CLINICAL SECOND HALF SETS UP BIG WALLABIES WIN IN CANBERRA
The Qantas Wallabies have broken out a five-try second half blitz to register their first win of the 2017 Rugby Championship, with a resounding 45-20 victory over Argentina at an icy GIO Stadium.
Trailing 13-10 going into the break after a frustrating opening half, the Wallabies eventually found their top gear and produced some of their finest attacking Rugby of the tournament.
Israel Folau scored two tries, taking his total to seven for the year for the Wallabies, while Sekope Kepu, Will Genia, Nick Phipps and rookie Test hooker Jordan Uelese also found the tryline.
After an opening half where the Australians were camped in their own territory for over three-quarters of the half, it was Kepu’s try under the posts which sparked the men in gold to a dominant second forty minutes.
Both flyhalves traded penalties in the opening quarter of the match as neither side was able to establish clear domination, leaving the score at 3-3 until a quarter of the way through.
Argentina’s weight of territory and possession eventually told when scrumhalf Martin Landajo dived over for the opening try, which had to be cleared by the TMO after referee John Lacey wanted to check for an obstruction.
The Wallabies countered strongly and five minutes later they moved the ball through hands to the left before coming all the way back to the right side of the field where a deft pass by Bernard Foley allowed Israel Folau to find space out wide and score, levelling the scores at 10-10.
The Argentinians continued to advance into Wallaby territory and a penalty inside the red zone allowed Sanchez to take back the lead for the visitors at the break.
A determined Wallabies outfit emerged from the dressing rooms and signalled their intentions early in the second stanza when Kurtley Beale opted for a quick tap when a penalty was awarded close to the tryline. Moments later the Australians capitalised when Kepu crashed over.
Australia doubled down on their lead with a second try to Folau after a beautifully woven backline attack, set up by Kurtley Beale. Foley converted to take the score to 24-13 after 52 minutes.
The Pumas twice had golden opportunities to hit back, but both promising raids were thwarted, first by Folau who charged out and tipped a pass in the air when Argentina had a two-man overlap and again when Sean McMahon made a powerful stop on Pumas winger Matias Moroni as he honed in at the line.
The Wallabies scrum dominated the Argentinian pack and after several collapses and some aggressive Captaining from Michael Hooper replacement prop Enrique Pieretto was shown a yellow card.
The home side capitalised on the one-man advantage, scoring immediately after when Will Genia darted around from the base of the scrum.
It was then Genia’s replacement Nick Phipps who chimed in after a flashy run by McMahon and scored another for the Wallabies just three minutes later, ending any chance of a South American resistance.
A late try to Matias Moroni showed some of his individual flair, kicking over the top of the defence to regather and score in the corner. But the Australians would have the final say in a fitting finale to their Rugby Championship campaign on home soil.
In just his second match, Australian U20s star Jordan Uelese dotted down in the 80th minute of the match, his first ever Test try as the Wallabies capped off a night to remember.
The Wallabies will continue their Rugby Championship campaign when they meet South Africa in Bloemfontein on October 1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
6 mins: Bernard Foley pen AUS 3-0 ARG 15 mins: Nicholas Sanchez pen AUS 3-3 ARG 24 mins: Martin Landajo try, Nicholas Sanchez con AUS 10-3 ARG 29 mins: Israel Folau try, Bernard Foley con AUS 10-10 ARG 36 mins: Nicholas Sanchez pen AUS 10-13 ARG HALF TIME
49 mins: Sekope Kepu try, Bernard Foley con AUS 17-13 ARG 52 mins: Israel Folau try, Bernard Foley con AUS 24-13 ARG 72 mins: Will Genia try, Bernard Foley con AUS 31-13 ARG 75 mins: Nick Phipps try, Bernard Foley con AUS 38-13 77 mins: Matias Moroni try, Nicholas Sanchez con AUS 38-20 ARG 80 mins: Jordan Uelese try, Bernard Foley con AUS 45-20 ARG FULL TIME
Australia 45 (Israel Folau 2, Sekope Kepu, Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Jordan Uelese tries; Bernard Foley 6 cons; pen) defeated Argentina 20 (Martin Landajo, Matias Moroni tries; Nicholas Sanchez 2 cons; Nicholas Sanchez 2 pens)
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