Clock confusion mars Australia’s comeback win against Argentina

Argentina 19 Australia 20

Argentina confronted referee James Doleman after the final whistle following a chaotic final 90 seconds in which Australia’s Ben Donaldson kicked what proved to be the winning penalty in La Plata.

Doleman had informed Argentina there would be a restart following Donaldson’s penalty, which given Australia’s failure to secure almost any kickoff throughout a Test played in tough conditions could have been pivotal. Instead the referee then blew for full-time after Donaldson’s successful penalty. Argentina had been penalised when the clock showed 78:48, but it was not stopped until 79:12.

The confusion marred what was otherwise an impressive comeback from Australia, having trailed 10-0 in the first half in grim conditions before battling back into the contest through their breakdown work - with flanker Carlo Tizzano winning multiple penalties - along with some slick attacking play by centre Len Ikitau and their stronger scrum late in the game. Taniela Tupou’s return, both in the set-piece and with his ball-carrying, was a welcome boost after missing the last two Tests against South Africa.

The win was even more impressive given Australia’s catching and decision-making in the wet was largely poor, with fly-half Noah Lolesio after a bright start fading badly as the Wallabies battled for territory.

Argentina had a better grip on conditions and stayed ahead for almost all of the Test thanks to penalties from Gloucester’s Santiago Carreras and a try from a maul scored by Juan Martin Gonzalez of Saracens. But in attack they were continually thwarted by Australia’s breakdown defence, with prop Thomas Gallo going closest to a second try only to knock on over the line under pressure from new Wallabies captain Harry Wilson.

The defeat meant that were was no winning farewell for Agustin Creevy, the great Argentina hooker who came off the bench late on to win his 110th and final cap.

For new Australia coach Joe Schmidt and his young side the result will give them plenty of confidence given the testing weather, ahead of next week’s rematch in Santa Fe.

Advertisement

Provided by

Join the Lions in Australia with Jamie Roberts

Australia | 22 days

Join the Lions in Australia with Welsh rugby star Jamie Roberts, with tickets to all three Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

View more

12:59 AM BST

FULL-TIME: Argentina 19-20 Australia

Donaldson chips it over and Australia win!

But that’s a total mess with the clock - Doleman said there would be a restart then changed his mind?

The Wallabies snap an eight-game losing streak in the Rugby Championship but in controversial circumstances at the end.

12:56 AM BST

79 mins - Argentina 19-17 Australia

Gleeson, Alaalatoa with carries, trying to inch closer while working the clock. Penalty Australia! Vivas pinged and Donaldson can use the whole minute to take this easy penalty.

12:55 AM BST

78 mins - Argentina 19-17 Australia

Bold throw from the Wallabies to the tail, which they take. Donaldson back in the pocket but the Wallaby forwards carry well, 10 metres out now.

12:54 AM BST

77 mins - Argentina 19-17 Australia

Going to be a cagey old finish as Australia continue to struggle with their catching, Koroibete knocking on.

Wallabies trying to counter and have Jorgensen outside but the pass is too high and he spills it. Maybe that was Australia’s chance. Cleared to touch with three minutes to go, game on the line with Australia on the 22.

12:52 AM BST

74 mins - Argentina 19-17 Australia

Scrum is reset and then the Wallabies get a penalty! That will gain them some ground. They win the lineout and maul before sending up a box kick, but that’s well taken by Albornoz. Kicked and Lolesio spills it in the air, Argentina winning a scrum near halfway.

12:49 AM BST

71 mins - Argentina 19-17 Australia

Argentina may not win this, but they’ve handled the high ball and kicking game better in the rain than the Wallabies overall.

Australia pinned deep in their half but a good clearance, then a good counter kick to pin Lolesio back. He gets it clear but Cinti runs it back well, Argentina in the Australia 22... before Frost strips it. That was brave from the lock but it came off. Australia’s scrum deep in their 22.

Creevy coming on for his final and 110th appearance and the crowd are on their feet, huge roar for his final cap.

12:46 AM BST

PENALTY ALBORNOZ! Argentina 19-17 Australia

First strike and he nails it. Argentina with a narrow lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

12:44 AM BST

68 mins - Argentina 16-17 Australia

Nice maul move from Argentina with the transfer from the front pod to the back pod before the maul, somehow stopped by Australia a couple of metres out. Petti with a rumble, ball isn’t coming back but Argentina do have an offside penalty. Five -metre tap maybe? Crowd now getting into it. No, shot at the posts.

