Here’s Emma Kemp’s match report.
Summary
For the second time this Tri-Nations series Australia and Argentina grind out a draw. Neither have been particularly edifying spectacles, although this one did at least contain a couple of tries.
Draws - the pair between tonight’s protagonists, and the recent Bledisloe tie - have been a feature of international rugby recently. As have cards, and tonight was no exception with three yellows and one red during the course of a game that contained no spite, just its share of poorly directed shoulders.
From an Australian perspective tonight, as with the match a fortnight ago, was all about failing to capitalise on a wealth of possession and territory. Handling errors abounded, and although conditions were wretched, the level of skill on display was poor. Moreover, after failing to score a try against Argentina two weeks ago, or in tonight’s early stages, there seemed little appetite for a Plan B or an inventive solution to the challenge faced by the phenomenal black and blue wall in front of them.
That wall, Argentina’s magnificent defence, is the takeaway of this entire series. Over two matches they only conceded one try to Australia and when they defeated the All Blacks in that historic encounter last month, they defended so fiercely it was practically an attacking weapon. Time and again the best of Super Rugby tried and failed to find a way through the most disciplined and resolute line imaginable. Even without captain Matera and other big names the Pumas stuck to their task and refused to be cowed.
It is to Argentina’s credit that they even journeyed this far at all, in the circumstances. They leave with their reputations mightily enhanced.
That’s all from me for tonight. Let’s do this all again soon.
Australia 16-16 Argentina
Another draw! These sides just cannot be separated in this Tri-Nations series.
80+2 mins: The black and blue wall will not be passed. With Australia barging as hard as they dare around halfway nobody can make any ground. Eventually Hooper loses in contact and Argentina can counter down the left. That avenue is closed off so the Pumas head infield. To no avail...
80 mins: 20 seconds to go from the drop-out. The ball goes long to O;Connor and the Wallabies run it back. Can they score in one final play?
80 mins: Not for the first time this series all eyes are on Reece Hodge. From 48m in driving rain...the kick hangs wide to the right!
79 mins: Australia win good ball and set up a rolling maul which gives them an advantage. The Wallabies try to go through hands in midfield but make little ground and play is called back. From 45m out, near the right touchline, Reece Hodge has a kick for the match.
78 mins: Australia with the scrum on their own 22 and Argentina give it a red hot go but just as they look ready to force a penalty there’s a rest for the front rows coming up together. The second feed is more even but ends with the same result - until the touch judge intervenes and the referee’s arm points Australia’s way. The clearing kick goes just beyond halfway.
77 mins: Attacking lineout for Argentina, near Australia’s 22. Two drives off the back and the ball is lost in contact by Simone. Gah. Just call this a draw and let us all go home and never speak of this again.
75 mins: Wonky through from Fainga’a and all the air is released from Australia’s balloon. In response, Miotti bombs a massive garryowen from the restart that Australia do well to defuse, but it’s a major territorial gain for Argentina with the clock ticking down.
73 mins: Argentina take an age over the scrum feed on their own 22, and after a huge shove from the Wallabies they are forced to hack clear down the blind side, the right. The ball is kicked straight back, but it’s aimless, and the Pumas clear their lines down the left to near halfway.
“What a shambles, from the Wallabies. They must make more errors than any other international side,” emails Martin Turnbull. In this series sample of three international sides the answer is a clear yes.
72 mins: Australia keep the ball in hand inside Argentina’s half. After a couple of slow phases they find a break through Taniela Tupou, but just as some momentum was building O’Connor drops a soda and there’s another set-piece. The rain is relentless, but even so, the number of errors and lack of cohesion is alarming.
There’s a break in play while White receives some treatment.
“It seems to me that the only time any progress is made is when the ref awards penalties,” emails Steve Griggs. “And there does seem to be an awful lot of them. Who is the ref by the way?” Australian Angus Gardner.
71 mins: The game is ragged and fractured now, and it suits Australia, who win a kicking exchange in the rain before almost finding space on the left when they go through hands. A nifty Argentinian interception stymies that move, but play is recalled for an earlier knock-on. Wallabies with the attacking scrum.
