Wallabies and Pumas end all square in Sydney

The Wallabies and Pumas had to settle for a 16-16 draw in their Tri-Nations encounter at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.

The previous Test between these sides ended in a 15-15 draw and it was a similar story in this Test which was played in horrendous weather conditions, with heavy rain prominent throughout.

In the end, both sides scored a try apiece with Bautista Delguy crossing the whitewash for the Pumas and Michael Hooper dotted down for the Wallabies.  Australia’s other points were scored by Reece Hodge, who added three penalties and a conversion.

Nicolas Sanchez kicked a penalty for Argentina, while Domingo Miotti succeeded with two three-pointers off the kicking tee and a conversion.

Both sides’ discipline let them down, however, and the Wallabies had to play the last 20 minutes with 14 men after Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was red carded for a dangerous challenge to Santiago Grondona’s face.

Australia did most of the early attacking but despite spending long periods camped inside Argentina’s half, they could not score points during the opening exchanges.

The Wallabies eventually opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Marcos Kremer was yellow carded for an illegal clear-out on James O’Connor.  Hodge slotted the resulting penalty before Sanchez restored parity with his three-pointer off the kicking tee in the 18th minute.

With rain pelting down, the next 10 minutes were scrappy, characterised by plenty of kicking for territory and both teams committed several handling errors in the wet.

In the 28th minute, it was the Wallabies’ turn to play with 14 men when Hooper was also sent to the sin bin, after he committed a similar foul to Kremer’s at a breakdown.

Sanchez was on the receiving end of Hooper’s illegal hit and the Pumas fly-half left the field for a HIA which meant Miotti came on as his replacement and on the half hour-mark the rookie pivot gave his team the lead courtesy of a penalty.

The match came alive in the 34th minute when the Pumas launched a lineout drive from inside their 22 and gained 30 metres before Felipe Ezcurra launched an attack from close to the halfway line.  He rounded Allan Alaalatoa, after selling him a dummy, before offloading to Delguy, who saw off the attentions of Hunter Paisami with a strong fend before crossing for the opening try.

That score seemed to stun the Wallabies and they went onto the attack during the closing stages of the half, but they were kept at bay thanks to a solid defensive effort from the Pumas.  Just before half-time, the visitors strayed offside on defence and Hodge added his second penalty which meant Argentina were leading 13-6 at the interval.

🌧️ FULL TIME 16 – 16. Hard conditions but we've retained the Puma Trophy. #AUSvARG @eToro #TriNations #YourTeam #OurJourney pic.twitter.com/0XYrWpdQt2

— Wallabies (@wallabies) December 5, 2020

Ten minutes into the second half the Wallabies narrowed the gap to four points courtesy of another Hodge penalty, after the Pumas were blown up for illegal scrummaging.

However, things went pear-shaped for the hosts on the hour-mark, when Salakaia-Loto was sent off for that indiscretion on Grondona, and Miotti added his second penalty to restore his side’s seven-point lead.

Despite that setback, Australia continued to attack and they received a shot in the arm in the 66th minute when Lucas Paulos received a yellow card for a professional foul close to his try-line.  Soon after, the home side launched a lineout drive from which Hooper barged over for his try and Hodge was on target with the conversion which meant the sides were deadlocked at 16-16.

That set up a tense finish and the Wallabies had a chance to win the game, when they received a penalty in the 79th minute, but just like the corresponding Test in Newcastle a fortnight ago, Hodge pushed his kick wide of the mark and the sides had to settle for the draw.

Check out the video highlights from Australia's 16-16 draw with Argentina in Sydney on Saturday.

Bonus-point victory for All Blacks against Pumas

The All Blacks took a giant step towards winning this year’s Tri Nations as they sealed a 38-0 bonus-point win over Argentina in Saturday’s Test in Newcastle.

In a fast-paced and entertaining encounter, New Zealand had the bulk of the territory and possession and although they had to work hard to break down Argentina’s defence, they showed great patience and eventually outscored their opponents five tries to nil.

