“It’s a massive disappointment. We want to earn the respect of the country and you don’t do it with performances like that.
“We had a good enough side on the paddock tonight to do the job. We gave them a few soft points early on, clawed our way back into it. We’ve got to be better. While we know we’ll get a few guys back, whoever puts the jersey on has to front. We weren’t good enough today.”
‘Not good enough’: The Wallabies have gone down to Argentina by a record margin in San Juan.Credit:Getty
The Wallabies were their own worst enemies, and mistakes, poor decision-making and ill-discipline gave the Pumas too many easy tries and plenty of attacking territory. Argentina scored three times through Australian handling errors, and easy runaway tries.
Australia had chances to get back into the match but were denied a try in each half, both to questionable refereeing calls. A James O’Connor effort in the first half, which would have taken Australia into the lead, was denied due to a clean out by James Slipper, and Jordan Petaia was denied in the second half despite footage appearing to show he’d scored.
The Pumas were undeniably the deserved victors, however. They were more aggressive and determined throughout. An unseasonably hot and sunny day, which saw the temperatures climb to 24 degrees, appeared to sap the Wallabies of energy early in the game.
Tries in the 77th and 81st minute to Argentina sent the crowd wild, and rubbed a mountain of salt in the Wallabies’ wounds.
The only upside for the Wallabies was they didn’t appear to lose any more players to injury ahead of a clash with the South Africans in Adelaide in two weeks.
The Wallabies trailed 26-10 after a disastrous first half where they conceded four tries through hair-pulling errors – and it could have been more.
Fans had barely taken their seats at Estadio Bicentennial when the Pumas raced in a first-minute try, gifted to Juan Imhoff when his grubber down the left sideline was collected by Jordy Petaia, but then knocked on by Tom Wright via a rushed Petaia offload. Imhoff caught the loose ball and scored.
Wright was again involved in the Pumas’ second try just four minutes later, when the hosts caught the fullback out of position and secured at 50-22. From the lineout and a few charging phases, prop Thomas Gallo bounced out of an ineffective Taniela Tupou tackle and scored under the sticks.
At 14-0 after five minutes, the locals were ecstatic but the Wallabies eventually got some possession and built pressure. Turning down points, they went to the lineout but didn’t maul, instead releasing Rob Valetini for a run at the tail. He was dragged down just short but James Slipper picked-and-drove and scored his second Test try.
Pablo Matera, left, and Darcy Swain, fri for possession.Credit:Getty
O’Connor bagged a penalty and things began to settle, and when O’Connor crossed for a try, the Wallabies could have led. But it was disallowed by the referee for Slipper’s actions in cleaning out a Pumas forward at the previous ruck, when he was deemed to have taken him past the horizontal.
Poor discipline invited the Pumas into Australia’s half and though the Wallabies repelled a driving maul near their line, the close-channel defense was found wanting, and Jeromino de la Fuente scooted through a gap. He tore his hamstring on the way to the line but still scored.
Australia had a chance to score soon after following a Len Ikitau line break but a poorly judged pick from Fraser McReight saw him stopped just short and without support. The ball was turned over.
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Australia’s inability to secure high balls was a real problem and it bit them again when Argentina scored their fourth from a Pumas bomb, which was not caught by the Wallabies and again led to another runaway try to Juan Martin Gonzalez.
Remarkably, yet another high ball was botched soon after and Emiliano Boffelli raced to the line but Marika Koroibete saved the day with a desperate tackle, just managing to dislodge the ball as the Pumas winger reached the line.
Australia had the last chance to score after the halftime siren but having turned down three points, they then botched the lineout and got nothing.
The second half was a tighter affair, and Australia seemed to attempt on tightening up and bridging the 16-point gap.
Petaia appeared to cross after a Rob Valetini break but was denied soon after play resumed, and it would be the Wallabies’ best chance.
The Pumas’ defense was superb in denying the Wallabies backs any gains, and the pressure saw the visitors make bad judgment calls in open-play, and invite the hosts back into their half. The fatigued Wallabies clawed one back through Len Ikitau but then collapsed in the final stages, conceding three tries in the last 14 minutes.