The Wallabies started their clash last night with the Pumas in Perth as if it was a ODI, piling on 21 unanswered points in the first 12 minutes, with dynamic halfback Will Genia directing traffic.
Centre Samu Kerevi started the spree with a try at the 43-second mark, seven minutes later it was winger Dane Haylett-Petty touching down, with Genia adding to the momentum with the first of his double.
More of the wash-up from Wallabies vs Argentina:
» Pocock sidelined by broken hand
» Five talking points
» What changes should the Wallabies make?
» DIY Player ratings
» Read the full match report
» Watch all the highlights
Bernard Foley add the extras, but that was just about the last time the Wallabies saw the ball.
For the next 27 minutes the Pumas virtually owned possession and territory – 73 per cent of the former, 76 per cent of the latter – with the added bonus of an 11-2 penalty count.
Yet the Wallabies led 21-6 at the break thanks to tremendous defence, not just from the normal suspects, but the entire team. All 15 chipped in time after time.
Wallaby defence coach Nathan Grey must have been ecstatic, with 30-40 missed tackles the go in previous games.
The Pumas understandably became very frustrated, pushing passes and making wrong decisions.
Bit by bit,the Wallabies fought their way back to halve possession and territory to take the second session 16-14 on the way to five tries to two and a bonus point to be second on the Rugby Championship table with nine points, but well adrift of the All Blacks’ 20.
Genia was my man of the match for the second successive game, but there were many other outstanding Wallaby performances.
Quade Cooper showed his x-factor brilliance with two perfectly timed inside passes
to send Haylett-Petty and Michael Hooper in for tries.
The one blot on Cooper’s game was a yellow card for taking out a Poma with a shoulder charge, and no possession.
Up front giant lock Adam Coleman was a tower of strength.
Not only did he call the lineouts, but he attacked and defended like a man on a mission – his 14 tackles were only beaten by Hooper’s 16.
In those long minutes defending, reinstated lock Rob Simmons made 13 tackles, with skipper Stephen Moore and prop Sekope Kepu sharing 11.
The Wallaby lineout was strong, winning all ten of their feeds, and two of the Pumas, while the scrum held its own against the renowned Puma pack.
Out the back there wasn’t a weak Wallaby link, until Nick Phipps replaced Genia late in the game.
Israel Folau is the best in the world under the high ball, but he’s becoming increasingly frustrated at not seeing enough ball to show his undoubted attacking talent.
I’d like to see more of Folau trailing inside Cooper – Folau’s a far better finisher than Haylett-Petty or Hooper, but they both scored without any trouble.
So where to from here for the Wallabies on the improve?
Perth was the Wallabies’ last home game.
The next eight are on the road with the Boks at Loftus, the Pumas at Twickenham, and the All Backs at hoodoo Eden Park before the Spring tour.
But there are still some unanswered questions.
Why is the skipper Stephen Moore replaced so early every week?
Why was David Pocock replaced before half-time?
When will Lopeti Timani be in the starting line-up at No 8?
Who will be Adam Coleman’s permanent lock partner out of Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, and Rory Arnold – or will Michael Cheika keep them guessing?
How does the impressive Sean McMahon fit into Cheika’s plans?
And when will Cheika dispense with Nick Phipps altogether?
In the meantime it’s great to see the Wallabies win back-to-back playing the type of rugby they know best.
Jack
Guest
Another Kiwi or Waratah fan ..Mumm missed 7 tackles champ ..Does he have to work on his defence or just Quade ?? hahaha
Jack
Guest
Rule out Kane Douglas he is not an 80 minute player has a low workrate and is a liability at lineout time..
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
When Will Genia and Quade Copper both fire the Wallabies are even better work on your defence Quade. .
taylorman
Roar Guru
Though not as bad as your maths obviously...?
Aaron
Guest
Kiwis sure are humble and faultless in the sporting arena.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I agree re Phipps ej. He was good as gold. No errors and big work rate. But you can't trust my view - I'm a Tahs fan and actually thought both Mumm and Foley went OK so will be pilloried for this biased ignorant view. Folau was poor but it wasn't for lack of touches - just one of those days it didn't work. They're pretty rare for him though
Jumbo
Guest
If they give the abs 70 percent pocession really bad things will happen. Very lucky the Pumas had no ideas on how to break it down, missing those heavy runners in the backs.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Coopers two inside passes lead directly to tries though.
