International

Wallabies secure comeback victory over Argentina despite Cooper injury

Published

3 hours ago

August 7, 2024

Huge Rugby

The Wallabies have mounted an impressive comeback to take a 41-26 win over Argentina in Mendoza.

Dave Rennie’s men were stunned early on as Pablo Matera and the Pumas struck first, taking a quick 10-3 lead.

Don’t miss out! Purchase your tickets for the O’Reilly Cup andRugby Championship

A penalty try and a yellow card to lock Matías Alemanno in the second half proved the key turning point as the visitors charged into the lead thanks to dominant showings from man of the match Rob Valetini and Folau Fainga’a.

Len Ikitau’s late try helped seal the bonus point and the win for the Wallabies, although it came at a cost with the loss of Quade Cooper to a suspected lower leg injury.

Cooper was arguably the Wallabies’ best in the first half as Pablo Matera opened the scoring for the Pumas in the fifth minute.

The returning flyhalf made his mark instantly as he nailed a penalty, before Emiliano Boffelli hit back with two of his own.

Needing a response, Cooper came up with a piece of magic, drawing the defenders in before finding Jordan Petaia as the winger dived over the line to reduce the margin.

Dave Rennie’s men continued to go onto the attack, however a lack of execution and a growing penalty stifled their opportunities.

Cooper continued his strong first half as he burst through the line, before a loose pass brought them undone.

Five minutes later, the Japanese-based flyhalf stepped and went close, however, a trademark flick hit James Slipper in the head and caused the turnover.

This allowed Boffelli to add his third penalty of the night as they fed off a strong crowd in Mendoza.

Some excellent work from Darcy Swain at the rolling maul shut down a threatening attack from Los Pumas, before Boffelli’s fourth gave the hosts a 19-10 lead at the break.

Needing a spark, some exciting interchange between Tom Wright and Jordan Petaia almost produced a try, before they were stung by the loss of Cooper.

The injury failed to stop their momentum as Fraser McReight stepped up in Michael Hooper’s absence to dive over the line.

With the visitors on the attack, Argentina produced some exciting counter-attack to break open the game, with Juan Martín González Samso finishing off in the corner.

They eventually got the opportunity they deserved when the forwards combined for a penalty try from the rolling maul.

Lock Matías Alemanno was yellow carded as a result, with the long boot of Reece Hodge’s putting the Wallabies in front for the first time in the game.

With the hosts still down a man, Folau Fainga’a capped off his strong performance with a trademark try from the rolling maul to push the lead past a converted try.

It set up a remarkable finish with the result well and truly secured as both teams hunted for a bonus point; Argentina a losing one and a three-try bonus point for the Wallabies.

Both teams decided to throw the ball around at will with players gassed as Nick Frost somehow won the race to a kick, before Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau connected to cap off an incredible win.

“I thought we were far more clinical (in the second half), we applied a lot more pressure…really happy with how we finished,” coach Dave Rennie said after the match.

“We battled to do that consistently against the English so it’s a start but we have more in us but really happy with the character, we had a couple of late changes and losing a key guy within the game.

“That’s the thing about this group, there’s a lot of character and courage and they stood up.”

WALLABIES 41

TRIES: Petaia, McReight, Penalty try, Fainga’a, Ikitau

CONS: Cooper 1/1, Hodge 3/3

PENS: Cooper 1/1, Hodge 1/1

ARGENTINA 26

TRIES: Matera, González Samso

CONS: Boffelli 2/2

PENS: Boffelli 4/5

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martín González Samso, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Matias Moroni.

Australia:15 Tom Wright, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper (captain)

Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Jake Gordon, 23 Reece Hodge.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Chris Busby (Ireland)

TMO:Marius van der Westhuizen [South Africa]

Content & Images from - Australia Rugby

Related Topics:Argentina Australia Australia RSS England Featured Ireland Rugby Scotland South Africa Springboks Wallabies

Don't Miss

All Blacks defeated in Mbombela by SA

#AD

International

All Blacks defeated in Mbombela by SA

Published

3 hours ago

August 7, 2024

Huge Rugby

Competing with an unrelenting defensive display, South Africa beat the All Blacks 26-10 in a Lipovitan D Rugby Championship Test in Mbombela that will be known as the Turnover Test.

