Wallabies' fullback Mike Harris kicks a penalty against Argentina's Los Pumas AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabromata
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Mike Harris’ accurate boot and a classic try from Digby Ioane combined for the Wallabies to secure a surprise 25-19 win over the Pumas in Rosario this morning.
For 65 minutes it was one of the worst games of rugby imaginable as both sides coughed up regulation ball, and gave away a spate of penalties.
But a Wallaby win in any fashion is a Wallaby win, and I for one gave them no chance.
So far this season 38 players have pulled on the gold jersey, thanks to a spate of injuries, many of them to key players like James Horwill, David Pocock, Will Genia, Drew Mitchell, Berrick Barnes, and Adam Ashley-Cooper, just to name a few.
But today, despite all the short-comings, the Wallabies showed ticker, and resolve.
Harris landed seven from eight, with the Ioane try in the 64th minute a miracle in itself.
The execution of the try was brilliant, but the 63 minutes before wasn’t vintage from Ioane. He dropped the high ball, spilt passes, and lost control of possession just about every time he handled.
But Ioane was instrumental at a crucial moment in one of the gutsiest Wallaby performances in a long while.
To win in Argentina is a huge ask, especially after being flogged by the Boks last week, and the debilitating 24-hour travel to Rosario.
In humid conditions, the ball was like an iceblock. But these are international footballers and they should have been able to compensate.
Adding to the drama, referee Craig Joubert missed many knock-ons, and made many wierd decisions, but in the end the better side won on the day despite just 46% of possession.
The only Wallaby who stood out was Kurtley Beale. There’s no doubt fly-half is his rightful spot, especially when Genia returns from injury and gives him far better and faster service.
As for Robbie Deans, the win will keep his knockers on the other side of the door.
The real litmus test will be on October 20 at Suncorp against the all-conquering All Blacks who have gone through the Rugby Championship like a hurricane.
But for now, the Wallabies deserve praise for sticking to their guns and beating a tough side on their paddock,
And it’s nice to be able to write it for a change.
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October 7th 2012 @ 12:32pm
Bazza all black said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
Well, it was a win but typical oz performance, errors. And certainly not decisive win at all.
If that same oz team plays in Brisbane, all blacks will put a cricket score on the board…
A win but if that was us I would be embarrassed…
October 7th 2012 @ 12:38pm
Spencer said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
You mean like the RWC final?
October 7th 2012 @ 12:52pm
Bazza all black said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Haha, mate, is that all you got?
We win the World Cup and go on to own the rugby championship in 2012 and Ozzie bumbles from game to game in an embarrassing fashion..and that is all you have…
Least it has moved on from the choker line…
October 7th 2012 @ 1:06pm
Dazza Wallaby said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
Oh don’t worry mate, I’m predicting a strong resurgence of the “choker line” when we bundle you out of the 2015 World Cup. Till then, enjoy the cup, we’ll be back for it.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:24pm
Kane said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
At this rate you will be in our pool
October 7th 2012 @ 1:37pm
Bazza all black said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
Haha, this comment made me laugh out loud!
Losing the next World Cup does not make us chokers, just losers…
And I would be careful…an all black team at the World Cup without 20+ years of pressure will be a scary beast…
October 7th 2012 @ 1:41pm
Kane said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
Haha thanks I agree with you. I never thought I’d say this but i think tactically I think Hanson may be a better coach than Henry
October 7th 2012 @ 10:24pm
Sam said | October 7th 2012 @ 10:24pm | Report comment
id love to see that they can only win the World Cup on home soil and the two world cups
we won were on UK soil.
October 7th 2012 @ 10:45pm
Jerry said | October 7th 2012 @ 10:45pm | Report comment
If winning at home is so easy, how come Australia is 0-2 in home RWC tournaments?
October 7th 2012 @ 1:11pm
Roger the Alien said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
Didn’t Australia schoolboys just beat NZ schoolboys? I can’t find the report anywhere. The ARU website is hopelessly out of date.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:24pm
The Grafter said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
16-14 to Australia yesterday.
