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The Wallabies’ worst fears have been realised, with Eddie Jones’ side going down at home to Argentina 34-31 a week after being smashed by the Springboks.
This was supposed to be Eddie Jones’ welcome home party to Sydney. But the only people once again cheering in Parramatta were the pocket of South Americans celebrating wildly like a Sunday afternoon fiesta.
Michael Cheika’s reaction said it all, with the former Wallabies boss wildly celebrating. All Jones could do was thump his headset into the desk after witnessing Argentina steal an enthralling battle that had everything in it.
Julian Montoya helped Los Pumas seal a dramatic win over the Wallabies at CommBank Stadium on July 15, 2023 in Sydney. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
A late try to Juan Martin Gonzalez sealed the dramatic win, with the Argentine back-rower diving over from close range to score the match-winner moments after Mark Nawaqanitawase, who was superb after replacing Suliasi Vunivalu, looked to have sealed a stunning come-from-behind victory after running 95 metres to score an intercept try.
But the Wallabies’ ecstasy turned to agony, as Argentina won the crucial kick restart and a clumsy high shot from Quade Cooper on Matera’s chin saw the visitors awarded a penalty.
Los Pumas needed no second invitation, as they kicked for the corner. Moments later, Cheika’s side celebrated another famous win at the scene of their maiden victory over the All Blacks in 2020 while the Wallabies’ Sydney curse once again struck like a Sunday morning headache.
“Probably gutted is one word comes to mind,” Wallabies skipper James Slipper said.
“When we turned up and started playing good rugby but we kept taking the pressure off the Argentinians and they kept coming back.
“Ill discipline really hurt us tonight again. Yellow card, a couple of penalties put us at the wrong end of penalties put us at the wrong end of the field. You can’t win Test matches playing that sort of rugby.
“There’s quite a few of us who have to look at those individual penalties and rectify it quickly. Performances like that, we won’t go far at the World Cup.”
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has a mountain to climb ahead of the World Cup. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Having been parachuted into the role in January at the expense of Dave Rennie, Jones now has a mountain to climb on the eve of the World Cup.
Nor does the task get any easier, with back to back Tests against the All Blacks to follow.
It means the Wallabies, who dropped below Argentina to eighth on World Rugby’s rankings, could conceivably head to France 0-4 with a Test against the host nation before their World Cup opener against Georgia in Paris on September 9.
Jones’ decision to head into the crucial Rugby Championship Test with just two backs on his bench came back to bite hard days after he attempted to shut down questioning of his forward-heavy bench.
On Thursday, Jones said there was “an element of risk when you got five-three, too”.
He added: “I don’t understand your question.”
But Len Ikitau’s shoulder injury midway through the first half changed the course of the Test and immediately gave the visitors the ascendency as they attacked the Wallabies’ midfield following Carter Gordon’s introduction.
At that point, the Wallabies led 10-0 after Ikitau’s finished off a thrilling try out wide that was started by Nawaqanitawase’s courageous decision to play on quickly.
A penalty from Quade Cooper then extended the home side’s lead.
But Ikitau eventually succumbed to his shoulder injury that was sustained as he dived for the corner.
The move meant Jones brought Gordon – in his second Test – at inside centre alongside Cooper in one of the Wallabies’ smallest 10-12 partnerships. But more than anything, the Wallabies’ backline, already finding their feet under new defence coach Brett Hodgson, were at sixes and sevens.
Argentina didn’t need long to exploit the Wallabies on the fringes.
While they initially chose to bank three points off the boot of Emiliano Boffelli, Jeronimo de la Fuente’s strong line in the 26th minute saw Los Pumas level up the score at 10-10.
The Wallabies did phenomenally well to go into the sheds locked up after losing Richie Arnold to the sin bin (not rolling away) and defending their own line for what felt like an eternity.
Eventually the pressure told as Julian Montoya scored early in the second half from close range.
Nic White got the Wallabies back in the game by scoring a clever try from the base of the ruck, as the halfback shaped left before going back to the open side and scoring after the Argentine defence opened up like the Red Sea.
But a penalty to Boffelli once again gave the visitors the lead, as they went ahead 20-17 after 60 minutes.
Dave Porecki’s missed tackle on Mateo Carreras, which followed another Tom Wright fumble, then looked like being the killer blow, before some quick ball allowed Nawaqanitawase and Marika Koroibete to combine with Cooper who then found Kerevi to score a superb try. Cooper’s sideline effort narrowed the margin to 27-24.
Tom Wright was exposed in the second half. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Los Pumas looked like killing off the Wallabies soon after, but Nawaqanitawase’s coast-to-coast try at last gave the home side something to cheer about as the rising winger scored what look to be the winner.
But once again the celebrations proved to be premature, as Argentina sealed a dramatic victory that could shape the direction both nations head in the months to come.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.