TRY! Australia 16-16 Argentina (Hooper 69)
Australia again kick to the corner and with 14 against 14 they flex their muscles after a long run of sustained pressure. Once more it’s a safe lineout followed by a rolling maul, and this time it works! Hooper emerging from the melee with the ball.
Hodge levels the scores with a fine conversion from near the right touchline.
Yellow card! (Argentina)
68 mins: Another solid lineout, and another attempted maul, but Argentina are wise to it. Australia won’t be put off though and keep the maul alive until they’re inches from the line. Finally someone peels off to dart for the line. He’s repelled, and when the next attempted pass to a runner is sent there’s a Puma offside. The yellow card for a professional foul is straightforward.
Updated
66 mins: The diminutive White does well to disrupt Argentina following the lineout and Australia gain an attacking lineout of their own. Can they capitalise? They win clean ball and mount a rolling maul that gathers momentum until it’s halted 5m from the line. When the ball comes out White spills it! But there’s a penalty advantage and Australia continue to attack, kicking to the right corner.
65 mins: Following that knock-on there’s a penalty to Argentina on their own scrum feed. From a marauding Wallabies attack to a Pumas lineout on halfway in a matter of seconds. Dave Rennie must be ropable.
63 mins: The Wallabies, all 14 of them, win the restart and set up camp inside Argentina’s 22. They secure slow ball and try to grind their way home inch by inch... until they knock-on in contact. Plus ca change.
This has not been a great advert for Australia’s skills coaches.
Penalty! Australia 9-16 Argentina (Miotti 61)
Miotti rubs salt into the wound with an excellent penalty, kicking cleanly through the ball from 40m out in the driving rain.
Grondona is off for an HIA.
RED CARD! Salakaia-Loto (60)
High shot, direct contact to the head, with force, no mitigating factors... Salakaia-Loto sees red and the Wallabies will play the final quarter with 14 men.
60 mins: Deep in defence Argentina are scrambling but Ecurra has enough time to box kick, and it’s a kick the flying Koroibete knocks on in the air. Another slow phase is kicked away and after claiming the high ball this time Hodge then loses it in contact. Deary me.
Argentina go through hands for a change around halfway, until the move is unceremoniously ended by a high shot from Salakaia-Loto on Grondona. This will be another card...
59 mins: Argentina take their time over the penalty and kick to halfway, but they make a mess of the lineout and Australia attack. This time they go for the early kick over the line but the bounce is favourable for Argentina and they clear. O’Connor regathers possession and goes to his boot again, pumping the ball into the left corner.
Sanchez has left the field for a second and final time tonight, limping and grimacing. What a series he’s had.
56 mins: After clearing their lines Australia’s lineout is messy and with the rain cascading down in stair-rods Argentina hack forward and force a set-piece of their own. Surprisingly, after securing it they choose to run through midfield and they quickly live to regret it as the Wallabies swarm all over them and Delguy is forced to accept contact and set up slow ball for a clearing kick. But they get even more when Salakaia-Loto is pinged for tackling the scrum-half without the ball.
54 mins: Superb restart and chase from Argentina sets up an attacking scrum on the right wing on Australia’s 22 - but the Wallabies earn a penalty! Someone in the Pumas front row dropped a knee and the crowd lifts a few decibels.
Penalty! Australia 9-13 Argentina (Hodge, 51)
Hodge makes no mistake with the penalty.
“Good morning from Portugal, Jonathan,” good evening from Australia, Geoff Wignall. “Re, “That 101-point winning margin looks a long way off.” Argentina don’t need to win by quite that many.” Quite! Just the 93 for the Pumas to top the All Blacks...
49 mins: Australia win a penalty at the scrum on halfway and try to make yards down the left wing. Guess what? They don’t. After heading infield there’s a free-kick that White tries to take quickly but he’s called back just as he’s shirt-fronted by Montoya.
Another good scrum from Australia and another penalty advantage. Play is eventually stopped and Hodge has another change to narrow the margin.
