Argentina's Tri-Nations adventure ends in a wet and wild draw with Australia as All Blacks crowned champions
Australia 16 Argentina 16
Argentina’s rollercoaster Tri-Nations ended in second place after a wet and wild draw with Australia.
The Pumas finished above their opponents by virtue of points difference, and behind champions New Zealand, following a second consecutive tie with the Wallabies. Reece Hodge had a late opportunity to snatch victory for Australia, but the full-back’s 45-metre penalty attempt faded wide.
Shorn of Pablo Matera, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino, the three players stood down last week after the emergence of racist posts on social media, Argentina produced another combative performance.
A fine try from Pumas wing Bautista Delguy, set up by scrum-half Felipe Ezcurra off the back of a runaway maul, meant that his side led for much of the game.
Four cards punctuated the contest, with Australia replacement Lukhan Salakaia-Loto sent off close to the hour-mark after Marcos Kremer and Michael Hooper had been sin-binned in the first half.
As Australia piled on pressure in the final quarter, eventually leading to a pushover try for Hooper that levelled matters thanks to Hodge’s touchline conversion, Lucas Paulos was also shown yellow by referee Angus Gardner.
In sodden conditions, the tackling of Argentina back-rowers Santiago Grondona, Facundo Isa and Rodrigo Bruni drew a number of fumbles out of the hosts.
Fittingly, the tournament ended with Argentina repelling an attack from the Wallabies and Hooper admitted that the Pumas had proved “a tough cookie to crack”.
“We’ll build from that, we’re not happy with the performance,” said the Australia skipper, whose try was his 20th in Test rugby.
“Their tackling around the pill and around our mid-parts popped the ball a few times. It was hard conditions and we won the territory battle but weren’t able to convert.
“We had to adjust and I was disappointed we couldn’t play a bit more because, when we did, we played some nice stuff.
“But Argentina have been great defensively throughout this competition. They had a tough ask with four big, back-to-back Test matches and they did well.”
These teams drew 15-15 in Newcastle last month and the Wallabies drew first blood in the rematch, Hodge putting them ahead after Kremer’s illegal clear-out on rival fly-half James O’Connor.
That incident earned Kremer a yellow card and, after Nicolas Sanchez had cancelled out Australia’s advantage with a long-range kick, Hooper was sin-binned after a very similar collision.
As Sanchez was competing for the ball at a ruck close to the touchline, Hooper charged towards the breakdown.
His shoulder made contact with the head of Sanchez and Gardner delved into his pocket after the intervention of television match official Damon Murphy.
While Sanchez was off the field undergoing a head injury assessment, his temporary replacement Domingo Miotti slotted another penalty.
Delguy’s try, a weaving run from just outside Australia’s 22 that confounded Marika Koroibete and beat the tackle of Hunter Paisami with a powerful fend, followed.
Miotti converted before Hodge landed another penalty, cutting Argentina’s advantage going into half-time to 13-6.
Hodge and Miotti traded penalties in the second half, with Salakaia-Loto receiving a deserved red card for a reckless high tackle on Grondona.
Despite Australia going down to 14 permanently, Hooper’s try arrived with 12 minutes to go and Hodge had a long-range chance to sink the Pumas. However, his strike skewed wide and the teams could not be split.
Dave Rennie’s record as Australia head coach now stands at three draws, two defeats and a win from six matches in 2020. Meanwhile, Argentina can be proud of a resurgent year.
“It’s beautiful,” said Ezcurra at the final whistle. “We had a really tough year with a very long quarantine. To play these games to end the year is a really, really, really good thing for us.”