Replacement back Will Jordan led the way with a brace of five-pointers and their other tries were scored by Dane Coles, Ardie Savea and Patrick Tuipulotu, while Richie Mo’unga finished with a 13-point haul courtesy of five conversions and a penalty.

With the build-up to this game dominated by the passing of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, the Pumas were highly motivated to secure victory as a tribute to their fallen countryman.  And there was a touching gesture from New Zealand — before their customary haka — when their captain, Sam Cane, presented his opponents with an All Blacks jersey with Maradona’s name and the number 10 on its back.

The All Blacks came out firing from the kick off and were leading 10-0 by the 17th minute.

They started brightly and had a Beauden Barrett try disallowed in the 10th minute, after Anton Lienert-Brown knocked on in the build-up, but continued to dominate and two minutes later opened the scoring courtesy of Coles’ score.  This, after the ball went through 11 phases, with Akira Ioane, Scott Barrett and Nepo Laulala prominent ball carriers, before Mo’unga threw a skip pass to Coles, who went over in the right-hand corner.

Mo’unga added the extras before slotting a penalty after the Pumas strayed offside on defence.

Argentina were slowly getting into the game but battled to gain momentum as New Zealand were winning most of the collisions and they also held the upper hand in the set phases.

On the half-hour mark, Argentina finally found themselves on the attack inside New Zealand’s 22 but after a solid lineout drive, the ball came out to the backs and Jeronimo de la Fuente knocked on a poor pass from Felipe Ezcurra.

Despite that effort, the All Blacks finished the half stronger but they could not score further points and the match was evenly poised with the score 10-0 in their favour at the interval.

Feels good to finish 2020 with the dub.#ARGvNZL #TriNations pic.twitter.com/SHtr5clwuJ

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 28, 2020

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, with the All Blacks dominating, and they thought they had increased their lead in the 46th minute, when Savea crossed the whitewash off the back of a scrum close to Argentina’s try-line, but he failed to ground the ball after being held up by the cover defence.

Savea was not to be denied, however, as five minutes later he scored his side’s second try after powering over off the back of a lineout on Argentina’s five-metre line.

That score brought plenty of relief to the All Blacks ranks and there was further reward in the 69th minute when Jordan rounded off after pouncing on a wayward pass from Santiago Carreras.  And two minutes later he found himself in the clear again to cross for the all-important bonus-point score.

Despite having the game in the bag, New Zealand continued to attack although they had to finish the game with 14 men after Tyrel Lomax was yellow carded for clearing out an opponent illegally at a ruck.

That did not deter them, however, as they stayed true to their attacking roots and sealed their win in style when Tuipulotu scored their fifth try in injury time.

Check out the video highlights from New Zealand's 38-0 victory over Argentina at Newcastle on Saturday.

Wallabies and Pumas share the spoils in Newcastle

The Wallabies and Pumas settled for a 15-15 draw in their Tri Nations encounter in Newcastle on Saturday, with neither side managing to score a try.

In a tight and unspectacular encounter, Australia impressed on attack — especially in the first half — but they came up against a solid defensive effort from the Pumas.

The Wallabies had two tries disallowed during the opening period and, in the end, all their points came via the boot of Reece Hodge, who kicked five penalties.  Nicolas Sanchez also added five three-pointers off the kicking tee for the Pumas.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested and the sides were level at 3-3 after Hodge and Sanchez traded penalties inside the opening 10 minutes.

The Wallabies had the bulk of the possession over the next 10 minutes and thought they had taken the lead in the 16th minute when Jordan Petaia crossed the whitewash after Hunter Paisami stabbed through a grubber kick.  The score was disallowed, however, after television replays revealed that Petaia’s foot was on the dead-ball line while dotting down.

Australia continued to hold the upper hand but could not convert their dominance into points.  Midway through the half, Tom Banks and Tom Wright combined brilliantly down the right-hand wing but nothing came from the attack after a handling error close to the Pumas’ try-line.

And, it was Argentina who took the lead courtesy of another Sanchez penalty in the 31st minute, when the Wallabies strayed offside on defence.  That lead did not last long though as Australia were level five minutes later when Hodge added his second three-pointer off the tee, after Sanchez was blown up for foul play.

