The Wallabies have produced the biggest comeback in Australian and Rugby Championship history to beat Argentina 45-34 and potentially save coach Michael Cheika’s skin.
But it may not be enough to avoid change to his coaching panel after a listless first half in Salta left them staring down the barrel of a total catastrophe – and Cheika at the end of his reign.
After promising all week to do their talking on the field on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT), Australia turned in an atrocious opening stanza to trail 31-7 at the break.
By that stage, it was already the biggest score they had conceded against Los Pumas.
A halftime bake from an angry Cheika seemed to do the trick, however, and the Wallabies emerged a different side.
“It’s not really for public airing,” Cheika said of his address in the sheds at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.
“But this game is personal, everything’s got to have personal meaning. The first half it wasn’t there.
“Once the lads got some meaning about what they wanted to do and some purpose, they played a heap better.”
Australia’s problematic defence suddenly stiffened and their misfiring attack somehow clicked, with Izack Rodda, Israel Folau and Dane Haylett-Petty scoring tries inside the first 11 minutes of the second half to reduce the margin to three points.
Then David Pocock twisted through a mess of Los Pumas bodies in the 64th minute to put them in front for the first time at 35-34.
A cross-field bomb from Bernard Foley in the 66th minute set up Haylett-Petty for his second try before a Foley penalty ensured the tourists would escape with just their third win of the year.
Australia finished the match with 14 men after Tolu Latu was yellow-carded for striking Pumas replacement prop Santiago Garcia Botta in the face, seemingly unprovoked.
But while they also managed to avoid their maiden Rugby Championship wooden spoon, the fact it took 40 minutes for the Wallabies to start playing well under the circumstances should spur Rugby Australia to act in some way.
It was the worst start imaginable – five minutes into the contest and they were already 14-0 down, and the knives were out for Cheika.
Los Pumas crossed twice more and added a penalty before the break to lead by a whopping 24 points. In the second half, they managed to add only a penalty.
Skipper Michael Hooper said the dressing room after the match, albeit jovial, felt “confused” about how they could produce such contrasting performances.
Cheika couldn’t explain it, either.
“I’m not going to pretend I know why. I don’t think the players even know why,” he said.
“But what’s obvious is you cannot be in that situation.”
Barry
Guest
Keps and Alan much better than starters. Thor found out at this level
Reality Cheika
Guest
Reverse Wheel, you must be the most delusional poster on these blogs. If you're happy with a 7th world ranking, mindless favouritism and lack of logic in selection, a stubborn and repetitive gameplan without a plan B and a general lack of attitude and desire in defense, then sure, there is nothing to "moan" about. At halftime, after one of the most diabolical displays of rugby in recent memory, I personally was feeling a sense of relief. Finally, we would be seeing the end of the Cheika reign. It might have been too late for the drastic improvement needed to triumph at the World Cup, but at least us long suffering fans would see a new direction, a new perspective. Whoever would replace the coaching staff would at least give us something different to look forward to. A respite from the predictable status quo. They may even achieve a modicum of success. Unfortunately the Wallabies decided to grow a spine in the second half, and the Pumas appeared to lose theirs. And now, well, it's business as usual. A feeling of disillusionment replaced the momentary solace. Now before you accuse me of moaning, of not being a "true" fan. I will stop you there. I believe a "true" fan wishes the best for the team they support. I believe that they enjoy seeing a team play to their potential. I believe they like to see healthy competition amongst the player pool. I also believe to this end that we do have the cattle still in this country, they are just not being utilised or developed correctly. And I believe that much of the above has not been demonstrated for a long while now. And that replacing Michael Cheika, even at this stage of a World Cup cycle, could be the catalyst we need for a change in fortunes. A halt to the slide down the world rankings. I'm not sure what reality you exist in, but your perpetual optimism in grossly unrealistic. If you only focus on the positives and shout down others who have valid criticisms then you are obviously comfortable with the Cheikas and the Hoopers out there. The Yes men of the world. Your blind optimism is akin to delusion, or religious fundamentalism. I would question whether you are in fact a "true" Wallaby fan.
Pete Dossinger
Guest
Fox spot on about Nathan Grey. In 1st half not only were tackles missed aplenty, in some instances it looked like the players lacked the technique to make the tackles.