48 mins: Argentina are not just tackling the Wallabies, they are rag-dolling them all over the park. Petaia is flattened by Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo then another green jersey is ground into the dirt by a black and blue blur. This is thrilling defence.
46 mins: Australia steal the first lineout of the night but as soon as they try to run Simmons spills in contact and Argentina escape. The tackling is superb, but the ball skills are not of an international standard.
44 mins: Another kicking exchange is only partially interrupted by another failed Australian attack just inside their own half. This Argentina side will not be passed.
A further flurry of kicks ends with an Australian lineout on halfway. Hodge bombs superbly and the garryowen comes down with snow on it Australia’s way. White capitalises, dribbling to the corner.
Updated
42 mins: In driving rain it’s a minute-long game of kick-to-kick with neither side eager to run the slippery ball. Eventually Australia take the risk, running to their own 10m line but after a slow recycle Argentina step up and smash the ball carrier miles behind the gain line and the Wallabies cut their losses and kick.
41 mins: Here we go for the second 40...
Other things to chew over at the break...
- The pregame anthem is earning plaudits left right and centre. In case you missed it, Australia did a rendition of Advance Australia Fair in the local indigenous Eora language. Players had clearly learned the words and belted it with gusto.
- Two yellow cards (both nearer red than nothing, if the TMO chat is to be believed) raises questions about the execution of clearouts in the modern game. This has already been a series featuring plenty of cards remember.
- The rain is tumbling down in Sydney and isn’t going to encourage an open free flowing spectacle in the second half.
🖤💛❤️ AMAZING! SO PROUD! #AUSvARG #YourTeam #OurJourney #Wallabies pic.twitter.com/A65tCwrwG5
— Wallabies (@wallabies) December 5, 2020
Updated
Not the first half Dave Rennie would have hoped for. His side controlled possession and territory for 20 minutes but looked short of ideas to penetrate the incredible Argentina defence. They have now gone three halves without crossing for a try against the Pumas.
As the rain started to fall and Argentina’s Kremer hit the bin the momentum started to change. The game became more broken and the Pumas established a foothold at the set-pieces. Then Hooper saw yellow and Argentina struck superbly against 14 men, turning a lineout on their own 22 into a brilliant 80m try.
The Wallabies need to figure out a Plan B or C against this magnificent defence.
Half-time: Australia 6-13 Argentina
That 101-point winning margin looks a long way off.
Penalty! Australia 6-13 Argentina (Hodge 40+3)
Hodge narrows the deficit to seven points from point blank range.
40+2 mins: That knock-on from O’Connor’s tackle hands Australia a scrum feed in A1 position, 15m out in centre field. The first scrum is called off, then when it’s reset Argentina’s shove causes chaos but the Wallabies are reprieved when both front rows pop up. The third set is clean and White heads left to O’Connor who straightens and takes the contact 3m away from the line. An advantage quickly emerges as a series of short drives fail to puncture the defensive line and well after the siren Hooper accepts the kick for points.
39 mins: Australia restart with intent and take the game into Argentina’s territory. There’s a delay while Simmons is treated on the field, then for an Argentina scrum feed that’s reset twice. When they break O’Connor nails a superb tackle to force a handling error, but the counter ends before it begins with Petaia grassing White’s pass.
Hooper and Sanchez are both back on.
TRY! Australia 3-13 Argentina (Delguy 35)
Oh my. Argentina get rumbling with a rolling maul from the lineout on their own 22. Australia try to repeatedly disrupt it without much luck and by the time it splinters there’s space all over the field and an overlap on the right wing. They manage the breakaway with skill and in the blink of an eye Bautista Delguy is fending off Paisami with great force to run home the five points.
Miotti slots the conversion. Argentina flying against the 14-man Wallabies.
33 mins: Australia have been sloppy over the past ten or so minutes and the latest miscreant is Koroibete for tackling an Argentinian while he was in the air collecting the restart. The Wallabies make a fist of the resulting scrum, forcing the Pumas to kick for territory, setting up a chaotic passage of broken field play featuring Koroibete running hard back towards Argentina’s defensive line before the Pumas reclaim possession and mount a patient multi-phase possession that ends with a poor garryowen. The bomb somehow lands in the hands of Simmons, who instinctively kicks into the space behind Argentina and buys some handy territory.