It was live on Fox.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:26pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Yep 16-14
October 7th 2012 @ 4:10pm
Gumboot said | October 7th 2012 @ 4:10pm | Report comment
Yep, Ozzy school boys won for sure but the RWC, RC, 7′s, Commonwealth GOLD Bledisloe, Mandela cup, S15 title has a certain ring to it wouldn’t one think?
Oh well
October 7th 2012 @ 5:23pm
Roger the Alien said | October 7th 2012 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
I wasn’t making boasts gumboot, only wanted the scores and details for interest sake.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:12pm
The Grafter said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
After using 4 1st 5′s. Pity Nick Evans couldnt get the call.
I will take 8-7 all day.
October 7th 2012 @ 9:42pm
postmatchkebab said | October 7th 2012 @ 9:42pm | Report comment
So nice to have you comment of the game Bazza.
Basically telling us we are rubbish after a hard fought win
with an injury depleted team at the end of big road trip
Then you gloat it up about the blacks, sorry I forgot the article was really about the blacks.
October 8th 2012 @ 7:11am
Billy Bob said | October 8th 2012 @ 7:11am | Report comment
Gold, Spencer! For the troll in black. Silly Aussies thinking every rugby article is not about the team from NZ.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:04pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Bazza, I thought the win was full of character, the ground and ball (according to post match interview with Sharpe) was slippery. I know that should not be used as an excuse, particularly the dropped catches from uncontested kicks. They have been under a lot of pressure but have given their faithful a win. Look at the commitment of the players, sure the execution was far from perfect but at least it might give them some confidence going forward. Look at Hooper, look at Cummin, even Higginsbotham who has been ‘accused of being lazy’, I thought fronted up. Gill when he came on .. now Aussie has a future No 6 in the making. From what I hear, he has grown and putting on a bit of muscle … as long as he can stay injury free, a talent to look forward to.
The problem I see is that the media pump the Wallabies up so high that the fans ‘expect that performance’. I am not suggesting that one should accept mediocrity as an standard but it is my view that the media have set the players up. Being as young as they are, not honed with life’s skills in some instances they have failed to cope so what do we as fans do? We crucify them or their coach becuase they do not meet the expectations of the indoctrinated fans with the influence of the media.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:27pm
Ryanno said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
I don’t see that at all. Media have been saying the Wallabies would lose all week. What do you want the media to do? It’s their job to promote the players the game.
October 7th 2012 @ 11:51pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
The media tend to sensationalise. I agree that the media should be promoting the game by reporting how it is. But it is those turkeys who put the pressure on, in particular the younger brigade – theypump them to such heights that can be rarely reached. So much emphasis is put on a few who start believing their own press only to dragged back to reality when the chips are down.
Then the media chop the legs from the very players that they have been ‘promoting’. Journalists like Mark Reason in NZ and Wayne Smith for the Australian are, in my view very negative journalists.
The media who have been saying the Wallabies were going to lose all week – do you determine that good media? – hardly promoting the game in my view. I am pleased that I ignored the media believing that the Wallabies could and would win and in fact was the last leg of an all up I took. They nearly got me though!… I had them to win by a spread of 1-12, did not feel too great when they were 13 points up!
October 7th 2012 @ 1:12pm
hoqni said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Thanks Bazza for coming. When Wallabies next play Allblacks, Wallabies will play the Allblacks. Allblacks should bring the full team.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:18pm
Bazza all black said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Errrrrr, ok….
October 7th 2012 @ 1:33pm
El Gamba said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
I’d be embarrassed if I was you Bazza. Calling yourself an All Black when clearly your moniker should be Bazza all black supporter… Unless you did play for the AB’s at some point?
October 7th 2012 @ 1:40pm
Bazza all black said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Weak come back bro….
October 7th 2012 @ 2:13pm
El Gamba said | October 7th 2012 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Come back for what mate? Are you an All Black or just another kiwi leveraging off the only thing that their country is good at?
