Players of Argentina celebrate after Joaquín Oviedo of Argentina scored a try during the Rugby Championship 2024 match between Argentina and Australia at Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Santa Fe, Argentina. Picture: Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images.
Argentina, trailing by 14 points after 30 minutes, hit back with nine tries to beat Australia 67-27 in Santa Fe in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
A week after the Wallabies fought back from 10-0 down to win the opening Test 20-19 in the rain in La Plata, the Pumas took their revenge in the Santa Fe sun by scoring the most points Australia had ever conceded in a Test.
The result lifted Argentina to second in the table on 10 points, still eight points behind leaders South Africa with two games to go. Australia are bottom.
With South Africa beating New Zealand earlier in the day, Argentina must now beat the world champion Springboks in their final two games , one at home and one away, to have a hope of winning the Rugby Championship for the first time.
After an early exchange of penalties, Australia grabbed the initiative in the 15th minute when flanker Carlo Tizzano burrowed over.
They pulled three scores clear as Ben Donaldson kicked a penalty and then fullback Andrew Kellaway finished off a lightning strike down the right touchline by collecting a pass from Max Jorgensen and scampering over for a try.
The Wallabies led 20-3 but only for three minutes.
Argentina struck back as winger Mateo Carreras cut through a huge hole in the defence.
On 38 minutes, hooker Julian Montoya smashed over from a tap penalty.
Australia led 20-17 at half time.
Veteran prop James Slipper came on for his 139th cap, equalling George Gregan’s Wallaby record, but after that all the records were grim for the Wallabies.
From the restart, Argentina camped on the Australian line and took the lead after 48 minutes as No.8 Juan Martin Gonzalez picked up the ball from a five-metre scrum and dodged through the defence.
From another five-metre scrum after 58 minutes, the Puma backs smashed the Wallabies backwards to set up a ruck against the foot of a post. Flanker Pablo Montera picked up and charged over.
After Joaquin Oviedo touched down, Tate McDermott hit back for the Wallabies on 69 minutes at which point Australia capitulated.
Fullback Juan Mallia scored tries in the 72nd and 76th minute. Oviedo touched down again and, with the last attack of the match, centre Lucio Cinto scampered over.
That took Argentina’s total past the previous record 61 points Australia conceded to South Africa in Pretoria in 1997.
Santiago Carreras landed his second conversion from the touchline to take the margin to 40, the second biggest in Wallaby history. They lost by 45 to South Africa in Johannesburg in 2008.
Before going off, Tomas Albornoz had converted six tries and also kicked two penalties.
Ben Donaldson kicked 10 points for Australia and Tom Lynagh booted their last conversion
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