half Gordon, after Tom Wright had burst through following some slick passing moves.
Argentina led 13-7 at the break as Carreras put over a second penalty and the fly-half added a third five minutes after the break to further extend the lead.
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Highlights of the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand.
Australia reduced the deficit to two points in the 50th minute with a try from Valetini after Len Ikitau beat two defenders with a break and quick ball thereafter saw them work their way over the line.
As the rain lashed down, a penalty from the boot of Lolesio put Australia into the lead for the first time on the hour, but with 10 minutes remaining Argentina their lead through a Tomas Albornoz penalty.
Australia had the attacking impetus in the closing stages and Argentina gave away a needless penalty right in front of their own posts with a minute remaining for infringing at the ruck.
Donaldson, who had come on a minute earlier for Lolesio, had the easiest of tasks to put the ball over and get Australia off and running.
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