That’s a bit harsh I suppose. The Lord of the Rings was good too.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:46pm
Mike said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Good one
October 7th 2012 @ 6:10pm
doug said | October 7th 2012 @ 6:10pm | Report comment
ha ha ha Bazza, its like you have the skill and determination to play for the all blacks:) you have nothing
October 8th 2012 @ 8:56am
Dropgoal said | October 8th 2012 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Finally see that the AB’s have got over their mucho,mucho ego and it’s ok to do dropgoals now
October 7th 2012 @ 12:40pm
Red Block said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
It will be interesting though to see if the ABs bring their best XV or choose to rest players for the Spring tour. IMO Carter and McCaw won’t play. This should give the Wallabies a fighting chance and Deans another way out.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:07pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
RB, I would not bet on either McCaw or Carter not being at Subcorp in a couple of weeks (unless injured)
October 7th 2012 @ 1:19pm
The Grafter said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
McCaw may be a concern RT. The bloke looks like he is back on one leg again. In saying that, NZ will equal the all time winning record should they beat Australia in 13 days, and with playing Scotland on Nov 11, Italy Nov 17 before Wales and England there is a fair chance they could go into next season sitting on 21 straight.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:29pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
TG – you might be right, he is always targeted but have a read of this (copy and paste to your browser) – it gives an outlook on what people ‘in the know’ think of McCaw.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7779824/South-Africans-are-in-awe-of-Richie-McCaw
October 7th 2012 @ 1:35pm
The Grafter said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
Any bloke that notches up 100 test victories must be doing something right.
Yes RT, I read that earlier this morning. The blokes a legend ( an over used word if there was one) whilst still playing.
A school of thought in NZ is he has overtaken Meads as the greatest ever All Black. Different eras’ different players its impossible to compare (although Meads will always sit high with me. My favourite all time player is Mark Shaw who renamed his pub after Meads. Thats good enough for me
).
October 7th 2012 @ 8:13pm
Lats said | October 7th 2012 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
Well, IMO NZ would not have won the WC last year without him. He was under every ruck or part of every tackle that NZ made , espcicially in the second half when France began to get on top.. Still can’t believe he didnt get player of the match.. he was incredible.
And the Wallabies shocking record against the ABs in recent years would be a bit better if it wasnt for a couple of McCaw try saving tackles.. he nailed Mark Gerrard in Brisbane one night, when he was set to score, he seemed to come from nowhere…. I can’t quite compute how a guy that big can be so quick and mobile.. his aerobic capacity seems to defy nature.
October 8th 2012 @ 12:01am
Rugby Tragic said | October 8th 2012 @ 12:01am | Report comment
Ha, I remember Mark Shaw well – Manawatu? – I have to say my favourites ‘were’, forward, Michael Jones, backs Bruce Robertson, just loved watching those guys ply their craft.
Today while I think that MaCaw might be considered the ‘best ever’ (and no argument from me) I have great regard for Kieran Read.
October 7th 2012 @ 12:49pm
strupper2003 said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Patch up team but plenty to like about this team, esp the mongrel.
October 7th 2012 @ 12:49pm
Mango Jack said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
You can’t fault the wallabies resolve and spirit, but the execution was woeful. As you say, they are professional test footballers who should at least be able to catch a high ball and pass. Perhaps some coaching from AFL woudl help? It was only Argentina’s equally poor handling that enabled them to hold on to their lead. A showcase of the worst aspects of test rugby. Poor basic ball skills and way too many penalties at the breakdown.
October 7th 2012 @ 4:55pm
bluerose said | October 7th 2012 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
i read somewhere that the humidity was 93% and McCabe was selected by Planetrugby as there MOTM, he was great though but i thought Hooper was outstanding despite giving away 2silly rookie penalties.
October 7th 2012 @ 9:57pm
Mango Jack said | October 7th 2012 @ 9:57pm | Report comment
Yep, Hooper was excellent. Attacked the ruck as he should
October 8th 2012 @ 12:08am
Rugby Tragic said | October 8th 2012 @ 12:08am | Report comment
Mango, excellent – I have another word …. “outstanding!” This young guy is gonna make it very hard for Pocock to reclaim #7.
