Wallabies break drought with dramatic upset win

Ben Donaldson kicked the match winning penalty as the final act of a stirring 20-19 Wallabies comeback victory against Argentina in rainy La Plata on Sunday (AEST).
Australia hammered away at the Argentina line as the clock approached 80 minutes and New Zealand referee James Doleman eventually awarded the penalty.
It was the first Wallabies win in the Rugby Championship since 2022 and keeps their faint title hopes alive at 1-2.
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Ben Donaldson of Australia kicks the penalty to win. Getty
“We’re a new team and we’ve been building,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson told Stan Sport.
“We had two tough games against South Africa and they’re the best in the world but I thought we showed a lot of improvement.
“Now to show some improvement against Argentina was awesome.”
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It was No.8 Wilson’s first Test as skipper.
Argentina led by nine points in the second half but the Wallabies rallied with a try to Rob Valetini and a conversion and penalty to Noah Lolesio to lead for the first time in the 58th minute.
The Pumas regained the lead at 19-17 in the 69th minute with a penalty to Tomas Albornoz and a win looked to have slipped through Australia’s fingers.
Australia pose with the trophy after winning the Rugby Championship match. Getty
But the Wallabies dug deep, held the ball for nine phases inside the Argentina 22 in the last minute and finally earned the penalty that clinched the game – after some confusion over whether there would be enough time on the clock for another kickoff.
“I’m just really delighted for the boys,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt told Stan Sport.
“They found a way to win. We had a pretty clear plan, particularly at halftime, in the conditions, with the wind. I felt we maybe missed a couple of opportunities that we created and it was going to be desperately frustrating if we didn’t get the win in the end.
“I was just delighted that we did get that final penalty and put it over.”
Schmidt was happy with his team’s scrum but was disappointed to concede another maul try and the restart receipts were a mess.
“But I was delighted with a couple of the tries that we did score.
Australia celebrates after winning the Rugby Championship match. Getty
“They were really well constructed… the buildup for that was incredible in these conditions because it is really breezy here tonight.
“I think we might even enjoy this one, just because we really had to fight to get it.”
Through persistent heavy rain, Argentina seemed to play a style better suited to the conditions than Australia for most of the game.
The Pumas defended well, though the Wallabies scored two tries to one.
Halfback Jake Gordon scored in the first half and Valetini at a vital moment in the second.
The Wallabies struggled at times to exit their own half and to make progress across the gain line.
But at the end they took their chance well.
Argentina led 13-7 at halftime with a try to No.8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, a conversion and two penalties to Santiago Carreras.
Another Carreras penalty five minutes into the second half stretched the lead to nine points.
A lineout during the Rugby Championship match. Getty
Australia found their way back into the match as it opened up and as it executed with more precision.
The loss was a sombre moment for Pumas veteran Agustin Creevy who took the field in the 73rd minute for his 110th Test and his last in his home town.
The 19 year veteran hooker was deployed at flanker as the Pumas had to reorganise their pack late in the match.
Agustin Creevy of Argentina greets the crowd in his last match with the team. Getty
The Pumas suffered a slight setback in the first minute when they lost lock Pedro Rubialo who failed a head injury assessment and was replaced by the experienced but fiery Tomas Lavanini.
Argentina came into the match with a 6-2 split on the reserves bench.
Carreras scored the first points of the match in the 10th minute, a penalty, and in the 15th minute Gonzalez scored the first try to give Argentina a 10-0 lead.
Tom Wright is tackled by Mateo Carreras in La Plata. AP
Halfback Gonzalo Bertranou intercepted a pass and, handling for a second time, kicked deep into Wallabies territory, then caught Tom Wright in possession five metres from the goal line.
Argentina won a penalty which they kicked to touch.
The first drive broke up but Gonzalez joined the drive when it regrouped and scored.
Australia’s Jake Gordon scores a try in La Plata. AP
The Wallabies rarely found their way into the Argentina 22 in the first half and when they did they encountered rigid defence.
But in the 28th minute, playing under penalty advantage, Len Ikitau created a little space and Tom Wright offloaded in a tackle to Gordon who scored under the posts.
Lolesio’s conversion cut the Pumas lead to three points but Carreras extended it to six points with his second penalty.
Lolesio missed a penalty at the edge of his range just before halftime.
But Carreras kicked his third to start the second half and increase the Pumas lead to nine points.
Australia finally found some space with quick ball in the 50th minute and created a superb try for Valetini.
Allan Alaalatoa handled twice and Gordon kept the ball in motion, picking out runners.
Ikitau beat tackles and Lolesio carried the ball strongly before Valetini drove over.
Lolesio converted and then kicked a penalty to give Australia their first lead at 17-16 in the 58th minute.
The Wallabies then held their nerve down the stretch.
The teams do battle again in Santa Fe next weekend.
Australia 20 (Jake Gordon, Rob Valetini tries; Noah Lolesio 2 conversions, penalty, Ben Donaldson penalty) Argentina 19 (Juan Martin Gonzalez try; Santiago Carreras conversion, 3 penalties, Tomas Albornoz penalty). HT: 7-13