Australia and Argentina have again separated in a draw (16-16), Saturday in Sydney in pouring rain, after a meeting which crowned New Zealand in this Rugby Championship at particular taste.
This edition is indeed, pandemic of Covid-19 obliges, disputed in only one country and in the absence of South Africa, defending champion, who had preferred not to make the trip, advancing too short a preparation .
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Nobody doubted the coronation of the All Blacks before this meeting, but Pumas and Wallabies, who had already held themselves in check two weeks ago (15-15), still had a mathematical chance to confiscate the title: by winning with a margin of 93 points for the Argentines, 101 points for the Australians, with the offensive bonus ... The miracle did not happen.
Mario Ledesma's men, criticized last week for their lack of enthusiasm in paying tribute to Diego Maradona and shaken by the affair of the racist tweets of three players (Matera, Petti and Socino), played throughout the match with the number 10 of Argentine glory on one sleeve of their jerseys.
A balloon transformed into soap
Under a torrential rain, Dave Rennie's men largely dominated the first quarter of an hour, without managing to materialize through the fault of a forward from Philip or a ball lost in a grouping a few meters from the opposing goal.
It was not until the 16th minute to see the Wallabies finally and logically take the advantage, thanks to a penalty against the posts transformed by Hodge for a foul by Kremer, author of a dangerous charge and temporarily excluded from this action.
But despite the overall domination of Hooper's teammates in this first period, it was the Pumas who took the lead (13-6), thanks in particular to a superb try from winger Delguy (34th), launched by his half scrimmage Ezcurra running on the closed side behind a maul perforating the Australian defense for more than 30 meters.
This first act, marked by numerous hand errors because of the balloon transformed into soap, was also marked by a temporary exclusion on each side: Kremer at the Pumas and Hooper at the Wallabies, both authors of the same fault: clearing too high and dangerous on an opponent.
The Wallabies missed the winning penalty
In the second half, the Australians gradually nibbled away their delay over Argentina, despite the exclusion of their second line Salakaia-Loto, entered 9 minutes earlier, on time for a high tackle.
Managed to equalize on a strength test from their captain Hooper after a very clean touchdown from Philip (67th), the Wallabies got the penalty of winning less than a minute from the end of regulation time.
But Hodge, impeccable so far in his role as scorer, forty meters slightly to the left, failed.
Australia and Argentina finish tied on points (8), but the Pumas finish in 2nd place thanks to a better overall difference at the end of this tournament where they beat the All Blacks for the first time in their history ( 25-15 November 14).
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Rugby Championship standings
