Fullback Chris Latham scored four tries as the world champions Australia kicked off their international season with a 53-6 win over Argentina at Ballymore.
The Queensland faithful had come to say farewell Tim Horan and David Wilson, two of Queensland and Australia's greatest players of the past decade. But by the end, the Ballymore crowd saluted a new hero in four-try fullback Chris Latham.
Latham turned on a superb exhibition of fullback play as the Wallabies clinically destroyed the South Americans 53-6 in a mere stroll at Queensland Rugby Union headquarters.
Latham, Australia's Super 12 player of the year, bedazzled the Pumas' defence with his flair, panache and deception, and showed what a great support-player can achieve when his nose follows the ball.
Latham opened the scoring after just 22 seconds and was still at it in the shadows of full-time, when he crossed for his fourth and the Wallabies' final try.
But despite the Australians' impressive opening, Argentina almost struck back immediately when the forwards surged across the tryline, only to see their efforts disallowed by the video referee. Horan then forced to make a try-saving tackle on Pumas centre Diego Giannantonio just millimetres from the line.
The Pumas continued to trouble the Australians in the early skirmishes, showing a considerable amount of dash and flair. But the green and gold defence held on.
New flyhalf Jose Cilley, stepping in for unavailable match-winner Gonzalo Quesada, had a horror match, missing two easy kicks in front of the posts and suffering the ignominy of having a clearing kick charged down by marauding Wallaby flanker Matt Cockbain inside his own quarter. As memorable as the match was for Latham, it will be an evening Cilley won't forget in a hurry either, albeit for different reasons.
Scottish referee Jim Fleming earned his keep, sending three Argentines to the sin-bin, the first being winger Octavio Bartolucci, who earned the ire of the crowd when he dumped Latham as the Wallaby fullback leapt high to defuse a bomb. Bartolucci was fortunate not to receive a red card.
In Bartolucci's absence Joe Roff scored a try in the left-hand corner, when Daniel Herbert busted the Pumas' midfield. The Reds' centre held up the ball for a straight-running Latham, who spun wide to Horan. Horan gave the final pass to Roff who scampered across the line untouched.
Five minutes later, Herbert scored after great leadup work by Latham and eighthman Jim Williams. But on a touch judges report, the try was disallowed and instead Cilley landed a simple penalty goal to bridge the gap to seven points.
But from the ensuing kickoff, the Pumas forwards suffered an embarrassing lapse in concentration when they didn't contest possession on the assumption the ball wouldn't reach 10 metres. It did, and Roff streaked away like a startled rabbit before feeding replacement Mark Connors, looming up on his inside. Australia 15 Argentina 3.
The Wallabies then had another try disallowed when Fleming called Connors back for a forward pass from Latham. But touch judge Paddy O'Brien gave the Australians some respite when he advised Fleming of foul play by Puma skipper Lisandro Aribizu and winger Diego Albanese on Wallaby halfback George Gregan. The duo was lucky to escape with a caution and Australia went to the break ahead by 15-3.
The Australians continued the second half in the same vein as the first, when eighthman Jim Williams showed his excellent support skills to score twice in the space of seven minutes for a handy 25-6 lead.
Argentina's nightmare continued when Cilley missed another simple place kick at goal, then in rapid succession, front rowers Martin Scelzo and Fernando Diaz were despatched to the sin bin for reckless rucking and a professional foul respectively.
Further tries to Roff and three more to Latham completed the scoring on an inspiring evening that three Reds will never forget.
Horan and Wilson bowed out in fine style, while 24 year-old Latham was the shooting star in a superb season-opening team performance.
While there's always room for improvement, coach Rod Macqueen should be a happy man.
Man of the match: Brilliant Reds fullback Chris Latham just couldn't do anything wrong. On a golden evening he not only scored four superb tries but he also carved the Pumas' defence apart at will and tormented them with his fancy feet and explosive speed. A real crowd pleaser, Latham has the skill to become one of Australia's greatest fullbacks.
Moment of the match: The cacophony of noise generated by the crowd for departing veterans Tim Horan and David Wilson. Crammed to its 20 000 capacity, Ballymore provided the perfect backdrop for two of the most talented and humble footballers the state has produced.
Villain of the match: Argentina's indiscipline saw three players despatched to the sin bin and it could have been worse as the South Americans lost the plot and their heads as the scoreline extended beyond their reach. Coach Loffreda has a job on his hands to get his team up for the second international at Canberra in seven days' time.
The teams:
Australia: 1 Richard Harry, 2 Michael Foley, 3 Fletcher Dyson, 4 John Eales (c), 5 David Giffin, 6 Matt Cockbain, 7 David Wilson, 8 Jim Williams, 9 George Gregan, 10 Steve Larkham, 11 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Dan Herbert, 13 Tim Horan, 14 Joe Roff, 15 Chris Latham
Reserves: Mark Connors, Rod Kafer, Jason Little, Jeremy Paul, Glenn Panoho, Sam Cordingley, David Lyons
Argentina: 1 Fernando Diaz Alberdi, 2 Federico Mendez, 3 Martin Scelzo, 4 Alejandro Allub, 5 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Rolando Martin, 7 Santiago Phelan, 8 Gonzalo Longo Elia, 9 Agustin Pichot, 10 Jose Cilley, 11 Diego Albanese, 12 Lisandro Arbizu (c), 13 Diego Giannantonio, 14 Octavio Bartolucci, 15 Felipe Contepomi
Reserves: Agustin Canalda, Julio Garcia
Unused: Hugo Dande, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Juan Fernandez Miranda, German Llanes, Facundo Soler
Attendance: 18216
Referee: Fleming j.
Points Scorers:
Australia
Tries: Latham C.E. 4, Roff J.W.C. 2, Williams R.W. 2, Connors M. 1
Conv: Roff J.W.C. 4
Argentina
Pen K.: Cilley J.L. 2
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