The closing stages of the half were frantic with Australia camped deep inside Argentina territory and they thought they had regained the lead when Marika Koroibete crossed in the left-hand corner, but his effort was also disallowed after the final pass from Banks went forward.

Australia continued to hammer away at the Pumas’ line during the half’s dying moments but could not breach the South Americans’ defence and Wallabies captain Michael Hooper eventually decide to kick for posts.  Hodge duly did and on the stroke of half-time he succeeded with his third penalty which gave his team a narrow 9-6 lead at the interval.

🏟️ All square in Newy. See you again two weeks! #ARGvAUS @etoro #TriNations #YourTeam #OurJourney pic.twitter.com/UEW0tAZmz8

— Wallabies (@wallabies) November 21, 2020

Argentina also received a final warning for conceding cynical penalties on defence and five minutes after the restart Julian Montoya was yellow carded for that with Hodge slotting the resulting penalty.

Despite being a man down, the Pumas continued to concede penalties and when it was in goal-kicking range Hodge made them pay.  In the 56th minute, Bautista Delguy infringed at a breakdown and the Wallabies fly-half was on target again which meant his side were up 15-6.

That brought some urgency from Argentina on attack but, although they spent some time in Australia’s 22 during the next five minutes, there was no reward during that time.

Shortly afterwards, Sanchez narrowed the gap when he added his third penalty after the Wallabies’ forwards were penalised for illegal scrummaging and that score seemed to lift the Pumas’ spirits as they finished stronger.

In the 68th minute, Argentina’s fly-half slotted his fourth penalty, which meant they were trailing by just three points and three minutes later they had a chance to draw level when Koroibete was blown up for accidental offside on the halfway line.

Despite rain pouring down, Sanchez showed his class as he landed that long-range effort which drew his side level once again.  There was drama at the end as Hodge had a chance to win the game for the Wallabies, when he lined up a shot at goal in the 79th minute, but his effort was wide of the mark and the teams had to settle for the draw.

Check out the video highlights from Australia's 15-15 draw with Argentina at Newcastle on Saturday.

Argentina secure first-ever win against New Zealand

Argentina recorded their first win ever against New Zealand as they outsmarted the All Blacks 25-15 in their Tri Nations Test in Sydney on Saturday.

Poor discipline and inaccuracy in the execution of their game-plan cost the All Blacks dearly in last week's defeat to the Wallabies and it was a similar story against the Pumas, who dominated for long periods and delivered an outstanding defensive display which paved the way to victory.

Nicolas Sanchez was the Pumas' hero as he delivered a superb all-round performance and scored all his team's points courtesy of a try, six penalties and a conversion.

For the All Blacks, Sam Cane and Caleb Clarke crossed the whitewash and their other points came via a penalty and a conversion from Richie Mo'unga.

Argentina were competitive during the early exchanges and took the lead in the sixth minute when Sanchez landed a long-range penalty from the halfway mark, before Mo'unga restored parity with a three-pointer of his own off the kicking tee five minutes later.

The All Blacks held the upper hand during the next five minutes but despite having most of the possession, they lost the initiative as they committed a plethora of unforced errors and ill discipline also proved costly.

Midway through the half the Pumas regained the lead when Sanchez went over for the opening try.  This, after he launched a chip kick just outside New Zealand's 22 which wreaked havoc in his opponents' defence.  Rodrigo Bruni booted the ball ahead before Sanchez gathered it and scored under the posts.

That score gave Argentina plenty of confidence as they continued to attack and in the 27th minute Sanchez added another penalty after Jordie Barrett was blown up for illegal play on defence.

On the half-hour mark, the Pumas launched a brilliant attack in which Tomas Cubelli laid the groundwork with a superb line break and Bruni and Juan Imhoff also did well with strong carries before Pablo Matera was held up by Mo'unga while crossing the try-line.

Argentina continued to dominate and in the 33rd minute another Sanchez penalty ― after the All Blacks forwards infringed at a scrum ― gave them a commanding 16-3 lead at half-time.

🕓 FINAL DEL PARTIDO. HISTORIA PURA.

