Angus Bell scored the winning try six minutes after the final whistle as Australia came back from 14 points down at half-time to beat Argentina 28-24 in an exciting Rugby Championship match in Townsville on Saturday.
The Wallabies responded strongly, with centre Joseph Suaalii scoring two tries to bring the scores level. But just a minute before the end, Argentina’s fullback Juan Cruz Mallia kicked a penalty to give his team the lead again.
Australia could have gone for three penalty kicks to tie the match, but they chose to keep pushing. Their effort paid off when substitute prop Bell powered over the line from close range, securing Australia’s third win in their last four Tests.
“Full credit to the team—we could have gone for the draw by taking the kick,” said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson. “It was a tough match, but everyone believed we could finish it off. If the boys want to win, we have to back them. I’m very proud. We weren’t at our best today, but finding a way to win against such a strong opponent says a lot about this team.”
Australia’s win put them on top of the Rugby Championship table with nine points. They now lead before the big clash between New Zealand, who have six points, and South Africa, who have four, in Auckland later on Saturday.
Argentina, who recently made history by beating the All Blacks at home for the first time, now sit on five points after picking up a losing bonus point in Townsville.
Pumas captain Julian Montoya admitted he wasn’t fully happy with his team’s performance. “Congratulations to Australia, they made the most of their chances,” he said. “But in the second half, we gave away too many avoidable penalties like offsides, and we allowed them easy field positions.”
Pumas set the pace early
On a sunny afternoon at North Queensland Stadium, Argentina fly-half Santi Carreras gave the Pumas an early 6-0 lead with two penalty kicks after Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou was twice punished for no-arm tackles.
The Wallabies responded in the 23rd minute with the game’s first try. Strong runs from Harry Wilson and lock Nick Frost after a lineout opened space for scrum-half Nic White, who scored from close range.
But Argentina quickly regained control with a burst of 15 points in just seven minutes. Bautista Delguy and Mateo Carreras crossed for tries from smooth backline plays off scrums, and Santi Carreras added another penalty four minutes before halftime.
Australia gave away eight penalties in the first half and knew they had to fix their discipline to stand a chance of making a comeback.
The Wallabies started strong after halftime, and Suaalii reduced the gap to 21-14 with a try from Len Ikitau’s offload just seven minutes in. The game became more open, with both sides exchanging momentum. However, Argentina began giving away too many penalties, and Mateo Carreras was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute for repeated team fouls. Just a minute later, Suaalii broke through tackles to score his second try, and substitute fly-half James O’Connor converted to level the scores.
FAQ
Who won the rugby match between Australia and Argentina in Townsville?
Australia won the match, narrowly defeating Argentina in a dramatic contest.
How close was the game?
It was a very close match, with momentum shifting several times before Australia edged past Argentina.
What impact did this win have on Australia’s Rugby Championship standing?
The victory moved Australia to the top of the Rugby Championship points table.
How did Argentina perform in the game?
Argentina played strongly in the first half but gave away too many penalties in the second half, which cost them.
