The Wallabies have opened their Rugby Championship marketing campaign with a rousing 41-26 victory over Argentina, dedicating the win to absent skipper Michael Hooper.
Centre Len Ikitau crossed for his or her fifth strive 5 minutes after full-time in Mendoza to snare a bonus level because the Wallabies rallied from a 19-10 halftime deficit and piled on 31 factors after the break.
However the win regarded to have come at a value with playmaker Quade Cooper assisted from the sphere with an obvious ankle damage.
The Australians entered the Take a look at with out talismanic captain Hooper, who withdrew from the tour the day earlier than the sport for psychological well being causes. Stand-in skipper James Slipper stated they needed to make Hooper, who had already flown dwelling to Australia, proud.
“It’s an actual proud second for me and in addition the staff as a result of we actually needed to place in an effort that our followers may very well be happy with and in addition our captain Hoops [Hoops],” Slipper stated in a post-match interview. “We had been desirous about him all day and taking part in for him.”
The Wallabies misplaced one other of their most skilled gamers when playmaker Cooper slipped on the turf whereas in assault seven minutes into the second half. The 34-year-old had already missed the shedding England sequence with a calf damage however appeared to know at his ankle in apparent ache, and was later be seen in a moon-boot.
However the Wallabies regrouped with Hooper’s alternative Fraser McReight dragged throughout the road for his first Take a look at strive by barn-storming Take a look at debutant Jed Holloway. A penalty strive within the 62nd minute awarded by whistle-happy Scottish referee Mike Adamson put the guests to inside two factors.
Cooper’s alternative Reece Hodge then banged over a long-range penalty whereas Argentina lock Matias Alemanno was yellow-carded, for the Wallabies to take the lead, 27-26, for the primary time within the match. They prolonged that within the seventieth minute when hooker Folau Fainga’a, in his greatest efficiency within the gold jersey, picked up the ball off the again of a maul and charged over, with Hodge including the extras.
The opening half was a irritating stop-start affair with a 10-3 penalty rely towards the Wallabies. The Australians dominated possession and territory however errors and poor self-discipline stopped them from maximising their alternatives.
Argentina, who're coached by former Wallabies mentor Michael Cheika, received off to their very best begin with Pablo Matera crossing within the sixth minute and received out to a 13-3 lead. The Wallabies countered by winger Jordan Petaia however saved the house facet within the sport with penalties by sharp-shooter Emiliano Boffelli.
The Australians received on the correct facet of Adamson within the second half, whereas the Pumas personal self-discipline fell aside as they incurred 11 second-half penalties which cruelled their trigger.
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