Descontó @AllBlacks para maquillar el resultado, pero este día ya es inolvidable. ¡GIGANTES @lospumas!

🇦🇷🇳🇿#VamosLosPumas #PersonalTriNations2020 pic.twitter.com/8ZKDGxI0mf

— Los Pumas (@lospumas) November 14, 2020

Argentina made a bright start to the second period and Sanchez increased their lead in the 49th minute when he slotted his fourth penalty.

The All Blacks needed a response and that came five minutes later when Cane scored his try off the back of a lineout drive deep inside Pumas territory.

Mo'unga added the extras which meant Argentina were leading 19-10 but an indiscretion on defence from the All Blacks fly-half shortly afterwards was punished by Sanchez, who converted another penalty.

With time running out, New Zealand upped the ante on attack and spent most of the final quarter camped inside Argentina's half.  With them chasing the game, they committed several unforced errors, however, and in the 77th minute Sam Whitelock infringed at a lineout one metre inside his opponents' half.

Up stepped Sanchez, who showed his class as he landed his second long range goal-kick off the match which also sealed a memorable and historic win for his side.

Check out the video highlights from Argentina’s historic 25-15 victory over New Zealand on Saturday.

Two see red as Wallabies edge out All Blacks in Brisbane

Australia bounced back from last week's humiliating defeat to New Zealand with a 24-22 triumph over their trans-Tasman rivals in Saturday's Tri-Nations Test in Brisbane.

Although this was an entertaining encounter, it was marred by ill discipline as both sides finished the match with 14 men after Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Lachie Swinton were red carded in the opening half.

Tu'ungafasi was sent off in the 23rd minute after making direct contact to the chin of Tom Wright, when tackling the Wallabies wing, and Swinton received his red card for a similar offence on Sam Whitelock five minutes before half-time.

After suffering a record 43-5 loss to the All Blacks in Sydney last Saturday, the Wallabies were under pressure but they delivered a better performance in this fixture and were competitive throughout.

Reece Hodge, who made only his second Test appearance at fly-half for Australia, finished with a 14-point haul after slotting four penalties and a conversion and their other points came via tries from Wright and Taniela Tupou.

For the All Blacks, Rieko Ioane, Codie Taylor and Tupou Vaa'i scored tries while Jordie Barrett succeeded with two conversions and a penalty.

The Wallabies were fastest out of the blocks and took the lead as early as the third minute courtesy of a try from Test debutant Wright.  This, after Hodge delivered a teasing chip kick deep inside New Zealand's half and Tom Banks did well to gather the ball before offloading to Wright, who dotted down.

It didn't take long for the All Blacks to respond and five minutes later a Ngani Laumape pass inside Australia's 22 was knocked backwards by Wright but Ioane was quickest to react and gathered the loose ball before crossing for his 26th try in his 32nd Test.

Midway through the half, Australia regained the lead when Hodge slotted a penalty after Sevu Reece infringed at a breakdown.  Shortly afterwards, New Zealand suffered that setback when Tu'ungafasi was red carded for his illegal hit on Wright.  With a numerical advantage, the Wallabies had the bulk of the possession and territory but, despite that, it was the All Blacks who scored next via a 33rd minute penalty from Barrett.

From the restart, Wallabies debutant Swinton committed his indiscretion and referee Nic Berry had little hesitation in giving him his marching orders after checking television replays.  Swinton's exit saw New Zealand regaining the initiative and they spent the closing stages of the half on the attack inside their opponents' 22.

🙌 What a win!! Thanks to all our fans here in Brisbane and around Australia for your support! #Wallabies #YourTeam #OurJourney #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup #TriNations2020 pic.twitter.com/ZjiCTb9ncP

— Wallabies (@wallabies) November 7, 2020

Just before the interval, the Wallabies were reduced to 13 players when Marika Koroibete was yellow carded for playing the ball on the ground close to his try-line but, despite his departure, the Wallabies held on and the teams changed sides at half-time with the score deadlocked at 8-8.

