Wallabies hold on for victory in Argentina / Photo: Ramiro VEGA - AFP
Wallabies hold on for victory in Argentina
Australia scored twice in the first 11 minutes and nursed their lead the rest of the way as they beat Argentina 27-21 in San Salvador de Jujuy on Saturday.
The victory was Australia's third straight under new coach Les Kiss, who started with two wins over Japan earlier this month. Before that the Wallabies beat Italy in July.
It is the first time they have put a four-game winning streak together in a calendar year since 2021.
The match is the first of a two-Test series in Argentina, with the four-nation Rugby Championship suspended this season to allow New Zealand to undertake a money-spinning four-Test tour of South Africa.
Following the heavyweight brawl between the Springboks and All Blacks in Cape Town earlier in the day, the Wallabies landed a couple of quick jabs in their undercard encounter with the Pumas.
After six minutes, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa juggled a pass just short of the line but crawled over to score.
Five minutes later, fly-half Carter Gordon targeted a weak shoulder and speared through the tackle to score.
Argentina fullback Geronimo Prisciantelli quickly replied for the hosts but Fraser McReight responded with a third close-range Wallabies try.
Argentina took control, but struggled to turn pressure into points despite a 10-minute yellow card for Australia's winger Harry Potter.
Three minutes before the break, Argentina were awarded a free kick from a scrum in front of the posts. No. 8 Joaquin Moro tapped to himself and smashed through three dozing Australia defenders to score.
Australia responded quickly as Ryan Lonergan landed the only penalty of the match, and his third successful kick, with the last action of the half to pad the lead.
After prop Boris Wenger barged over after 52 minutes for Argentina, Santiago Carreras landed his third conversion to close the gap to one point.
Once again Australia responded within three minutes. Veteran flanker Tom Hooper finished off a counter-attack with a try.
Ben Donaldson, who had just come on, missed the conversion, but the visitors held off ragged late Puma pressure.
Lonergan is a doubt for the second Test in Mendoza with an arm injury.
Y.Ingvar--MP
