Pumas go top with their record win over Australia

ARGENTINA returned to winning ways as they recorded their largest win ever over the Wallabies with an emphatic seven-try demolition job in San Juan to go top of the Rugby Championship table.

A lack of cohesion and multiple defensive mix ups cost Dave Rennie’s side who found themselves trailing 14-0 after just six minutes.

First Pumas wing Juan Imhoff produced a chip and chase that was too much to handle for Tom Wright and Jordan Petaia, whose mix up led to the 34-year-old Imhoff regaining possession and touching down.

A second Australian mistake was punished just minutes later as Thomas Gallo was able to barge over the line to provide the Argentines with a dream start after the Wallabies carelessly surrendered possession.

Back-to-back penalties piggy backed the Wallabies into a lineout 10 metres from the try line and after a powerful carry by Rob Valetini, stand in skipper James Slipper was on hand to dot down for the ideal Aussie response.

The returning James O’Connor was then able to further reduce the deficit to 14-10 with a routine penalty.

Despite resilient Australia tackling it was Argentina who scored next as Jeronimo de la Fuente used his fast feet to break through the Wallaby defence and go over to score against the run of play before being substituted with a hamstring injury.

Australia were punished for another mix up as Wright and O’Connor failed to negotiate a high ball and London Irish flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez was on hand to race away to score.

The Wallabies kept the Pumas under immense pressure at the start of the second half but Argentina’s defence refused to be breached.

Newcastle Falcons new signing Matias Moroni produced an excellent jackal to win a penalty and the deadeye kicker Emiliano Boffelli was on hand to extend Argentina’s lead.

Gallo then secured his brace off a pick and go try to put the result beyond doubt before Len Ikitau crossed for the visitors.

Any hope of a late Wallabies revival was extinguished as Fraser McReight was yellow carded for repeated infringements before Boffelli and Tomas Albornoz touched down for late scores.