Australia then made the brighter start to the second half courtesy of a penalty from Hodge in the 50th minute but New Zealand struck back two minutes later when Taylor scored their second try off the back of a lineout drive deep inside Wallabies territory.

That score did not deter the home side, who reduced the deficit to a point by the hour-mark, when Hodge added his third penalty.  In the 68th minute, it was the All Blacks' turn to play with 13 men when Scott Barrett was yellow carded after he slapped the ball from Nic White's hands when the Wallabies scrum-half tried to clear from a ruck and Hodge succeeded with the resulting penalty, which gave his side a 17-15 lead.

Australia continued to attack and were rewarded in the 75th minute when Tupou barged over from close quarters and, although the All Blacks struck back with a late try from Vaa'i, it wasn't enough as the Wallabies held on in the game's dying moments to secure their first Test win of 2020.

Check out the highlights from Australia’s 24-22 victory over New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.

All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with record win

New Zealand wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup for an 18th successive year as they proved too strong for Australia, winning 43-5 in Sydney on Saturday.

Tries from Karl Tu'inukuafe, Richie Mo'unga (2), Dane Coles, Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett saw the All Blacks cruise to a record victory over their rivals.

Australia's only try came from Noah Lolesio as they were embarrassed by their visitors and must regroup ahead of facing them again next week in Brisbane.

It was a dream opening half for the All Blacks as they ran in four tries and it could have been more, which was hugely concerning for the Wallabies supporters.

Australia's cause was not helped early on when on three minutes Filipo Daugunu was sin-binned for taking out Caleb Clarke while the All Black was in the air.

With a man advantage the All Blacks duly sensed an opportunity to strike and on six minutes they were over as a huge overlap was created from second phase play, with Tu'inukuafe straightening before scrambling over for a 7-0 lead.  The loosehead prop would breathe a sigh of relief as numbers were waiting outside.

The game was then played at 14 apiece when Jordie Barrett followed Daugunu to the sideline after he led with the elbow in contact against Dane Haylett-Petty.  But that didn't impact on New Zealand's form as they almost scored again on 11 minutes, this time Coles denied for not grounding sufficiently over the chalk.

Another close call came two minutes later when Coles and Aaron Smith combined to send Clarke in, but he was denied by a sliding Marika Koroibete on the right.

Finally, New Zealand would be rewarded for their efforts though as there was no stopping Mo'unga on 21 minutes, his pace proving too much for hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, before he beat Lolesio to the right corner.  Mo'unga's missed conversion meant it was a 12-0 cushion, but one felt there was much more to come.

So it proved as Mo'unga added another crossing six minutes later, this time from long-range when he scorched over after collecting Beauden Barrett's smart chip.

New Zealand were now turning the screw and it was Coles crossing next, the hooker scoring at the back of a driving maul from five metres out for 26-0.  And it could've got worse for the Wallabies late in the half when a spillage from Daugunu saw Mo'unga almost cross again but for a slip to save the wing's blushes.

A great day at the office in Sydney.#AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/5hh7SLnG7p

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 31, 2020

Australia were needing a miracle on the resumption and got the perfect start to the second half when centre Jordan Petaia's powerful carry got them into the 22 and on the front foot.  That allowed Lolesio to find a gap in the scrambling defence and he pierced it to get Australia on the board with an unconverted try.

The Wallabies knew they would also need the next score in the game to make a contest out of the clash but it wasn't forthcoming and it was New Zealand who put points on the board, Mo'unga sending over a penalty on the hour mark to make it 29-5.  Both head coaches were now starting to utilise their replacements.

The changes, coupled with New Zealand taking their foot off the gas, saw a dip in entertainment value thereafter, with plenty of stoppages disrupting the flow.  But on 71 minutes the visitors hit their straps again when Hoskins Sotutu went to the short side of the scrum where he found Ioane for the simplest of tries.

There was more to come too when a minute later Jordie Barrett sliced through on halfway before sprinting over to make it 43-5, adding the gloss on a record win as New Zealand wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup yet again, with a late Shannon Frizell yellow card doing little to dampen the All Blacks spirits after this result.

Check out the highlights from New Zealand’s 43-5 record win over Australia at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.