The Rugby Championship: Bernard Foley stars as Australia beat Argentina 32-25 on Gold Coast
Last Updated: 13/09/14 4:14pm
Australia backed up their narrow victory over South Africa with a hard-fought 32-25 win over Argentina in a pulsating Rugby Championship clash on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
After beating the Springboks 24-23 in Perth last weekend Australia again found themselves in a fiercely-contested battle against a spirited Pumas side seeking their first win of the tournament.
The Wallabies successfully negotiated the challenge of the Pumas, though, to claim their second win of the tournament and move second in The Rugby Championship ladder following South Africa’s 14-10 defeat to the All Blacks earlier in the day.
Bernard Foley’s control from the kicking tee at an increasingly wet Cbus Super Stadium proved to be the difference, with the fly-half chalking up 17 points as opposed to the 10 kicked by his Argentine counterpart Nicolas Sanchez.
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper crossed the whitewash at the start of each half before Peter Betham added a third Australia try on the hour, but Ewen McKenzie’s side were never granted breathing space with Manuel Montero, Marcelo Bosch and Joaquin Tuculet scoring at crucial junctures for the Pumas.
Flanker Hooper gave Australia the lead inside two minutes, collecting an excellent flat pass from Foley before wriggling away from tacklers and stretches over the line.
Argentina’s riposte was emphatic as 22-year-old winger Montero vindicated his inclusion, escaping three defenders as he roared 55 metres down the left flank to touch down the opening try for the visitors.
Sanchez’s successful conversion handed Argentina the lead, though, it was short-lived as the Pumas’ discipline began to falter.
Testing conditions
After missing his first kick, Foley reset his radar and overcame the difficult conditions to add three penalties to Australia’s tally as they went into the break 14-7 up.
Again the Wallabies roared out of the blocks as Hooper broke free to race under the posts within four minutes of the restart.
Foley added the extras before entering a kicking duel with his opposite number Sanchez, the Argentinian pivot reducing their arrears to 11 points.
When Betham touched down in the right corner after a speedy break from scrum-half Nick Phipps it looked like Australia had successfully seen off the threat of the Pumas.
However, Daniel Hourcade’s side refused to lie down and as Saracens centre Marcelo Bosch forced his way over the line after a patient Pumas build-up.
Seven minutes later full-back Tuculet took advantage of an Australia spillage to touch down a third Argentina try and draw the visitors within four points of the hosts.
The pressure of moving towards a first ever victory in The Rugby Championship clearly took its toll on Sanchez as his conversion wobbled before ricocheting back off the woodwork.
A 74th minute penalty from Foley gave Australia a comfortable margin, which they held through to the full-time hooter.