The Wallabies have avenged their 2014 defeat to Argentina, notching back-to-back wins in the Rugby Championship, by beating the Pumas by 25 points.
However it was a patchy Australian performance, one that left them with plenty to work on in the weeks ahead. The Wallabies defence was solid, not conceding a single try, but they gave away needless penalties.
They again had more goal-kicking dramas and were helped by an ordinary Argentine display in Mendoza. The bloated end scoreline of 34-9 didn’t accurately reflect the evening’s play on the whole.
The green and gold made several changes from the Springboks victory, some through injury, with the likes of Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley and Matt Toomua starting. Greg Holmes, David Pocock and Ben McCalman were also in.
The Wallabies started the game positively, moving the ball from wing to wing as they probed for space. The frenzied Argentine defence was just enough to keep the Aussies out early.
Then Israel Folau hit the Pumas winger in the air after a Foley bomb, when the Wallabies already had a penaltyadvantage their way, and the referee revered his decision. It was more clumsy than malicious from Folau but discipline would prove to an issue for Australia throughout the match.
Toomua was forced off after eight minutes with another head knock, another 12 dropping after Matt Giteau was injured last weekend. Somewhat surprisingly Michael Cheika went with Quade Cooper as Toomua’s replacement, not Waratahs inside centre Kurtley Beale.
The first try was one of the easiest you’ll ever seen. The Pumas kicked to Folau, he ran to the left wing and two passes later Joe Tomane strolled over. Argentina’s kick chase was atrocious.
Foley missed the conversion from out wide and he would have more problems with the tee.
The Pumas were dominating the scrum but their ball-handling was poor, as well their re-starts and cruelled several chances.
The Wallabies were making inroads with the ball in hand but kept giving away penalties, which the home team gleefully accepted. Foley finally nailed a kick at goal, a minute before half-time, but the visitors gave away another stupid penalty to set the score at 8-6 at the break.
Australia had been given a mountain of possession in the first 40 minutes but frustratingly didn’t transfer this to the scoreboard.
Pocock was making a nusiance of himself at the breakdown and winning plenty of ball.
The Wallabies took their lead to 11-6 right after a halftime with a Foley penalty right in front. On 53 minutes he made it 14-6, but then Sanchez pulled it back to 14-9 four minutes later.
Then it was up to subsitute Dean Mumm for one of his best-ever moments in an Australian shirt. Loitering out on the wing, the lock beat three defenders and dragged a few more over the line to score a sensational try.
Michael Hooper’s pass to Mumm was slightly forward but the Wallabies got away with it. The five-pointer gave the Wallabies some breathing space.
On 65 minutes cyncial play from Cooper, with a high tackle on a player who had kicked the ball, was rightly punished with a yellow card. Stupidty from the Queenslander who show know better.
But Argentina couldn’t use properly their man advantage and the Aussies scrambled well in defence. The likes of Scott Sio, Mumm and Hooper had a good impact off the pine.
Three minutes before the end and Tevita Kuridrani crossed after a lovely Foley offload. And the Wallabies got their fourth try, as Argentina completely collapsed, when Folau found Beale who offloaded to Adam Ashley-Cooper to touch down.
Ashley-Cooper was a passenger in the game, apart from his try, and Cooper largely had a forgettable night. Folau was again a menace, unlocking the Pumas’ defence at will.
A victory was important and gives them some confidence for the key matches ahead.
But the All Blacks will look at the Wallabies’ poor discipline and average goal-kicking and lick their lips. The Kiwis won’t be as accomodating as the Argentines in a fortnight.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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