12:42 AM BST

67 mins - Argentina 16-17 Australia

Threatening run from Gonzalez off the base of the scrum, Argentina 10 metres out. Gallo bursts through the middle and dives for the line but knocks on under pressure from Wilson! Australia clear.

Great run back through from Argentina through Albornoz to the 22 and then Australia infringe, offside at the ruck. Posts or corner? Tough call, it’s going to the corner.

12:38 AM BST

65 mins - Argentina 16-17 Australia

Well cleared by Gordon after a rock solid Wallaby scrum. Visitors looking more comfortable in the last five minutes.

Argentina claim the lineout in the middle, Gonzalez driven back which forces Bertranou into a bit of a nothing kick. Australia have a kick charged down but somehow get it back.

Tense couple of minutes now as both teams try and win the kicking battle. Howler of a pass from Lolesio to Frost and Argentina turn it over, but can’t make the attack work. Scrum for Argentina though in Australia’s half.

12:34 AM BST

62 mins - Argentina 16-17 Australia

Solid scrum, Cordero running up off his wing. Matera now, then a nice ball from Santi Carreras to Cinti is too low and the centre knocks on. Wallaby scrum.

12:33 AM BST

60 mins - Argentina 16-17 Australia

Another dropped restart by the Wallabies, Koroibete this time. That area of the game is killing them.

What can Argentina do from this scrum in the Australia 22.

12:32 AM BST

PENALTY LOLESIO! Argentina 16-17 Australia

He gets it. From 10-0 to 16-17.

12:32 AM BST

59 mins - Argentina 16-14 Australia

Bit of a hashed clearance by Bertranou and from the lineout the Wallabies earn a penalty for playing the man in the air.

Lolesio going for the posts - this would mean that Australia take the lead for the first time.

12:29 AM BST

56 mins - Argentina 16-14 Australia

Australia’s maul still needs a lot of work but Ikitau’s carrying makes up for it, playing well the outside centre. Argentina however scrap to win the ball back and clear through Bertranou... no, charged down into touch. Going to be an Argentina scrum.

12:26 AM BST

54 mins - Argentina 16-14 Australia

Another breakdown penalty for the Wallabies, Tizzano again coming up big. With that Australia set up a lineout in Argentina’s 22.

12:26 AM BST

52 mins - Argentina 16-14 Australia

Gonzalez helped off, he’s replaced by Grondona. Australia have struggled with the restarts all game and knock on another, giving Argentina a scrum just outside the 22.

Penalty Australia! Bell getting the edge on Bello, who replaced Scalvi. Loelsio finds touch 40 metres out.

12:23 AM BST

TRY VALETINI! Argentina 16-14 Australia

Best bit of attack so far from the Wallabies and it’s thank to Ikitau, great strength in the tackle before offloading to Koroibete. Australia surging forward and Valetini powers over! Great score. Lolesio converts.

12:20 AM BST

49 mins - Argentina 16-7 Australia

Wallabies trying to wheel that to create a blindside attack and end up being driven into touch. You don’t see that very often.

Argentina win the lineout and clear through Bertranou’s box-kick, a good one finding touch deep down field.

Think the weather might actually be getting worse.

12:18 AM BST

47 mins - Argentina 16-7 Australia

Shows how wet conditions are, Santi Carreras wanted to pass inside to Mateo Carreras but the latter slipped, and Argentina ran into trouble. Kicked deep by the Wallabies and Mallia is forced to carry that over for a five-metre scrum for the Wallabies. Big chance now for the visitors.

12:17 AM BST

PENALTY S CARRERAS! Argentina 16-7 Australia

Good nine-point lead for Los Pumas now off the back of that.

12:16 AM BST

45 mins - Argentina 13-7 Australia

Scrum penalty Argentina! Looks to be on Bell for hinging. Simple shot this for Santi Carreras from the 22.

12:14 AM BST

44 mins - Argentina 13-7 Australia

Despite that setback this is a good start from Argentina, back into Australia’s 22. Lavanini scrambles an offload away, but then Argentina pass forward. Wallabies defending well there with the openside Tizzano very busy.

12:12 AM BST

42 mins - Argentina 13-7 Australia

Good run from Gallo and then Scalvi, the props with the big yards as Argentina look for an early score, but they knock on in the tackle and the Wallabies clear.

12:12 AM BST

Second half starts

Ideal start for Argentina as Australia mess up the kickoff and the ball bounces back Argentina’s way deep in Australia’s half.

12:09 AM BST

No change in the weather

Still looks like a wet, swirling wind in La Plata as the teams head back out.

