Australia rallies to beat Argentina 20-19; claims 1st Rugby Championship win

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Replacement Ben Donaldson kicked a penalty as the fulltime siren sounded to give Australia a 20-19 win over Argentina on Saturday and its first success in three tests in this year’s Rugby Championship.

Argentina led by nine points in the second half but the Wallabies rallied with a try to Rob Valetini, a conversion and penalty to Noah Lolesio to lead for the first time in the 58th minute.

The Pumas regained the lead at 19-17 in the 69th minute with a penalty to Tomas Albornoz and a win looked to have slipped through Australia’s fingers. But the Wallabies dug deep, held the ball for nine phases inside the Argentina 22 in the last minute and finally earned the penalty that clinched the game.

Donaldson kicked the winning goal from 15 meters in front of the posts as the last seconds of the match ticked away.

“We’re a new team and we’ve been building,” captain Harry Wilson said. “We had two tough games against South Africa and they’re the best in the world but I thought we showed a lot of improvement.

“Now to show some improvement against Argentina was awesome.”

Through persistent heavy rain, Argentina seemed to play a style better suited to the conditions than Australia for most of the game. The Pumas defended well, though the Wallabies scored two tries to one. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon scored in the first half and Valetini at a vital moment in the second.

The Wallabies struggled at times to exit their own half and to make progress across the gain line. Their execution at restarts also was an Achilles heel. But at the end they took their chance well.

Argentina led 13-7 at halftime with a try to backrower Juan Martin Gonzalez, a conversion and two penalties to Santiago Carreras. Another Carreras penalty five minutes into the second half stretched the lead to nine points.

Australia found its way back into the match as it opened up and as it executed with more precision.

The loss was a sombre moment for Pumas veteran Agustin Creevy who took the field in the 73rd minute for his 110th test and his last in his home town. The 19-year veteran hooker was deployed at flanker as the Pumas had to reorganize their pack late in the match.

The Pumas suffered a slight setback in the first minute when it lost lock Pedro Rubialo who failed a head injury assessment and was replaced by the experienced but fiery Tomas Lavanini. Argentina came into the match with a 6-2 split on the reserves bench.

Carreras scored the first points of the match in the 10th minute, a penalty, and in the 15th minute Gonzalez scored the first try to give Argentina a 10-0 lead.

Scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou intercepted a pass and, handling for a second time, kicked deep into Wallabies territory, then caught Tom Wright in possession five meters from the goal line. Argentina won a penalty which it kicked to touch. The first drive broke up but Gonzalez joined the drive when it regrouped and scored.

The Wallabies rarely found their way into the Argentina 22 in the first half and when they did they encountered rigid defense. But in the 28th minute, playing under penalty advantage, Len Ikitau created a little space and Tom Wright off-loaded in a tackle to Gordon who scored under the posts. Lolesio converted.

That cut the Pumas’ lead to three points but Carreras extended it to six points with his second penalty.

Noah Lolesio missed a penalty at the edge of his range just before halftime. But Carreras kicked his third to start the second half and increase the Pumas’ lead to nine points.

Australia finally found some space with quick ball in the 50th minute and created a superb try for Valetini. Allan Alaaltoa handled twice and Gordon kept the ball in motion, picking runners. Ikitau beat tackles and Lolesio carried the ball strongly before Valetini drove over.

Lolesio converted and then kicked a penalty to give Australia its first lead at 17-16 in the 58th minute.

___

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby