The Wallabies won their first match of this year’s Rugby Championship with a convincing 45-20 bonus point win over Argentina in Canberra on Saturday. They trailed Argentina 13-10 at the break, but turned things on in the second half for a much needed win.
“At halftime I didn’t have to say anything,” coach Michael Cheika said post match.
“A lack of urgency, I’m not sure why because they’re playing for Australia. I’m sorry that the first half was a bit slow. But they sorted themselves out and it was a much better second half.”
Flyhalf Bernard Foley had a perfect kicking display from the tee, slotting six penalties and a conversion for a personal tally of 20 points and a Man of the Match award.
Skipper Michael Hooper was pleased with the result.
“There’s a sense of finally getting a reward for the hard work we’ve been putting in. It’s a good feeling for everyone and to get a result as the game builds on is really rewarding,” Hooper said.
The Wallabies face South Africa in Bloemfontein next, where a win will see them leapfrog the Springboks to second place on the Rugby Championship table.
“I don’t know what happened there,” Cheika said of the Springboks’ 57-0 loss to the All Blacks. “But we’ll down tools for a week and then go again.”
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