Redsfan1
Guest
I think alot of Wallabies fans will be disappointed with this outcome. It will prolong Cheika's disastrous reign which is seriously killing rugby in this country.
RahRah
Roar Rookie
The Walkabies do this “great win” thing annually. They reserve one game per season to put it all together however...........this was a smoke and mirrors illusion. The 9th ranked Argies having owned the others for the first 40 went home at half time and left the Wallabies to play on their own. I see no reason to change my mind on any item that has been mentioned previously. Clean out the entire coaching staff and start from scratch.
Garry
Guest
or, ... there is only one large tv screen at the ground, so each half only one team at a time could ‘take a serious look at themselves’. Millennials are lost without their selfies.
Garry
Guest
Foleys restarts are either too long or too short for contersting highbslls to be a WB winger KPI.
moaman
Roar Guru
I'm sure it's just a "quick fix" Minz.....
moaman
Roar Guru
Gingerly I would imagine!
Kevkaiora
Guest
That performance epitomizes Australian rugby over the past few years, exasperating , where the hell do you go from here, at times have felt that Cheika might actually be getting somewhere, Then that rubbish, Sanshez going off saved them, Don’t know the answer but Cheika needs help, wether it’s out the door or made to accept a selectors panel, but this debacle has to come to a conclusion either way,
MaxW
Guest
I actually think Hansen will be out to prove a point in the Japan Bledisloe. I think he will treat it more seriously than dead rubber bledisloe games in the past. Hansen no doubt wants a statement game. And they can afford to play their best lineup without having to worry too much about fatigue - because they've rotated guys throughout the RC. And in any event they have huge depth.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
You'd be happy about that. Give you something else to moan about.
Reverse Wheel
Guest
He made the right call replacing the front row at half time. But some people only want to see the negatives I guess.
Brizvegas
Guest
Can't wait to see the player ratings come out. Most will be scored for the 2nd 40 and not much else for the 1st 40. Why bring Tamoua on for 5 mins? Why was Cottrell even taken? Was Banks going to get a run? I know it was to give them exposure to the Wallabies culture and to carry the tackle bags and suitcases
Olly
Guest
Sorry, just beating a team that you are fighting to not get the wooden spoon is not a career saver. Bloody disgraceful game. If they did not go defensive in the 2nd half and our forward pass try then what. If that was any of the top rugby nations we would have had 100 points put on us in that first half and then executed in the 2nd half.
Bluesfan
Well Cheika might be feeling some swords in his back now! Big problem for the Wallabies actually is that apart from the two K's at 13 - you don't exactly have a lot of WC players sitting on the sideline. But let's look at some of the players and how they are performing. Topou - He is not a bad player (not many of his age are starting in the front row) but he should be on the bench for his impact. Two games now he has started and done nothing - at this moment in his career he should be on the bench. Hooker - Just a disaster - Retallick/Whitelock will be looking forward to Tokyo. Hanigan - let's not go there. Is Dempsey available? Coleman - appears to be going backwards Hodge - Apart from his goal kicking - not sure what he adds. Beale/Foley/Genia/Folau - Some nice touches but also terrible mistakes/missing tackles. Some of the above players are WC - but in the Wallaby jersey appear to be going backwards. Cheika might rant and rave in the half time changing room - but what is he and his coaching team doing prior to the game - because it sure is not working. The Wallabies are not as bad a side as recent results indicate - remember that this is a side that just about took the AB's in Dunedin and won in Brisbane last year. All with a similar playing roster - so what has gone wrong?
Minz
Guest
Perhaps it is time for a new defence coach? I mean, really...
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
BF I don’t think Cheika will fall (or feel) on his sword. The delusion continues. Fox said it above - Sanchez’s injury had more influence on the2nd half than the WB adjustments. It’s not the players that are the problem (well not all of the players) It is the lack of astute selection, development and tactics. This win heralds another round of arguments on board the Titanic.
Lara
Guest
I am sick as a dog , but got up to watch. I lasted 35 mins n went back to bed. Whatever happened in the game thereafter, I could care less. The Pumas were running riot, the Wallabies were nowhere. The comeback must have been amazing , just like the ABs as I did watch the replay. I need to watch the replay, but that first 35 min was painful.
Mike
Guest
It matters not what analysis we apply to the various facets of the game, the fact remains there is seriously something wrong with this side who for the first half played like mindless bloody idiots. Simply appalling and totally unacceptable.