Pumas rally to win 67-27 and hand Wallabies worst ever test defeat

SANTA FE, Argentina (AP) — Argentina handed Australia its worst ever test defeat in a stunning turnaround from 20-3 down after 30 minutes to win 67-27 in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

The 67 was the most points the Wallabies have ever conceded, and the 40-point margin was their second biggest. Only a 53-8 loss to South Africa in 2008 was heavier.

The Pumas scored nine tries, seven in a second half in which they scored 50 points. At one stage, the Pumas scored 38 consective points as Australia wilted in searing heat.

Australia opened a 17-point lead with first half tries to back-rower Carlo Tizzano and fullback Andrew Kellaway. Flyhalf Ben Donaldson, who kicked the last-minute penalty which gave Australia a 20-19 win last weekend in La Plata, had a creative role in both tries.

But Argentina slashed the margin to three points by halftime with tries to winger Mateo Carreras and captain Julian Montoya in his 100th test.

They then opened a 31-20 lead with tries from five-meter scrums to back-rowers Juan Martin Gonzalez and Pablo Matera in the first 17 minutes of the second half.

The Pumas reveled in the hectic, high-tempo nature of a match played in hot, dry conditions which contrasted with the gale and driving rain last weekend.

They constantly ran the ball at Australia, keeping it alive with slick handling between backs and forwards. From the 31st minute when it scored its first try, Argentina dominated the match and Australia simply couldn’t keep up.

“We played some really good footy in the first half but in the second Argentina got a roll on and we couldn’t stop them,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said.

After an exchange of penalties in the first five minutes, Albornoz first for Argentina, then Donaldson, Tizzano scored in the 14th.

Donaldson carried the ball back from a deep kick and made a telling line break that eventually finished with Tizzano crawling over the tryline. Donaldson also played a prominent role in the next try to Kellaway. Donaldson linked with winger Max Jorgensen who put Kellaway in.

Argentina trailed 20-3 but roared back with tries to winger Carreras and Montoya. Fullback Juan Cruz Mallia set up the first by keeping a deep Donaldson in play on the right touchline. With the open field ahead of him, Mallia linked with Matera and Carreras finished in the 31st.

Argentina went close to scoring through Marcos Kremer from a tapped penalty in the 17th and tried the same tactic in the 37th for success through Montoya.

Argentina took the lead in the 48th with Gonzalez’s try after a five-meter scrum, and Matera also scored from a five-meter scrum in the 57th. The Pumas first went wide from the set-piece to center Lucio Cinti and Matera supported to score.

Albornoz, perfect off the tee, hit a second penalty for 34-20. Then a turnover by Eduardo Bello saw Oviedo break away and score a try.

Argentina scored 38 straight points when the Wallabies finally broke the sequence with a solo try to scrumhalf Tate McDermott in the 69th through four Pumas.

There was plenty of time for the Pumas to a late double for fullback Juan Cruz Mallia, Oviedo to notch his second try, and Cinti to cap the match with Argentina’s ninth try.

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