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Australia vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as Pumas beat Wallabies

Australia 31-34 Argentina: Juan Martin Gonzalez’s last-gasp try snatches victory for the Pumas in Sydney

Luke Baker
Saturday 15 July 2023 14:10 BST
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(AFP via Getty Images)

Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a late winner as Argentina stunned Australia 34-31 in the Rugby Championship to leave the Wallabies in disarray and without a win two games into the second Eddie Jones era.

Australia had scored two quick tries late in the game to overturn a 10-point deficit and take a 31-27 lead with five minutes remaining but the Pumas loose forward dived over a ruck on the Wallabies line to secure a famous victory.

Cheered on by a small but noisy band of their compatriots at the same Parramatta Stadium where they first beat the All Blacks in 2020, the Pumas secured only a third win over the Wallabies on Australian soil.

Samu Kerevi, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau and Nic White scored Australia’s tries, while Jeronimo de la Fuente, skipper Julian Montoya and Mateo Carreras also crossed for the Pumas.

Relive a dramatic Rugby Championship clash below:

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Australia left in disarray as last-gasp Argentina try secures stunning Rugby Championship win

Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a late winner as Argentina stunned Australia 34-31 in the Rugby Championship to leave the Wallabies in disarray and without a win two games into the second Eddie Jones era.

Australia had scored two quick tries late in the game to overturn a 10-point deficit and take a 31-27 lead with five minutes remaining but the Pumas loose forward dived over a ruck on the Wallabies line to secure a famous victory.

Cheered on by a small but noisy band of their compatriots at the same Parramatta Stadium where they first beat the All Blacks in 2020, the Pumas secured only a third win over the Wallabies on Australian soil.

Samu Kerevi, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau and Nic White scored Australia’s tries, while Jeronimo de la Fuente, skipper Julian Montoya and Mateo Carreras also crossed for the Pumas.

Australia left in disarray as last-gasp Argentina try secures stunning win

Australia 31-34 Argentina: Juan Martin Gonzalez’s score stunned as Eddie Jones is left waiting for his first win

Luke Baker15 July 2023 14:10
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FULL-TIME! Australia 31-34 Argentina

Australia captain James Slipper

“Gutted is one word that comes to mind. We turned up and started playing some good rugby, but kept taking the pressure off the Argentinians and they kept coming back. Ill-discipline really hurt us tonight, again. The yellow card, penalties putting us in the wrong end of the field. You can’t win Test matches playing that sort of rugby.

“We have to review hard, train it. There’s a few of us who have to look at those individual penalties and rectify it pretty quickly. Performances like that, we won’t go far at the World Cup.”

Luke Baker15 July 2023 13:17
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FULL-TIME! Australia 31-34 Argentina

Some Argentina reaction here.

Pablo Matera said:

“We love coming here. A lot of things happened in this stadium, beating the All Blacks for the first time, so it’s a special venue for us. We enjoy coming here.

“We knew after last week we could play a lot better, and after this game. We have to keep on the same road, but we’re going to take one day to enjoy this win.”

Pumas captain Julian Montoya said:

“First of all, let me say thank you to all the supporters who came here, they were very loud and I want to say thank you to them and I hope they are proud.

“Too much drama, I prefer a bit less, but we need to enjoy this win because we worked really and bounced back from a tough game [against New Zealand].

“We want to be a team that fights for every contact. We know the game is not going to be perfect, but it’s how we handle the moments. This is not enough, there are still a lot of things to improve. We’ll enjoy the win, but straight away we need to get better.”

Luke Baker15 July 2023 13:06
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FULL-TIME! Australia 31-34 Argentina

Here’s what Mark Nawaqanitawase had to say after that defeat. Nawaqanitawase’s try on 76 minutes looked to have given the Wallabies the win but it wasn’t to be.

“That was a tough game. Credit to them, right until the end they dug in. There are a few things we need to work on but it’s obviously disappointing.

“I feel like I’m having fun out there. I only get put in those positions with the boys working hard off me. I try to look for the ball and want to help out. I wish I could have done more to get us those final few points to get the win, but that’s the way it goes.

“If we get rid of a few discipline errors we can hold the ball a bit more and use our attack. I think they had most of the ball the whole game. Hopefully next game we can get rid of those errors.”

Luke Baker15 July 2023 13:00
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FULL-TIME! Australia 31-34 Argentina

That was Argentina’s first win since beating England at Twickenham, while Eddie Jones is still looking for his first victory since becoming Australia head coach earlier this year...

Juan Martin Gonzalez’s last-gasp try capped off a thrilling match and gave Argentina just a fifth win over the Wallabies since 1991. Great stuff! With a rampant New Zealand up next, Australia may end this Rugby Championship winless...

(AP)
Luke Baker15 July 2023 12:58
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FULL-TIME! Australia 31-34 Argentina

Wow what a game! How have Argentina won that?

(AFP via Getty Images)
Luke Baker15 July 2023 12:51
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TRY! Australia 31-34 ARGENTINA (Juan Martin Gonzalez, 79 mins)

Tight with the forwards, trying the short side.

AND IT’S A TRY! Juan Martin Gonzalez gets over! Argentina have won it!

Gonzalez picks from the back of the ruck, dummies a pass right and dives over the top in a gap that shouldn’t be there. A long look from referee Marius Joncker and the try is awarded! Australia want a TMO review for a potential knock-on a couple of phases back but nothing doing.

Conversion good and that’s full-time! Incredible!

Luke Baker15 July 2023 12:49
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Australia 31-27 Argentina, 78 mins

Maul takes them within a couple of metres, a pick and go to inches away for the Pumas!

Luke Baker15 July 2023 12:47
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Australia 31-27 Argentina, 78 mins

No punishment for Kerevi. Argentina kick to the corner. Attacking lineout to try and win it.

Luke Baker15 July 2023 12:47
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Australia 31-27 Argentina, 77 mins

Is there one last twist in this match and a way back for Argentina? A penalty or drop goal won’t be enough, it has to be a try. They’ve got about three minutes.

TMO review as Samu Kerevi may have put a late hit on Mateo Carreras after a kick through.

Luke Baker15 July 2023 12:45

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