Penalty! Australia 3-6 Argentina (Miotti 30)
Argentina don’t decline the second penalty attempt, and from 25m on a slight angle the HIA substitute Miotti makes no mistake.
30 mins: With Sanchez off the field Argentina decline the shot for goal and instead kick for the 22. It’s a scrappy lineout that looks to be a Puma knock-on, but the referee spots another ruck infringement from Hanigan and the hand is extended Argentina’s way.
Yellow card! Hooper (28)
There’s another long delay for a TMO review of a clearout. This time it’s for Michael Hooper driving his left shoulder into Sanchez’s face with some force. A card is coming, the only question is what colour... yellow.
Sanchez leaves the field for an HIA.
28 mins: In the pouring rain Australia’s scrum feed on their own 22 is set and reset. Eventually it’s released and the Wallabies go through hands from right wing to left before Koroibete is tackled. The Wallabies elect to kick for territory and Argentina respond in kind.
27 mins: Australia need some inspiration or a change of strategy. Plan A continues not to work and another handling error gifts Argentina a scrum on halfway. The set-piece features Kremer, whose sin-binning caused no damage.
The Pumas win the scrum and look dangerous when Sanchez takes the second pass and straightens up into the line. His offload to Orlando continues the move but the centre fumbles the slippery ball in the tackle.
25 mins: The Wallabies prosper again with another short lineout and mount an attack from the 22, but after heading from left to right, and then back again, they arrive exactly where the move started and O’Connor concedes a penalty at the breakdown. They have played over 100 fruitless minutes against this uncompromising defence now and they are starting to look a bit frustrated with their lot.
23 mins: Handling is becoming a real issue in this rain with the pill popping out like a bar of soap in contact. Argentina are the latest to fumble and after it slips through Isa’s grasp there’s space on the left wing but the Wallabies can’t pick the right passes and eventually run out of room. Argentina don’t execute a perfect lineout but do enough to win their own ball and provide a platform for Sanchez to kick out of trouble.
21 mins: Australia, seemingly frustrated at their inability to pierce the Argentina line, try to throw the ball around around halfway off the back of a ruck, but they splll the ball in the rain and a hack forward from the Pumas almost creates a try-scoring counterattack. The Wallabies scramble back, earn a penalty off their own scrum feed, and Hodge belts them to halfway.
Penalty! Australia 3-3 Argentina (Sanchez, 19)
For the first time tonight Argentina get a break when Hanigan is penalised for entering the maul from the side on halfway. Sanchez wastes not time pointing towards the posts, and he strikes a glorious long range effort that clips the right-hand upright and drops over to bring the scores level. Against the run of play would be an understatement.
Penalty! Australia 3-0 Argentina (Hodge, 17)
Reece Hodge smashes home the simple penalty and the Wallabies are on the board.
Yellow card! Kremer (16)
There was a long break in play while the TMO reviewed an attacking clearout for the Pumas inside Argentina’s half. And the verdict is a yellow card against Kremer for a dangerous cleanout with no hands against O’Connor. There was debate as to whether the colour should be red, but first contact was with O’Connor’s shoulder, not his head.
15 mins: Australia mount another attack down that right edge and Hooper steams into contact yards from the line, but after quick ball the next runner accepting contact - Phillip I think - spills under a strong tackle from Orlando.
It is a familiar tale for Australia so far. All the ball but no penetration. For Argentina it is yet another demonstration of their extraordinary defensive grit.
14 mins: Again Australia opt to kick for the corner after earning a penalty on the 22 - this time on the right wing. The lineout goes short and after a scrappy maul White releases the pass only to find an Argentina defender miles offside. The referee has a word to Jeronimo de la Fuente about the penalty count.
