Wallabies rally past Pumas
canberra — Australia scored five second-half tries to rally to their first victory of this year’s Rugby Championship with a 45-20 win over Argentina at a chilly Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
Fullback Israel Folau scored tries either side of halftime and Sekope Kepu, Will Genia, Nick Phipps and Jordan Uelese also crossed to secure a bonus point victory.
Flyhalf Bernard Foley converted all six tries and kicked a penalty to help the Wallabies back to winning ways after they lost twice to the All Blacks and drew with the Springboks in their first three matches of the competition.
Argentina led 13-10 at halftime after bullying their hosts in the back-row contest but a first half try from Martin Landajo and a brilliant late consolation from Matias Moroni were not enough for a first win in Australia since 1983.
The Pumas head back to Argentina for their final two matches still searching for their first win of the Rugby Championship and only one victory, over Georgia, in seven matches this year.
Australia opened the scoring through Foley’s penalty but Argentina were dominating possession and Nicolas Sanchez levelled the scores in the 15th minute.
The Pumas butchered an opportunity to score the first try in the 20th minute when Sanchez’s pass to Emiliano Boffelli went forward but scrumhalf Landajo made no mistake four minutes later. The visitors continued to make sure the game was being played in the Australian half and it was not until the half-hour mark that the Wallabies broke out to again square the contest. —