Wallabies in astonishing comeback
Dane Haylett-Petty AUSTRALIA staged one of the biggest comebacks in Rugby Championship history to stun Argentina 45-34 at the Padre Ernesto Martearena stadium in Salta.
Dane Haylett-Petty scored twice and Bernard Foley converted all five of Australia’s second-half tries as they pounced on the Pumas following a “personal” pep talk from Michael Cheika in the changing room.
The Wallabies were down 24 points at half-time, with flanker Michael Hooper’s try in the 14th minute and subsequent conversion by Foley all Australia had on the board.
The break saw the entire front row replaced, the change accompanied by some choice advice from the coach.
“It’s not really for public airing but this game is personal,” Cheika told Rugby.com.au.
“Everything’s got to have personal meaning and we needed to get some personal meaning for our game because in the first half it wasn’t there and once the lads got some meaning about what they wanted to do and some purpose, they played a heap better, a heap better.
“I just wanted to say what I felt, that’s all.
“I didn’t go down there with a plan of doing that or anything like that.
“I just wanted to say what I felt, because the game is personal. I wanted to just let them know how I felt.”
Footage of Cheika’s half-time rant saw him grab Bernard Foley’s shirt but the fly-half said afterwards he was not a personal target, but rather the nearest player as Cheika spoke about the value of the Wallabies jersey.
The benefit was almost immediately apparent and the Wallabies regained 19 points in 11 minutes.
Izack Rodda’s try in the 44th minute was converted by Foley, who was true with the boot.
Within minutes Israel Folau scored again and Haylett-Petty crossed two minutes after that.
Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias added a penalty to Argentina’s tally, but a try for David Pocock soon after finally put the Wallabies ahead.
Haylett-Petty scored again in the 66th minute and a penalty successfully taken by Foley with five minutes left on the clock completed Australia’s historic feat.
The comeback topped an 18-point rally by South Africa against New Zealand in 1998.