13 mins: It’s another good lineout, and another handy first drive up the guts, quickly rebuffed by the extraordinary defensive line. After trying to burrow their way over Australia go through hands and unfurl a handy midfield runaround combination play that threatens to free Wilson, but the Pumas defend stoutly and force the turnover. Deep in their own territory they can’t clear far though and eventually the ball comes straight back.
It showed attacking intent from Australia to kick to the corner earlier, but they may rue not kicking the three points.
10 mins: Some aerial ping-pong between Hodge and the Argentina backline ends in Australia’s favour for offside and they’re rewarded with a lineout on attacking 22. The set-piece is efficient and there’s a break in behind but that defensive line once again steps up and drills a green jersey backwards, sucking the life out of the move. With play stalling on the left wing the referee offers a penalty advantage to Australia for a blue jersey not rolling away quickly at the ruck, and they accept the gift, kickign to the corner.
8 mins: Argentina execute a solid set-piece and Sanchez stands behind it belting the ball over halfway. Australia win their own lineout ball but again, as they try to run it back, the defensive line absolutely marmalises the ball carrier and the attack soon turns into a hurried chase for another Sanchez kick.
6 mins: Simmons secures a not straightforward line out and O’Connor runs into the defensive line. Play is again slow through the middle before being sent to the left in hurried fashion. It’s all very static though and Koroibete is forced to accept contact infield. The phases continue to mount though, despite a lack of headway, and that patience is rewarded when Hooper makes a promising dart. From there the Wallabies flood right but White is soon pummelled by Alemanno like a grumpy Brown bear wrangling an unruly cub. Scrum to the Pumas.
4 mins: The opening scrum is set, then reset, but Australia hold their ground and head from right wing infield at pace before that formidable Argentina line steps up and smashes them backwards. The Wallabies are patient, continuing to run one-pass phases but the ball is slow and the gain-line is rarely threatened. Eventually Paisami throws a hopeful ball out wide but it doesn’t reach a teammate and Koroibete is swamped. But the counter-ruck is penalised and Australia kick to the corner.
1 mins: Argentina knock the ball on trying to pull the opening kick-off down with two Pumas leaping together and colliding mid-air. Not the best of starts.
Kick-off!
Angus Gardner blows his whistle and James O’Connor gets us underway in the final match of the 2020 Tri Nations...
The prematch ceremony includes a minute’s silence for former Australian internationals who have died in 2020, and special recognition of first nations Wallabies. This extended to two renditions of Advance Australia Fair, the first sung in the Eora language, by Olivia Fox, a singer from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. It was a brilliant touch, and I reckon sets a standard for future anthems around the country, featuring a rendition in a local indigenous language. Well done Rugby Australia.
And here come the Wallabies in their predominately green indigenous jerseys.
Rain has just started to fall over western Sydney.
Out run the Pumas onto Bankwest Stadium. Argentina are in their darker change uniform tonight that is a very natty black and blue number.
Conditions are volatile in Sydney’s western suburbs with thundery showers drifting through the region all day. More are expected during the 80-minutes which is likely to influence proceedings. Temperatures are in the mid-20s and there’s a northerly breeze.
¡Preparando el final! Movimientos en cancha antes de enfrentar a @wallabies. #PersonalTriNations2020#VamosLosPumas pic.twitter.com/mYtZGKK2bP
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) December 5, 2020
While southern hemisphere rugby is hardly in rude health, the spectacle appears to be in finer fettle than what’s been served up further north, as Paul Rees laments.
Coaches blame a lack of space on the field caused by players fanning out, but should they not take responsibility for union resembling league without the sixth-tackle law? Line breaks are frowned on because they put the ball carrier in danger of being isolated at a time when attacking teams have to repel raiders after a tackle, and so they reach for the skies. It is a failure of coaching at all levels.
“Emotionally it was a hard week,” admits Mario Ledesma, “and the whole month has been a rollercoaster... but I’m really proud with the group.”
What do the Pumas need to do tonight to convert effort into points? “The first thing we need to improve is the set-piece so we can set the tempo and control the game,” Ledesma said.
Bret Harris has filed the scene-setter.