taylorman
Roar Guru
It's simplistic thinking like that that lead you to not being able to analyse the game properly. There were logical reasons Argie weren't able to reproduce last weeks fifty, but you have to make it all about oz.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Said before the game it would depend on how the Pumas backed up after leaving everything out on the field last week. Pumas are not used to these long campaigns yet, same as the Jaguares. They'll rise for one match, or part of a match, then not maintain it for the next. Mentally last week would have hurt them putting that effort in and still getting tonked. In saying that they did well to recover somewhat from the terrible start.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Just trying to gee' these Wallabies up mate so as they may just get their A into G, ~ I want to see them back right on track and playing well, we all deserve it, ~ same for the Boks' but they've sadly got a problem that may not go away any time soon, ~ I reckon the Wallabies can turn themselves around, but it's not going to be a quick fix. As a lot of the top 'Honchos' say " we need the teams on our patch to be strong" and we do! because who wouldn't like to see any game scheduled between those Boys on our patch with a tad of trepidation as to who may or not win, and not having the current issue like the Kiwis dominating everything, which is not good for the game at all, ~ in saying that I don't mind them just boxing on as they are, but I'd far rather see a competitive competition all round the Park any day! Having a good deal of affection for the Boks and the Wallabies as traditional foes on the paddock, I want to see them kick a bit of butt and kick that butt well. So me ole' mate most of my stuff is totally dependant on whatever side of the cheeks my old tongue is planted in! Cheers Cobber!~ By the way, the Avatar up top there, is of 'Ferdie the Bull', the Taranaki RFU mascot, this one is relatively new but old Ferdie has been around since as long as I can remember, and when he comes out prior to any game, he comes out breathing smoke and fire, rubs his ass' on the goalposts and bows to the crowd with cow bell ringing! This one is an elaborate one but he's been papier' mache' and fibreglass all with real horns and bellowing his ass' off as bulls do. because Taranaki is a traditional Dairy farming area Province, so old Ferdie is very appropriate, these days he gets around via ATV, but in the days of yore', he was 'leg power' absolute! ~ Always good fun!
Mr Hollywood
Guest
Yeah sure. That's what they all say. Don't worry though Mr Mumm says the same thing. I really do hope they put him back at lock where he belongs. At flanker he feels too loose and is worried what others will think.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Zulu> The All Blacks being 'top of the heap' get privileges mate and anyway old Barnesy is possibly still trying to appease the Kiwis after the debacle of the quarter final game against France in 2007 by throwing a few penalties someone elses' way!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
The people who go on about how bad Foley is should have a long hard look and just recognise that he does score points quite regularly and to date I don't remember seeing Cooper do anything of that type of thing whatsoever. All he seems to do is attract penalties and does not much in the way of constructive stuff!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
The All Blacks win all the time pretty much, and they always get whinged at, the difference is they turn a blind eye to that rubbish and back it up in the next game by winning again! Anyone but Kiwis recognise that, ~ but the ones who rarely if ever manage to beat them, are the ones who whinge most ''inferiority complex" stuff it's called, no need to name them, we all know who they are!
Machpants
Roar Guru
I was impressed by will, but the pumas looked tired after last week. Wallabies defence was awesome to, they needed that be the abs!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
In the game I saw, the Wallabies didn't as you say "play that well',' but they won through exceptionally bad play by the Pumas but that's all you need to do and it doesn't mean you always have toplay well to win a game, it's called 'winning ugly'! A good example was the first three tries scored in a few minutes, if the Wallabies were right on top of their game they would've kept that intensity up and rammed it home, but they couldn't keep it up and floundered around getting a reasonable win in the end and although they didn't play that well, it sure was a better outcome than what they've been used to and good on them!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Spot on Soapit! It was through the lackadaisical bad passing and non tackling attitude that got them three tries down in the first few minutes, ~ let's face it, how and when could the Wallabies even score three tries let alone easy ones such as those three! Pumas I thought only needed to turn up to win that game, how wrong I was, absolutely disappointing, because if they'd played as they did in the last game against the All Blacks prior to getting buried, the Wallabies wouldn't have lived with them! That's why the All Blacks are as good as they are, if they win this week they back it up next week unlike the Pumas, Wallabies Pumas, or the Boks sadly! ~ it's called consistency.
RB
Guest
Why is the skipper Stephen Moore replaced so early every week? Co z he is spent. Why was David Pocock replaced before half-time? Injured When will Lopeti Timani be in the starting line-up at No 8? He hasnt proved to be a number 8 at super rugby yet... Who will be Adam Coleman’s permanent lock partner out of Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, and Rory Arnold – or will Michael Cheika keep them guessing? Rotating door policy, I wouldnt count on Coleman keeping his berth. How does the impressive Sean McMahon fit into Cheika’s plans? This is difficult to fathom. He has played pretty effectively whenever called upon. Is better than Mumm at 6 but cant break in, and gets played 8 whenever he does get on for Pocock who is the best of the 3 starters. Pocock now broken but would not surprise me not to McM at 8 still. And when will Cheika dispense with Nick Phipps altogether? Mmmm never can tell with Cheika. It does seem that he (they) does not trust him any more, such a short spell in last 2 games. Perhaps it is time to promote the next bright young thing and start trying to give him 10 minutes a game. At least then it isnt emabarrasing to not put him on!
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Ha, ha, ha - I think we both know it will never happen.