Australia Snatch Dramatic Victory Over Argentina with Late Try in Townsville
TOWNSVILLE, NORTH QUEENSLAND – A stunning late try to Angus Bell secured a 28-24 victory for Australia over Argentina at North Queensland Stadium on Saturday, completing a remarkable comeback from a 14-point halftime deficit. The Wallabies’ clinical second-half performance denied the Pumas their first win on Australian soil in over a decade.
the match, a key fixture in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup, showcased Argentina’s early dominance and Australia’s resilience. The result underscores the Wallabies’ capacity for dramatic shifts in momentum and provides a significant confidence boost as they prepare for the challenges ahead, while leaving Argentina to rue missed opportunities and a costly yellow card.
Argentina controlled the first half, establishing a commanding 21-7 lead by the break. Santiago Carreras contributed two penalty goals in the 4th and 11th minutes, followed by tries from Bautista Delguy (28th minute) and Mateo Carreras (32nd minute), with Carreras successfully converting his own try and adding another penalty goal in the 35th minute.
Australia emerged from halftime with renewed vigour. Nic White scored a converted try in the 22nd minute, and Joseph-Aukuso suaali’i added two tries in the 46th and 63rd minutes, both converted by james O’Connor, leveling the scores at 21-21. A late penalty goal by Argentina’s Mallia in the 78th minute briefly restored their lead, but australia refused to yield.
The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when Angus Bell powered over the line.O’Connor’s subsequent conversion in the 87th minute sealed the 28-24 win for the Wallabies. Argentina’s Mateo Carreras was shown a yellow card in the 61st minute, impacting their momentum during a crucial period of the match.
Teams:
Australia: 1 Tom Robertson, 2 Billy pollard, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Tom Hooper, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 9 nic White, 10 Tom Lynagh, 11 Corey toole, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Max Jorgensen, 15 Andrew Kellaway.
Reserves: 16 Binnani-pree colle, 17, 1938, 2013, 20A.
Argentina: 1 Mayco vivas, 2 julian Montoya, 13 Lucio Cintius, 14 Baptist Delguy.
Reserves: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Joaquin Ovideo, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Geronimo Prisciatelli, 23 Benjamin Elizalde.
