In a thrilling finish, Australia secured a narrow 20-19 victory over Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Saturday. The Wallabies claimed their first win in three tests thanks to a last-minute penalty kicked by replacement Ben Donaldson as the fulltime siren sounded.
Argentina had led by nine points in the second half, but the Wallabies staged a comeback with a try from Rob Valetini, a conversion, and a penalty from Noah Lolesio, taking the lead in the 58th minute.
Despite Argentina regaining the lead at 19-17 with a penalty from Tomas Albornoz in the 69th minute, Australia managed to hold possession for nine phases inside the Argentina 22 in the final minute, ultimately earning the decisive penalty that secured the victory.
Captain Harry Wilson expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting the improvement shown against tough opponents like South Africa and Argentina. Both teams struggled to adapt to the heavy rain, with Argentina showcasing a style more suited to the conditions.
The match, played under persistent heavy rain, saw Argentina defending well but Australia scoring two tries to their one. Jake Gordon and Valetini scored crucial tries for the Wallabies, while Argentina’s first-half lead was established through Juan Martin Gonzalez’s try and Santiago Carreras’ penalties.
The loss was poignant for Pumas’ veteran Agustin Creevy, who made his final appearance in his home town in his 110th test match. Despite starting with a setback as they lost a player to injury early on, Argentina demonstrated resilience throughout the game.
The Wallabies struggled initially but managed to find their rhythm in the second half, showing better execution and precision in their play. The victory was a hard-fought one for Australia, marking a significant improvement in their performance during the Rugby Championship.