Hamstrung by a lack of possession, and unable to have any impact in achieving their flow, the All Blacks were unable to find any answers in a Test which for the 53 minutes saw the breakdown become the domain of Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx.

Over the ball he was consistently the man who put the All Blacks on the back foot, and when backed with determination at the tackle by the rest of the side, there was no way through until the 76^th minute.

That came when wing Caleb Clarke was able to make a break. South Africa’s defensive determination was exemplified by fullback Damian Willemse who managed to pull Clarke down short of the line.

But replacement flanker Shannon Frizell was quick to the tackle and grabbed the ball to score a try at last.

As much as Marx was so dominant the All Blacks too often conceded easy ball to the home side.

Such was South Africa’s defensive intensity that they quickly latched onto any sniff of a chance and the All Blacks were guilty of feeding that hunger with too many loose passes – the result of their frustrations.

Clarke and Will Jordan were largely anonymous although one dangerous break by Jordan saw his ankles clipped just as he seemed ready to get clear.

Knock-ons compounded the situation and continued a trend that saw the All Blacks the worst offenders at knock-ons in the July Tests.

Second five-eighths David Havili, replacement hooker Dane Coles each lost ball in promising situations and it was almost symbolic of the game that in the last act Frizell knocked the ball on and replacement fullback Willie le Roux was on hand to grab the ball to score a soft try.

Penalties within goal-kicking positions also added to the self-inflicted pressure they found themselves under.

Springboks first five-eighth Handré Pollard landing three penalty goals and a dropped goal to keep the margin widening as he passed 100 points against the All Blacks with his first penalty goal.

While conceding a try in the eighth minute, it wasn’t a poor start to rank with those the All Blacks suffered in the second and third Tests against Ireland. Rather it was a case of being unable to prise the ball away from the Boks pack.

There were still frustrations with mistakes made in promising situations, and in the face of Springbok scrum pressure, with penalties conceded.

Under those circumstances containing them to 10 points in the first half was something of a triumph.

In the first quarter the All Blacks only had 22 per cent of possession which improved to 44 per cent by the break while South Africa enjoyed 58-42 territory advantage. However, by stringing more moves together in the second quarter the All Blacks forced the Springboks to make 55 tackles to 67.

The effort told in the last 10 minutes of the half as the big South African forwards showed the effects of the struggle. However, they worked their substitutions well to keep the pack fresh in the second half.

South Africa also had to make up for the 40-second loss of halfback Faf de Klerk, playing on his home ground. In attempting a tackle of wing Caleb Clarke his head clashed with Clarke’s knee and he was stretchered from the field.

In the case of all class sides, replacement Jaden Hendrikse, in his fifth Test, proved up to the task with an impressive display.

South Africa’s first try came from using their scrum to effect. Then Pollard launched a high kick outside the All Blacks 22m area, pint-sized wing Kurt-Lee Arendse contested with Jordie Barrett and the ball fell to centre Lukhanyo Am. Arendse was quickly in support and ran 22m in open space to score in the eighth minute.

Arendse marred an impressive display with seven minutes left when receiving a red card for taking Beauden Barrett out under a high ball.

Scorers: South Africa 26 (Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie Le Roux tries; Handré Pollard 2 con, 3 pen, dropped goal) New Zealand (Shannon Frizell try; Jordie Barrett pen; Richie Mo’unga con). HT: 10-3

Content & Images from - New Zealand Rugby

International

Wallabies Statement: Michael Hooper

Published

1 day ago

August 6, 2024

Huge Rugby

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has withdrawn from tomorrow’s Test and will be returning to Australia due to personal reasons.

