by The Wallabies lost to Argentina in the Rugby Championship, dropping their biggest ever points (67-27) in Santa Fe. Despite leading 20-3 early, Australia gave up 64 points in the second half, a far cry from their 53-8 defeat to South Africa in Johannesburg in 2009, but one that will nonetheless leave new coach Joe Schmidt furious.
Lamenting the loss of his front two rows Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou in the second half, Schmidt admitted his side had “fallen off a cliff” as the Argentinians scored nine tries, showing the slick play that shocked New Zealand in the opening round of the TRC. A tough task now lies ahead as the shattered Wallabies team try to pick up the pieces before the Bledisloe Cup series against New Zealand begins on September 21.
The 40-point defeat was all the more remarkable given Australia’s early dominance. Jeremy Williams opened the scoring with a spectacular strike that AFL player Isaac Heeney would have killed for and Harry Wilson, in his second Test as captain, led the gold rush through the middle while winger Max Jorgensen opened up Argentina on the edges.
Related: Wallabies show character to claim ugly win and spark Rugby Championship | Angus Fontaine
After penalties were traded between the two teams, Australia took a 10-3 lead when Carlo Tizzano capitalised on a Ben Donaldson breakthrough and Angus Bell’s push at the line. The Wallabies made it 20-3 when Donaldson rushed short-side and quick hands found Jorgensen who slotted a second try for Andrew Kellaway on 30 minutes.
But that was the only result for the golden men. After 20 consecutive points for the visitors, Argentina responded with 14 tries of their own, through Carreras and Montoya, in his 100th test, to bring the half-time score to 20-17. Up until that point, the honours had been evenly matched, with a 50 per cent share of possession between the two teams despite Australia’s dominance.
The Pumas then took over the Brigadier General Estanislao López stadium, nicknamed the Elephant Graveyard, and saw a flurry of local tries highlight the gulf between the sixth and eighth ranked teams in the world. Dominant at the back of the scrum, the Argentinians soon began to dominate every collision and the Australian set-pieces, superb until then, were shattered by the exits of Bell and Tupou.
The comeback points quickly turned into torrents. Matera scored, then Albornoz, then Oviedo, and Australia saw their 17-point lead turn into a huge 21-point deficit. In the final 10 minutes, Los Pumas accelerated their lead even further, scoring four tries with quick hands, energy and initiative.
Australia completely collapsed, with only a solo try from replacement halfback Tate McDermott slowing the onslaught. Argentina scored 50 with ease, then 60 at a gallop and scored at will, with Oviedo and Mallia each scoring a brace, when the siren sounded on a remarkable 64-7 turnaround in the final 50 minutes of the Test.
Related: Wallabies stage dramatic comeback to beat Argentina thanks to last-minute penalty
“There were aspects that were really good,” a shell-shocked Schmidt said afterwards. “Obviously to go down 20-3 in a Test match and get crushed in the way we did is really disappointing. We can’t let a game get away from us like it did and knock us flat.”
“We lost touch with our defensive line. We were chasing them all the time. We didn’t put enough pressure on the defenses, so they were operating with lightning speed, and it’s too hard to keep chasing a team on a hot day when they have the ball and they’re moving forward.”
Schmidt must now try to rebuild his shattered team for the Bledisloe Cup which begins in a fortnight. The chance to win back-to-back away tests has been squandered, as has the opportunity to move up to second in the Rugby Championship standings. The angry black mass that is the All Blacks now looms on the horizon.
