Rugby - Pumas loss could be instrumental to World Cup performances

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Argentina's Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias in action. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

SALTA, Argentina (Reuters) - Argentina finished the 2018 Rugby Championship with their biggest points haul but a second-half capitulation against Australia in Salta in their final match means it will not feel like a success.

The Pumas were leading 31-7 at halftime after scoring four tries and a penalty but were overrun in the second half and could only manage a penalty to counter Australia's five tries.

The Pumas, who needed just a draw to guarantee the Australians finished in last place, ended up losing 45-34 in what was the biggest comeback in Rugby Championship history.

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Argentina's Agustin Creevy enters the field. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

"We played the way we wanted and the way we trained during the week," Pumas lock Guido Petti said of their first half performance. "But in the second half it was the opposite."

Despite the second half in Salta, the Argentines still performed better than expected this year, thanks in large part to new coach Mario Ledesma, who led his side to wins at home to South Africa and away to Australia.

Their inability throughout the championship to close down games from strong positions, however, was obvious and recurring and speaks to a lack of depth and perhaps also of fitness or focus.

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's Israel Folau in action against Argentina's Jeronimo de la Fuente. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

Saturday's loss could also either make or break a team who have been drawn in arguably the toughest pool at next year's World Cup where they face England, France, the United States and Tonga and flanker Pablo Matera said his team would have to use it as a lesson.

"We started off very well, we knew that if we did things right then we could hurt them," said Matera.

"At the end of the first half they started to play the ball from side to side, we lost focus and we couldn't get back into the game."

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's David Pocock in action against Argentina's Ramiro Herrera. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

"The only thing I wanted was for the team to play well again, end the Rugby Championship playing our own game, but when they started scoring tries our side lost focus and we had to chase them. Its very hard to take.

"We didn't end this as we wanted. We have to use this loss to get better."

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's Bernard Foley kicks the ball. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

(Reporting by Ramiro Scandolo, writing by Andrew Downie; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's celebrate at the end of the match. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's Bernard Foley tackles Javier Ortega Desio. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's Israel Folau in action. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's Will Genia in action. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun

Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - Argentina v Australia - Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta, Argentina - October 6, 2018 - Australia's Israel Folau in action. REUTERS/Florencia Tan Jun