Like we saw last week, great seeing the home side open the scoring account first followed by the penalty goal. However, the Pumas have struck back where both teams share the scoreboard at half-time 10-10. Pumas went on to lead for the first time while Wallabies have closed in on them thanks to Nic White off the back of his own scrum before Pumas extended their lead a bit further via the three-point penalty goal with 10 minutes left to go.
Although there was hope for the home crowd thanks to back-to-back tries from Samu Kerevi as well as an intercepted sensation by Mark Nawaqanitawase, but sadly, Wallabies walked away as the losing team to the Pumas who tasted victory yet again 31-34 on the same ground that saw them defeat the All Blacks for the first time back in late 2020.
Yes, Pumas scored the winning TRY towards the end and the ref Jaco Peyper approved it, even though it took him some time to see whether if it was held up. But then it wasn’t when Martin Gonzalez clearly put the ball down after that despite vague grounding beforehand & that left all of the Wallabies players & fans fuming.
It’s hard to look back in disbelief but the form right now under Eddie Jones’s 2nd match back as head coach is still bad at worse, having saw Australia A’s loss to a full Tongan side the other day 27-21 where that squad was full of Super Rugby experience & thought they can do any better than that to win this match.
The Rugby Championship hopes may be impossible now, but there’s always two Bledisloe Cup games ahead v All Blacks beginning at the MCG in Melbourne towards the the 29th of this month.
Jerónimo De La Fuente played a huge influence that helped his Pumas side get the ball rolling at No.12 (Inside Centre). He has been so vocal when it comes to his side’s attacking line while his forwards work their way through every metre of the Wallabies own territory. That way, he knows where to find that sweet spot before the Wallabies couldn’t get on hold of him that includes a TRY by himself to level the scoreboard. Now he might have got an early mark but his vast experience & leadership to this dressing room has been valuable that saw the Pumas knock out Wallabies with the win in Parramatta.
Tomas Lavinini also worked so hard on the Pumas second row at No.5. He’s got tremendous physicality alongside the towering reach where not only Tomas got a good glimpse of the Wallabies body language at the other end, but he also helped maintain his side’s attacking momentum with patience as well. The tries were there to take under his watch that helped his side keep in check even though that game-winning TRY towards full-time has some controversy all over it. Despite this, he credits the communication & support play that got the best out of him.
And Mark Nawaqanitawase has lifted the Wallabies hopes up thanks to his intercept TRY on the right-wing. He backed them up really well back and forth as being tested that saw him rise through the Waratahs ranks over the last 1-2 years. What’s best about him is the way he finishes off with pace & that’s got his supporters pumping every time he scores a TRY. It’s a shame that the match ended with another loss after the last TRY drama to the Pumas, but they still haven’t won so far this year thanks to their lopsided attacking play.