Argentina beat the Wallabies for the first time since 1997, and in the process picked up their first ever win in the Rugby Championship since joining three years ago. The 21-17 victory was sealed with a Nicolas Sanchez penalty with five minutes to spare.
After a week that included off field drama with the Kurtley Beale in-flight incident, the Wallabies failed to capitalise on their strong start, after having scored within minutes of kickoff. Powerful centre Tevita Kuridrani crossed, before Scott Higginbotham slipped through for another.
They squandered the 14-0 lead however and a spirited Los Pumas side came back into the match following yellow cards to both Nick Phipps and skipper Michael Cooper.
A try to Number 8 Leonardo Senatore brought the home side back into it, along with a Sanchez penalty as they trailed 14-8 at the break. Winger Juan Imhoff then scored when Phipps was in the sinbin, and Sanchez’s sideline conversion set up a tense final 20 minutes.
Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley missed two kicks at goal in the last ten minutes, including one that hit the posts. Unfortunately the visitors had to contend with the now infamous green lasers in their eyes when taking kicks, something that is sadly becoming synonymous with matches there.
Michael Hooper was yellow carded in the 73rd minute for taking out a player in the air, so Sanchez sealed the win with the penalty kick, and the Pumas players and fans celebrated the historic victory.
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