Liam Gill is another who will be a Wallaby for a number of years, in fact I had him at #7 but Hooper has IMO taken his chance. Gill though has bulked up a fair bit since leading the under 20′s in South Africa and I think that, in time he might resolve the No 6 or even No 8 in years to come.
October 8th 2012 @ 8:36am
Mike said | October 8th 2012 @ 8:36am | Report comment
I have been watching Hooper each test to see if he can keep up the standard – many players can only produce flashes of brilliance at this level. But this chap looks the goods.
I relish the idea of two players of the standard of Hooper and Pocock competing for the No 7 slot, shades of the Waugh and Smith rivalry. And they both have years of play ahead of them. Bring it on.
October 7th 2012 @ 12:52pm
Expat in Mongolia said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Mr. Load, keep up the good work. Another reference to injury again will no doubt justify any outcome. We have transitioned from describing the Wallabies over the past 3-4 as “the young inexperienced Wallabies” to using the phrase “injury decimated Wallabies” now. As Horan says we have no option left but to step up the recruiting drive in the Land of the Long White Cloud. I wonder how that will sit with “Pacific Fifteen” Spiro? All points scored by Kiwi’s under a Kiwi coach. Its little wonder there isn’t any pride in donning the green and gold.
October 7th 2012 @ 12:57pm
Bazza all black said | October 7th 2012 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Well put.
I am a bit puzzled by all the oz injuries, boks and ab game was hard..but hardly any injuries…
October 7th 2012 @ 1:10pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Bazz mate, SA has plenty of injuries, almost as many as Aussie but of course they have more depth. The Bok side who played Wallabies last week had 6 players 22 years or younger.
Not sure why the All Blacks have not been ravaged by injuries like the Wallabies and Boks as they have the same amount of rugby (even more with ITM cup) – perhaps superior conditioning?…. Like you I too am perplexed.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:25pm
Bono said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
The AB’s hardly play in the ITM Cup and the top players are managed a lot better during the s15. They are given a lot more time off than the Wallaby players during the s15 and this is achieved by having more depth. Looks like the additional two teams that most Aussies were so chuffed with has really had a negative impact on the wallaby team…
October 7th 2012 @ 1:33pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Point taken though I think that the AB players generally, play as many games as the Wallabies. I also agree that 5 Super 15 side is a bit much for Australia in the shorter term but feel in the longer term, it will be instrumental in building more depth.
October 8th 2012 @ 8:42am
Mike said | October 8th 2012 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Bono, you are right that the two extra S15 teams has brought our 3rd tier into focus – in the professional era its not good enough to work off a patchwork of variable quality club comps. Not sure what the answer is, but we have to sort it out, and quickly.
Good point about the ABs players being given time off during S15 – that is another area where ARU has to step in.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:27pm
Kane said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
This number of 38 players pulling on the gold jersey doesn’t mean much I heard somewhere SA have used 40 and NZ have used 33 not a huge amount different between each team
October 8th 2012 @ 12:27am
biltongbek said | October 8th 2012 @ 12:27am | Report comment
Kane, I think the difference in those numbers go to who was replaced willingy, ie the coach made selection changes to test players and other coaches were injury riddled and had little choice.
The All Blacks are settled and the players coming in has the benefit of coming into a winning culture, the SA and OZ teams don’t have that luxury and are frankly not good enough at the moment
October 7th 2012 @ 1:01pm
Ash said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
At last we scored a decent set piece try. First time in a long time.
Still it was fumble city for 90% of the game.
I think it was the Pumas running out of puff that got us a win.
Change is still needed at the top and we need more direction in attack.
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October 7th 2012 @ 1:05pm
Johnno said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
This win will now spice up the AB’S test in brisvegas spring tour. Deans will keep his job now i think. He needs 2 wins out of 4 on tour to keep job.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:08pm
kingplaymaker said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Phipps was terrifying for Australia, knock-ons, passes to the ground, all at crucial moments, taking the ball the one way, failing to score an easy try.