The key to beating the Pumas is to not allow them to make a good start. The All Blacks made that mistake in their first Test against Argentina, resulting in a historic 25-15 defeat. While the All Blacks’ pre-game tribute to Maradona before the second Test was no doubt sincere, you would be naïve to think the Kiwis were not trying to suppress some of the Pumas’ emotion at the start of the contest with the gesture.
Bret has also written a piece on the importance of Australian rugby rediscovering a winning mentality at club level and using that as a springboard for international success.
The sad reality is they will never win anything of importance again until they start to think and act like winners in games that really matter.
Are the Wallabies even considering the 101 point victory? “We’re not thinking about that,” Dave Rennie tells Channel 10. “International rugby is an arm-wrestle.”
Rennie was full of confidence for the return of James O’Connor in the No.10 jersey. “James is our No.1 choice. We haven’t had access to him for the last three games but we think he’s the right person to drive us around.”
And finally, Rennie was asked whether tonight’s match was a good opportunity to draw a line under 2020. The coach was more interested in looking forward. “This is a performance as a springboard for next season,” he said. “The boys have worked really hard. Really happy with how they’ve prepared.”
The backstory to tonight’s contest has focussed mainly on the social media activity of Argentina skipper Pablo Matera. The forward was initially dropped from the XV and stood down from his leadership role after offensive tweets came to light, but as the week progressed he was reinstated as captain, but not added to the matchday squad.
Argentina XV
After a raft of changes for last week’s defeat at the hands of the All Blacks, Mario Ledesma has again shuffled his pack for the final match of Argentina’s tour. The list of new absentees includes inspirational captain Pablo Matera and lineout beast Guido Petti, while star scrumhalf Tomás Cubelli misses out for a second Test running.
Jeronimo de la Fuente will wear the captain’s armband.
¡Equipo confirmado! Estos serán los jugadores que saldrán a la cancha para disputar la última fecha del #PersonalTriNations ante @wallabies el próximo sábado 5/12 a las 5.45 h. pic.twitter.com/jtfEo5ZQnC
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) December 3, 2020
Wallabies XV
Fit-again James O’Connor comes straight back into the XV at five-eighth with Reece Hodge shifted back to fullback and Tom Banks relegated to the bench. Further forward Allan Alaalatoa starts at tighthead prop in place of Taniela Tupou.
After dominating the ball without scoring a try when they last took the park, there are heightened expectations that a more polished Australian backline turns up tonight.
🇦🇺 #YourTeam
— Wallabies (@wallabies) December 4, 2020
🗓️ Saturday 5 December 7:45PM AEDT⠀
🏟️ Bankwest Stadium, Sydney⠀
🎟️ Tickets: https://t.co/o7VbfHkteX⠀
📺 @Foxtel @Channel10AU #Wallabies #AUSvARG #OurJourney @eToro #TriNations pic.twitter.com/2I3h0kq58a
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Argentina on matchday six of the 2020 Tri-Nations series. Kick-off at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney is at 7.45pm local time.
Tonight marks the end of the hastily arranged but largely successful Tri Nations series. Unfortunately we’re faced with a dead rubber in the context of the series (unless the Wallabies can erase a points difference deficit of 101) but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty at stake. The last time these sides met they ground out a tryless 15-15 draw, so there’s a chance for one country to grab the upper-hand on the 2020 ledger.
Australia are still in the early stages of Dave Rennie’s tenure as head coach so the more exposure he has of his troops the better prepared they will be for more pressing tasks. While for the Pumas, a tour that featured an historic victory over the All Blacks and a backs-to-the-wall draw against the Wallabies deserves an appropriate finish. After suffering a beating at the hands of New Zealand last time out, they won’t want to leave Australian shores with their tails between their legs.
But after a controversial week (more on that later) Argentina will not have their full strength XV on the park. Australia, by contrast, are establishing a familiar unit, and will be able to call on James O’Connor at five-eighth in a fixture he will relish after a series of outings against New Zealand.
I’ll be back in a short while with line-ups and whatnot. If you want to get in touch at any point, you can reach me on Twitter or email.
