“It’s a big disappointment. We want to earn the respect of the country and you don’t do that with performances like this.
“We had a good enough side in the paddock tonight to get the job done. We gave them a few soft points early on, clawed back. We’ve got to be better. Even though we know we’re going to get a few guys back, who put his shirt on he has to go forward. We weren’t good enough today.”
‘Not good enough’: Wallabies go down to Argentina by record margin in San Juan. Credit: Getty
The Wallabies were their own worst enemies, and errors, poor decision-making and poor discipline gave the Pumas too many easy tests and plenty of attacking territory. Argentina scored three times because of Australia’s handling errors and easy tries.
Australia had chances to get back into the game but were denied a try in each half, both by questionable refereeing calls. A first-half effort from James O’Connor, which would have put Australia ahead, was denied by a James Slipper clearance, and Jordan Petaia was denied in the second half even though footage appeared to show that had marked
However, the Pumas were the deserved winners. They were more aggressive and determined throughout. An unusually hot and sunny day, which saw temperatures soar to 24C, appeared to sap the Wallabies’ energy early in the match.
Argentina’s 77th and 81st minute tries sent the crowd wild and rubbed a mountain of salt into the Wallabies’ wounds.
The only advantage for the Wallabies was that they did not look set to lose more players to injury ahead of a clash with the South Africans in Adelaide in two weeks’ time.
The Wallabies went down 26-10 after a disastrous first half in which they conceded four tries through stressful errors, and it could have been more.
The fans had barely taken their seats at the Estadio Bicentennial when the Pumas ran in a first-minute try, gifted to Juan Imhoff when Jordy Petaia collected his clearance down the left flank, only to be beaten by Tom Wright via a rush from Petaia. Imhoff picked up the loose ball and scored.
Wright was again involved in the Pumas’ second try just four minutes later when the home side caught the fullback out of position to make it 50-22. From the lineout and some charging phases, punter Thomas Gallo bounced off an ineffective tackle from Taniela Tupou and scored under the posts.
At 14-0 after five minutes, the home side were ecstatic, but the Wallabies finally got some possession and turned up the pressure. With the points down, they went to the lineup but didn’t mewl, instead releasing Rob Valetini for a tailback run. It was narrowly dragged but James Slipper caught and drove and scored his second test try.
Pablo Matera, left, and Darcy Swain compete for possession. Credit: Getty
O’Connor kicked a penalty and things began to settle down, and when O’Connor crossed for a try, the Wallabies could have taken the lead. But the referee waved it off for Slipper’s actions in clearing a Pumas forward in the previous ruck, when he was deemed to have taken him over the horizontal.
Poor discipline invited the Pumas into Australia’s half and although the Wallabies repelled a driving maul near their line, the closed channel defense was found wanting, and Jeromino de la Fuente go through a gap He tore his hamstring on the way to the line, but still scored.
Australia had a chance to score shortly after a Len Ikitau line break, but a misjudged Fraser McReight pick saw him stopped short and unsupported. The ball was turned over.
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Australia’s inability to get high balls was a real problem and it came back to bite them when Argentina scored the fourth from a Pumas bomb, which was not caught by the Wallabies and brought back Juan Martín González to another fugitive trial.
Amazingly, another high ball was missed soon after and Emiliano Boffelli raced to the line, but Marika Koroibete saved the day with a desperate tackle, only managing to dislodge the ball as the Pumas winger reached the line.
Australia had one last chance to score after the half-time siren, but having been denied three points, they botched the line-out and came up short.
The second half was tighter, with Australia looking determined to tighten up and save the 16-point gap.
Petaia looked set to cross after a Rob Valetini break but was denied shortly after play resumed, and it would be the Wallabies’ best chance.
The Pumas’ defense was superb in denying the Wallabies gains, with the pressure causing the visitors to misjudge open play and invite the home side into their own half. The tiring Wallabies pulled one back through Len Ikitau but then collapsed in the closing stages, conceding three tries in the final 14 minutes.