He was the Wallabies’ biggest problem, as he was in the previous test.
The pack have to get the most credit here, lots of power and speed, most of them having good games. But there are no backs in the Wallabies except Beale and Ioane who was off-colour (Tapuai and that overlap!!).
Just one or two more backs are needed as soon as possible. Nonetheless good for the reserves to beat the Argentina first team at home.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:49pm
Mike said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
Pity we haven’t seen more of Sheehan. Not bad for an old bloke…!
October 7th 2012 @ 2:03pm
Harry said | October 7th 2012 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Looked good for his 3 seconds of action today before getting a yellow.
October 7th 2012 @ 2:51pm
The Bush said | October 7th 2012 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Classic.
October 8th 2012 @ 6:37pm
Lats said | October 8th 2012 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
Dude,,, against SA Phipps was ok.. he made a really bad knock on late in the second half when we were on the attack.. apart from that he was fine IMO.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:09pm
Lats said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Well a win is a win.. think we need to celebrate what a gritty effort this was… the basis of the 99 WC wining side couldnt beat the Pumas at home.. so this is a wonderful win.
Funny supporters us Aussies, I dont see English or South African fans complaining after wining away from home… seriously, from some of the comments you would have thought we lost.
As for Harris Tapuai and Cummings… should have been in the side back in June… hopefully coach will keep them in.
Not sure if we (or anyone) can beat this current All Blacks outfit, but lets hope this Walalbies side can at least give them a good hard game.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:16pm
Rugby Tragic said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
Hear Hear Lats! The guys need a break from all the negative garbage. They, probably against the odds won, certainly TAB quotes had Argies as favourites so good for them!
Team for Suncorp and EOYT will be quite different I am sure.
Earlier match between AB’s and Boks was at a different level so it will be interesting to see what the win has done for the confidence of the Wallabies to face AB’s. Might be a bridge too far but Suncorp has been good for the Wallabies.
October 7th 2012 @ 1:36pm
Lats said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
If you put things in context… with the exception of the games against NZ.. Aussies haven’t had a bad year, beaten 6 nations champs 3-0, have split the series 1-1 with the Bokke (which is standard, we both lose away from home) .. and they have beaten Argentina twice… something France and the British Lions havent been able to do…
Maybe things aren’t as grim as we have been led to believe.
In fairness to Robbie Deans… NO ONE is getting near the All Backs at the moment.. is it a bit harsh to expect him to achieve something that no other coach in the world can?? Advice to Robbie.. its taken you all year, stick with the Queenslanders, they wont let you down
October 7th 2012 @ 3:20pm
mick-e said | October 7th 2012 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Do you seriously think you could put Tapuai up against Smith and Nonu, Cummings up against Jane or Hosea Gear or Savea and Harris up against Dagg. They were real patriots last night and I love them for it but we need more skill, pace and imagination than these guys have to challenge the best.
October 7th 2012 @ 7:29pm
krill said | October 7th 2012 @ 7:29pm | Report comment
nice one lats, agreed
October 7th 2012 @ 8:00pm
Lats said | October 7th 2012 @ 8:00pm | Report comment
Mate…. what other options do we have?? I rate Tapuai against anyone.. he has gone great for the Reds against all commers. Harris is nice and solid.. they can’t all be X factor players.. and as for the honey badger, well at least he gets in and have a go. Im not convinced Lachie Turner for one is any better.
I mean, based on your comment we should go through the lineups man by man and come up with reasons we cant win. Is that what your argument is?
October 7th 2012 @ 1:16pm
The Grafter said | October 7th 2012 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
The All Blacks had their share of injuries last year and still won the World Cup.
Im unsure whether stacking Australian Super Teams with overseas players (ie the Rebels) will help local depth. It didnt do much for England’s Country Cricket until caps were introduced.
October 7th 2012 @ 4:59pm
bluerose said | October 7th 2012 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
agree about the overseas players, i dont understand why they have to recruit overseas players when they should be building local talent and depth, stupid idea though, thats the reason why they missed out on John Grant