Humiliated. Gutted.
They are two of the adjectives used to describe the Wallabies’ second match on tour against Los Pumas in Argentina, as Joe Schmidt’s side copped a record hiding a week after sealing a gritty one-point win by “falling off a cliff”.
For 30 minutes it looked like the Wallabies were on the cusp of going back-to-back in Argentina and rocketing up The Rugby Championship standings.
Then they were hit by a wave of momentum that couldn’t turn around as Los Pumas found their feet and their hands to blow away the Wallabies.
It started in the 31st minute by fullback Juan Cruz Mallia, who turned what look like being a fine exit from Jake Gordon into an opportunity to attack.
The fullback managed to leap from outside the field and play on quickly, before beating Ben Donaldson in the air from Tomas Albornoz’s up-and-under and starting a new wave of attack. Seconds later, the Pumas rubbed out Andrew Kellaway’s try as winger Mateo Carreras burst onto Pablo Matera’s offload to score.
Then Pumas captain Julian Montoya made a decisive turnover in the 35th minute near his 22m line, as he got on the ball and won a clean turnover. Two minutes later, the hooker playing his 100th Test, scored.
In the blink of an eye, the Wallabies’ dominant opening half-hour counted for little as Los Pumas seized the momentum.
They never got it back.
Joaquín Oviedo scores against the Wallabies at Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Santa Fe. (Photo by Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images)
Angus Bell’s withdrawal at half-time, where he joined Taniela Tupou on the bench, saw the Wallabies lose any ascendency they had in general play as well as the scrum. It also exposed the undermanned, under skilled underbelly in Australian rugby.
Indeed, even with experienced duo James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa on the field, the Wallabies were blown away in the second half conceding seven tries to one as they failed to contain Argentina’s loose forwards.
Basics errors, poor discipline and an inability to slow Argentina’s ball down either at the ruck or strong contact saw the Wallabies slaughtered.
So how did the players rate?
Andrew Kellaway – 6.5
Shown a yellow card in the final seconds, Kellaway was the Wallabies’ best back. Kellaway looked much more at home at fullback as he got his hands on the ball often in the first half. He scored Australia’s second try with two touches.
Max Jorgensen – 4
The Wallabies’ youngest player had a couple of nice touches in the first-half but got taught an international lesson in the second half. Jorgensen physically isn’t yet a top-tier international player despite being a player of immense potential. His pass back on the inside to Kellaway was a good one, but the winger was also forced into touch twice in the second half. Later, in the 74th minute, Jorgensen was smashed in contact and the Pumas counter-rucked and scored two phases later.
Len Ikitau – 5
After a reasonable first-half, including his quick hands to Kellaway ahead of the fullback’s try, Ikitau’s little knock-on to start the second half began the Wallabies’ second-half woes.
Hamish Stewart – 5
Benefitted from some quick ball in the first-half but struggled to assert himself in the second half. Stewart made ten tackles but couldn’t get underneath Pablo Matera to prevent the loose-forward’s try in the second half.
Marika Koroibete – 4
The Japan-based winger’s knock-on in the 43rd minute from an Argentine clearing kick was a coach killer. As Morgan Turinui said in commentary: “That’s the first two and a half minutes of the second half.” Later, Koroibete was chased down by fly-half Tomas Albornoz. The winger’s missed tackle on Lucio Cinti also allowed Juan Cruz Mallia to score the first of two tries.
Ben Donaldson – 5
After a more commanding first-half, where Donaldson’s decision to play flatter and play the short side ahead of Kellaway’s try proved effective, the Wallabies fly-half struggled to turn the tide in the second half and was replaced after 56 minutes. That decision was in part because of Donaldson’s inability to clear his line long and accurately.
Jake Gordon – 5
Another who had a strong opening 40 minutes, the Wallabies lost it when they were penalised for not retreating in the 53rd minute. It was Gordon who got pinged.
Harry Wilson – 6
One of the Wallabies’ better performers, Wilson tried hard all match – ten carries and 13 tackles – but was outplayed by his opposite. The acting captain and No.8 was also effective at the lineout.
Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson reacts following his side’s record loss to Argentina on September 7, 2024 in Santa Fe. (Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
Carlo Tizzano – 5
Led the way defensively with 17 tackles, but Tizzano couldn’t influence the match like he did a week earlier where he won three turnovers.
Rob Valetini – 6
Dented the line in the first half but his meek carry in the 47th minute, where he was pushed back over his line, summed up the Wallabies’ second half. The Wallabies were flat. Valetini was still one of his side’s best ball-carriers, but the blindside flanker needed more help.
Jeremy Williams – 5
Effective early with a couple of surging runs from the kick offs, Williams was effective at the lineout but was played out of the match the longer it went. The Force lock made a lineout steal in the 53rd minute. He later turned the ball over in contact in the 74th minute.
Nick Frost – 6.5
Never stopped trying and was active on both sides of the ball. Frost made 11 tackles, carried the ball on 11 occasions, brought down a maul, and was a handful at the lineout for Argentina. But as effective as Frost was, he still lacks a bit of physicality.
Taniela Tupou – 6
Laid the platform for the Wallabies’ strong start but was replaced after 35 minutes. That says all you need to know about Tupou at present. Yes it was hot, but the Wallabies need closer to 50 minutes out of their tight-head prop than 40 minutes.
Matt Faessler – 6
Once again was strong with his core roles, Faessler hit his targets and will play against the All Blacks.
Angus Bell – 7.5
The Wallabies’ best player on the field. Bell was a part of a strong set-piece in the opening half and was the Wallabies’ best ball-carrier. The issue was the 23-year-old was replaced at half-time. Workload management?
Reserves
Josh Nasser – 5
The replacement hooker made a crucial and fine breakdown steal in the 47th minute. Unfortunately, Valetini was pushed back over his line the next phase, resulting in a five-metre scrum for the Pumas.
James Slipper – 3
In his record-equalling 139th Test, Slipper struggled against a Pumas side with their tails up. The loose-head prop was penalised a couple of times at the scrum. The 35-year-old also was penalised for a no-arms tackle in the 62nd minute.
Allan Alaalatoa – 4
Coming on late in the second half, Alaalatoa wasn’t able to pick up where Tupou left off. The tight-head was beaten at the scrum, too.
Josh Canham – 4
After coming on in the final 20 minutes, Canham was left clutching at straws a couple of times as the Pumas’ offloading game came to the fore.
Langi Gleeson – 4
Brought some punch back to the Wallabies’ carry, but the replacement loose-forward wasn’t able to slow the Pumas’ ball down after coming on midway through the second half.
Tate McDermott – 5
Scored a fine try with some quick thinking and faster feet, but McDermott also kicked a ball out on the full from a box kick in the 61st minute. The blunder allowed Argentina to continue to pepper the Wallabies.
Tom Lynagh – 4
Carried the ball back into the teeth of the defence once, but wasn’t able to influence the match in attack. Then again, how could he given the Pumas’ second half dominance? One nice conversion from out wide, too.
Josh Flook – N/A
Replaced Ikitau midway through the second half, Flook wasn’t able to get his hands on the ball nor slow down Argentina’s waves of attack.