One step forward for the Wallabies, one step sideways.
The 28-28 draw in Mendoza will go down as a lost opportunity as the Wallabies enjoyed a two-man advantage for the majority of the final 10 minutes, but a breakdown free-for-all and a couple of handling errors in the rain allowed Argentina to take time off the clock.
The enormous influence of Pumas flanker Pablo Matera also shaped the Test. Matera scored two tries, and then won a crucial breakdown penalty inside the last 10 minutes that allowed 13-man Argentina to kick for touch and spend some crucial minutes inside Wallabies territory.
If you were picking a World Rugby XV loose-forward trio from the past decade, Matera would be firmly in the conversation.
The Wallabies lacked a bit of composure in the final 10 minutes, but will also be wondering why Argentinian breakdown offences that would have been penalised in the first 70 minutes were suddenly deemed legitimate: winger Rodrigo Isgro was clearly lying on his back on the ground as he pawed the ball back in the 77th minute of play.
A draw in Argentina with a much-changed team is no bad thing, but the Wallabies will be frustrated they didn’t get more.
The Tupou scrum switch that changed momentum
Taniela Tupou was impressive before being replaced in the 51st minute: he has clearly come back from France in better form.
But from the 51st minute, the Wallabies scrum lost its edge and was on the back foot in the crucial last 10 minutes.
With Massimo de Lutiis and new hooker Josh Nasser on the field, the Wallabies immediately copped a free-kick at the scrum and Los Pumas translated that into their best period of the game, scoring two tries.
Replacement loosehead Aidan Ross couldn’t change the momentum either, and overall, there was a performance dip from the replacement front row. It was a good reminder that despite de Lutiis’ enormous potential, nothing can beat hard-won experience in the Test arena.
As for Tupou, he matched his scrummaging efforts with some powerful defence – he will desperately be needed against the Springboks later this month.
The selection that didn’t work
Filipo Daugunu won a superb breakdown penalty with the Wallabies under pressure in the second half, but even he would probably concede he didn’t have his best night.
He dropped the ball cold from the start of the Test and struggled in the air against Los Pumas No.14 Isgro.
It wasn’t really a night for the outside backs on either team, but Daugunu looks increasingly suited to a midfield role or a bench option.
He made some strong carries close to the ruck, but the aerial game has become a core component of Test rugby.
Max Jorgensen looked more of a threat on the Wallabies’ right edge, and the Wallabies No.11 jersey appears to have Mark Nawaqanitawase’s name all over it when he returns to the fold.
Reds want Kiwis for Anzac Super clash
The Queensland Reds are hoping for Kiwi opposition for a Super Rugby clash one or two days before the Bledisloe Cup on Anzac Day in Brisbane next year: even without their Test stars.
Reds chief executive David Hanham told the Herald: “They [Rugby Australia and NZ Rugby] are working on a plan to try and maximise that weekend,” Hanham said.
“Ideally, you would have a Super Rugby match that weekend, obviously involving the Reds, and then the Anzac Bledisloe on the Sunday afternoon. That’s great for us because you’d be bringing people over to Brisbane on a Friday or a Saturday, to watch the Reds play hopefully a Kiwi team and then stick around for the main game.”
The Reds could be without a dozen Test players for the fixture, but Reds general manager of high performance Sam Cordingley is fine with that.
“We’re not afraid of how that looks – not dissimilar to how the NRL operates with Origin,” he said.
“A lot of young [NRL] players get their opportunity to develop when Origin is on. We’ve got an eye on what the team may look like without the Reds’ Wallabies within that [Anzac weekend] game. That just forces us to build our depth and focus on the talent development from underneath.”
Springboks win All Blacks series – but that gap is closing
South Africa’s 29-24 win against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Sunday morning sealed the series. Next week’s Test in Baltimore is effectively a commercial venture.
The win confirmed that the Springboks remain the world’s best team, but the lead they had before the series started appears to have narrowed.
The All Blacks have had little problem finding a way around the Springboks’ defensive rush, scoring 13 tries in just three Tests. And with Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Shannon Frizell still to return – and Richie Mo’unga waiting in the wings – the All Blacks look like a team on the up under coach Dave Rennie.
Paul Cully is a rugby columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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