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Match Highlights - Argentina vs Wallabies
By Online Editors
Australia produced an incredible second-half comeback to edge Argentina 45-34 in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The Wallabies scored five tries after the break in Salta to clinch a win that had appeared very unlikely at half-time, completing the biggest comeback in Rugby Championship history.
Heading into the sheds down 31-7, the Wallabies were blasted in the sheds by a passionate Michael Cheika, who was visibly upset during his halftime speech. The words of inspiration kicked the Wallabies into gear, hitting back immediately in the second half with four unanswered tries.
With the win, Australia avoided finishing bottom of the table and back-to-back losses to the Pumas for the first time in history.
Dane Haylett-Petty scored twice and Bernard Foley booted 15 points for the Wallabies, who kept the pressure from further increasing on under-fire coach Michael Cheika.
But the Wallabies' win only came after making the worst possible start, conceding 31 points in the opening 40 minutes.
The Pumas crossed twice in the first four minutes, Pablo Matera's beautifully angled run allowing him to break the line and score the opener, before the Wallabies were punished for a turnover as Emiliano Boffelli went over.
A superb Will Genia pass allowed Michael Hooper to respond for the visitors, but that – with Foley's conversion – would be their only points of the first half.
Argentina broke the Wallabies' line at will – including Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias easing through an attempted Foley tackle for a 31st-minute try – as Argentina piled on 31 first-half points.
Cheika looked to rally his team at the break and he got an immediate response as the Wallabies scored three tries in the first 11 minutes of the second half.
Izack Rodda was rewarded for a charge-down, Israel Folau crossed and Haylett-Petty went over in the corner to bring the Wallabies back into the match.
As Foley continued to deliver with the boot, David Pocock and Haylett-Petty scored in the space of three minutes as Australia took a lead they would not relinquish, despite a late yellow card to Tolu Latu.
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That’s why we threw that game against you in the pool stages by playing Libbok at 10 who couldn’t split the uprights for love or money.
Go to commentsSo sad and sorry to hear yesterday about Alex Wyllies passing. When I first went to Lancaster Park , Grizz was the captain and no8. A fearsome legend. His time coaching Canterbury 1982-86 , was one of the highlights of my life. 82-85 , was Canterbury’s record equalling Ranfurly Shield era, culminating in the “Match of the Century” , when we lost it to Auckland . I was at that game and the rest, it was one for the ages. Inspired by Grizz Canterbury nearly won it, after being 24-0 down. In 1986 Canterbury thrashed the touring Wallabies, who went on to beat the All Blacks 2-1 in that test series.Alex Wyllie inspired 2 of the players who were huge parts of his Shield team, to become great coaches in there own right. They are of course , Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans . Canterbury /Crusaders and international legends. Robbie Deans was the goal kicking hero on many occasion in that era, none more than when he kicked the equalizing penalty against Counties in the first up Shield challenge, a game I was at. As with the rest of those games. Wayne Smith scored the try to claim the Shield in Wellington a week earlier It was a pleasure to meet Grizz on a number of occasions. Rest in peace Grizz. A red and black legend , first class. He was also an All Black and one of our greatest AB coaches.
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