Eddie Jones' ugly truth as Wallabies 'gutted' over unwanted first
The Wallabies' World Cup hopes have been dealt another confidence-crushing blow.
Eddie Jones' latest Wallabies reign has gotten off to a horrible start after the Aussies crashed to a second successive defeat under their new coach. The Wallabies made unwanted history after a heartbreaking last-minute 34-31 defeat to Argentina at Sydney's Commbank Stadium on Saturday night.
It marks the first time in Australian rugby history that the Wallabies have lost back-to-back Tests against the Pumas and leaves their World Cup preparations in tatters. The shattering loss to Argentina means it's two losses in two games for Jones, following Australia's mauling by the Springboks in Pretoria last weekend.
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A last-gasp try to No.8 Juan Martin Gonzalez broke Australian hearts on Saturday night after recalled winger Mark Nawaqanitawase looked to have won the match for the Wallabies when he took an intercept and raced 95 metres downfield to score, with five minutes remaining. However, the Pumas refused to give up and when Gonzalez crashed over the Aussie tryline from a ruck in the dying seconds, it was game over for a dejected Aussie side.
Wallabies captain James Slipper said his men were “gutted” with the result and their ill-discipline after giving away 14 penalties in the match. “We kept taking the pressure off the Argentinians, and they kept coming back,” Slipper told Stan Sport. “Ill-discipline really hurt us again tonight. You just can’t win Test matches playing that kind of rugby.”
Wallabies face grim World Cup reality after loss
Argentina's stirring comeback win came after they found themselves 10- down early on, then 31-27 down late on, as Michael Cheika orchestrated Argentina's second successive Test win over his former side. For Jones, the Wallabies coach faces the grim prospect of taking Australia to the World Cup in France later this year, without a win under his belt.
The Aussies have a chance to rebound after the Argentina defeat and the 43-12 hammering at the hands of South Africa, but they face a stern test against the All Blacks in their two upcoming Bledisloe Cup clashes. The New Zealanders put down an emphatic marker of where they are it, with a convincing 35-20 win over South Africa on Saturday - highlighting the challenge that lies in front of the Wallabies.
Changes fail to have desired effect for Wallabies
Jones' five team changes from last week's pounding in Pretoria looked like being a masterstroke as Nawaqanitawase, powerhouse centre Samu Kerevi and giant lock Will Skelton all excelled to help the Wallabies to their 10-0 lead. A quick tap and sharp footwork from Nawaqanitawase put Australia deep on the attack and, with the Pumas defence stretched, Quade Cooper found Kerevi lurking out wide and the centre's inside ball was enough for Len Ikitau to dive over in the corner in the fourth minute. But the try came at a huge cost, with Ikitau forced off with a shoulder injury sustained while scoring and sent to hospital for scans.
The Aussies had no outside backs on the bench following Ikitau's departure, meaning the Wallabies were forced into a reshuffle as Carter Gordon's introduction at inside centre broke up the potent Cooper-Kerevi midfield partnership. Jones brushed off suggestions after the match that the disruption to the Wallabies' backline proved a game-breaker. "It also created an opportunity for us to learn a little bit more about ourselves," he said.
"It's a great experience for Carter to play 12 and at some stage in his career he's going to play 12." The Wallabies found themselves hanging on at halftime with a player down following the sin-binning of lock Richie Arnold for deliberately slowing the ball down.
The Pumas had fought their way back into the game through a try to fullback Emiliano Boffelli, who converted and added a penalty to leave the match evenly poised at 10-10 at the interval. The visitors hit the front for the first time when hooker Julian Montoya forced his way over five minutes into the second half before Wallabies halfback Nic White darted over to level the scores again.
When winger Mateo Carreras beat a fatiguing Dave Porecki to score out wide in the 68th minute, Argentina led 26-17. But a Kerevi try, then Nawaqanitawase's rousing solo effort had Wallabies fans in raptures before the Pumas snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
with agencies
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