The 121-Test openside flanker believes he’s not in the mindset to fulfill the responsibility that goes with leading and representing his country at this point in time.

He has addressed his teammates to tell them and that he has the utmost confidence in the group to get the job done tomorrow in Mendoza.

Fellow Test centurion James Slipper will lead the side in Mendoza tomorrow afternoon (local time), while Fraser McReight will replace Hooper in the number seven jersey.

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said: “While this decision did not come easily I know it is the right one for me and the team at this point in time.”

“My whole career I’ve looked to put the team first and I don’t feel I am able to fulfill my responsibilities at the moment in my current mindset.”

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “Michael’s one of the most professional and impressive men I’ve coached I know this has been a difficult decision for him.”

“He’s shown true courage by acknowledging where he is at and acting on it.

“We will support him in any way we can and I know the team will be focused on getting the job done tomorrow.”

Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said: “Michael is an incredible leader, it takes a brave man to identify where he’s at and come forward whilst having the best interests of the team at heart.”

“His wellbeing is and remains the highest priority right now where Rugby Australia and the Australian Rugby community will do everything to support him and his family.”

Rugby Australia requests Michael and his family’s privacy is respected at this time.

Content & Images from - Australia Rugby

International

Holloway to debut as Cooper returns for Wallabies in Argentina

Published

2 days ago

August 5, 2024

Huge Rugby

Waratahs backrower Jed Holloway will make his Test debut at age 29, named to start at blindside flanker for the Wallabies against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday afternoon (local time).

He’s one of two players named in their first Australian matchday 23, with Melbourne Rebels prop Matt Gibbon set to make his debut off the pine as the loosehead prop cover.

Playmaker Quade Cooper returns to the team, looking for his first minutes in a gold jersey this year after making a full recovery from a calf strain. He’ll wear the number 10 jersey and partner the in-form Nic White in the halves.

After impressive form in the England Series, Tom Wright will wear the number 15 jersey for the first time in a Test, with the electric Jordan Petaia and powerful Marika Koroibete on the wings, completing the back three.

An all-Brumbies front row sees hooker Folau Fainga’a earn his first start of 2022, with Test centurion James Slipper and stalwart Allan Alaalatoa named as the starting props.

Darcy Swain is another who returns to the team after serving his suspension and is set to reignite his second-row combination alongside workhorse Matt Philip.

Yamba product Holloway is joined in the backrow by captain Michael Hooper who will surpass former teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper as the third most-capped Wallaby of all time when he runs out for his 122nd Test match at Estadio Malvinas in Mendoza in the familiar number seven. The ever-improving Rob Valetini will anchor the scrum for the 14th consecutive time at no. 8.

The hard-hitting Hunter Paisami will slot in at inside centre, with Len Ikitau back in the starting line-up as his midfield partner, the pair having last started together for the country against Wales last year.

The mobile Lachlan Lonergan will also play his first Test of the year as the reserve hooker, with fan-favourite Taniela Tupou the prop cover alongside Gibbon.

A 6-2 bench split, sees the dynamic Nick Frost named to cover the second row, with Melbourne-born duo of Rob Leota and Pete Samu the remaining forward cover.

New South Wales captain Jake Gordon will bring energy as the finishing scrumhalf, while Reece Hodge’s versatility will again be called on as the other backline replacement.

The Test marks the beginning of the team’s eToro Rugby Championship campaign, with home Tests against South Africa and New Zealand from later this month.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “We’ve had a strong week of preparation over here in Argentina and we are highly motivated to put on a performance that makes our supporters proud back home in Australia.”

“It’s an extremely special occasion for Jed, Matt and their families and it’s up to the rest of us to make sure it’s a positive memory on their Test debuts.

“Argentina will be full of confidence after their home series win over Scotland and we know we’ll need to be at our best to get a good result on Saturday afternoon.”

Every Wallabies Test will be ad-free, live and on-demand with extended coverage on Stan Sport. Every home Wallabies Test will also be live, free-to-air on the Nine Network.