Wallabies defy odds
THE Wallabies have pulled off a victory to savour, coming from behind to defeat Michael Cheika’s Argentina 41-26 in Mendoza.
Despite losing Michael Hooper 24 hours before kick-off due to mental health reasons and Quade Cooper midway through the second half, the Wallabies defied the odds to secure an important, character-filled victory.
It finished in the sweetest way possible too, with Len Ikitau scoring the Wallabies’ fifth try in the 85th minute to give the visitors an important bonus point, which saw
Dave Rennie’s men move ahead of the Springboks into top spot on The Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies trailed 19-10 at half-time but scored three tries, including a penalty try, to claw their way back and silence the strong Argentinian crowd. That seemed an unlikely case after 55 minutes, as Juan Martin Gonzalez finished off a stunning counter-attacking try from long-range.
Folau Fainga’a’s try in the 69th minute and Reece Hodge’s conversion from out wide gave the Wallabies an important eight-point buffer that ultimately proved too great.
The victory snaps a two-match losing streak and comes at an important time, with the Wallabies missing a lot of experience, none more so than Hooper who withdrew late on Thursday (local time) because he felt he wasn’t in the right “mindset”. It saw the skipper leave Argentina, accompanied home by hooker Dave Porecki, who was ruled out earlier in the week due to concussion.
In his absence James Slipper, who captained the Wallabies against Wales last November, was outstanding. The veteran prop played 72 minutes and his composure and calm head was pivotal in the Wallabies’ come-from-behind win.
The Wallabies benefited from a 16-14 penalty count in their favour, with most of those in the second half as the visitors made the most of the wave of momentum.
The Wallabies’ forward pack was talismanic, with their front-row outstanding and their second-row industrious.
But after an error-ridden, ill-disciplined first-half, the Wallabies got back through the beauty of simplicity. Big Tests are rarely won without winning the fundamentals, and Dan McKellar’s influence around the set-piece, particularly the rolling maul, was pivotal.
Fraser McReight had a strong second half particularly, to make for a memorable debut after he was called into the team from outside the matchday squad following Hooper’s Friday withdrawal.
McReight scored the Wallabies’ crucial second try – and first of the second half – as he was slung over the line by Jed Holloway after breaking away from the rolling maul.
Early on the Wallabies looked clunky in attack but after Pablo Matera’s early try for the Pumas, the Wallabies showed what they were capable of in the 17th minute as Cooper held the ball and the opposition defence before putting Jordan Petaia in some space.