Rugby Union: Errors cost the Wallabies

Argentina beat Australia 18-16 in the second Test match in Buenos Aires on Saturday to level their two-match series.

Each team scored two first-half tries, with Owen Finegan and Ben Tune crossing for the Australians and Agustin Pichot and Rolando Martin touching down for the home side.

The difference between the teams came down to goal-kicking as Diego Giannantonio landed two penalties and a conversion while the David Knox managed only two penalties. The Australian stand-off may miss the Wallabies' two-match tour of Britain after badly dislocating a finger in the closing stages.

Argentina led 15-13 at half-time and managed to hold on during a tight second half which saw the two sides limited to a penalty apiece.

"We have no excuses," said the Australian coach Rod Macqueen. "We simply made far too many errors.

"I still need more time to determine the best style of play for our team."

Australia's captain, John Eales, said the Argentinian team had closely analysed the first Test, and made important changes. "They were very motivated and played well, but we dropped far too much ball for a team playing at this level," he said.

The International Rugby Board has backed a New Zealand proposal for a world sevens circuit. It is hoped to be in place by December 1998. Last week, the Rugby Football Union said that England would not take part in any sevens tournaments for the next two years.