11:55 PM BST

HALF-TIME: Argentina 13-7 Australia

Australia adding more late passes to their attack, which is testing Argentina a bit more. Ikitau trying to step and get outside the defence, but well handled. Now the Wallabies going backwards but Matera comes in illegally and plays the scrum-half.

It’s 40 metres out and Lolesio wants a shot. Starts well but just fades to the right.

Hooter sounds and that’s the break. Argentina worth their lead, defending well bar that one slip for Gordon’s try. Both sides struggling with the conditions as expected, it will come down to who can handle the ball better in the rain. Second half on the way.

11:53 PM BST

38 mins - Argentina 13-7 Australia

Shifty run from Mateo Carreras before Bell gets over the ball for a penalty turnover. Australia with the chance to attack as time winds down in this first half.

11:52 PM BST

36 mins - Argentina 13-7 Australia

Mallia claims the restart before Argentina clear. Good carry from Wallaby captain Wilson before Gordon box kicks, knocked on in the air by Australia and Argentina have the ball.

Bertranou now with the box-kick which no one wants and it bounces back Argentina’s way. Chocobares with a good low kick which will bounce into touch in the Australia 22.

11:50 PM BST

PENALTY S CARRERAS! Argentina 13-7 Australia

Straightforward chance slightly to the right... ah, the Wallabies thought the shot clock had expired so tried to charge Carreras down, but the clock was incorrect so we start again.

Easy chance from there which he lands to extend Argentina’s lead.

11:48 PM BST

31 mins - Argentina 10-7 Australia

Argentina eyeing up a swift response, camped inside the Australia 22. Forwards notably making more ground on those tight carries than the Wallabies.

Losing a bit of momentum due to the numbers put into the ruck to secure possession, but now a penalty coming as Stewart is slow to roll away.

Dropped so we’re back for the penalty and Santi Carreras wants to go for the posts.

11:44 PM BST

TRY GORDON! Argentina 10-7 Australia

Valetini with a huge carry which stuns Kremer, who knows how to hit. Australia going well, 10 metres out, and now an advantage for slowing the ball down.

They need to split his defence somehow and that’s sharp from Ikitau then Wright, passing back inside and finding the space for the scrum-half to go over. The final pass is checked but is good. Lolesio converts.

A no-look pass from Ikitau actually watching it again, that was really nice.

11:41 PM BST

26 mins - Argentina 10-0 Australia

Another breakdown win for Australia as Gallo goes off his feet at a ruck. Wallabies find touch 10 metres out, need to make something happen here.

11:39 PM BST

23 mins - Argentina 10-0 Australia

Chance for Los Pumas after Australia go for an intercept and miss, but that’s good work from Stewart on debut taking down Mallia before Tizzano pounces for a turnover. Australia clear.

11:37 PM BST

22 mins - Argentina 10-0 Australia

We stopped for a TMO check for foul play, but nothing spotted and on we go.

Argentina with a lineout 40 metres out, but that’s stolen well by Salakaia-Loto. Gordon sends up a box-kick and it’s lost forward by Santi Carreras... no, play on. Surely that went forward.

Argentina in possession inside the Australian half. Cross-field kick to Cordero doesn’t quite find him - think the wind is playing havoc with these higher kicks - as the Wallabies get it back and find touch through Gordon.

11:34 PM BST

Crumbs

11:33 PM BST

18 mins - Argentina 10-0 Australia

Soft penalty from the Wallabies at the restart for playing the man means Argentina can clear. They win the lineout at the tail, Tupou tries to disrupt the maul but does so illegally and that’s another penalty. Piggyback offences meaning that Argentina go from their 22 to the Wallabies’ own 22.

11:31 PM BST

A+ for effort

11:30 PM BST

TRY GONZALEZ! Argentina 10-0 Australia

That felt inevitable. Australia’s maul defence too disorganised and Argentina roll to the left with Saracens’ Juan Martin Gonzalez finishing it off. Santi Carreras nails the conversion.

11:29 PM BST

15 mins - Argentina 3-0 Australia

Indecision from Lolesio means that Argentina get the ball back through a Bertranou interception, and then kick long to pin Australia deep where feeling the heat the Wallabies are penalised for sealing off five metres from their line.

Maul or posts? They want the maul in the corner.

11:27 PM BST

13 mins - Argentina 3-0 Australia

Nice run from Gordon gets Australia back on the front foot, up to Argentina’s 22. Back to Lolesio who sends up a bomb, they’re clearly trying to target Mateo Carreras but Argentina win it back and after a carry from Lavanini, who seems to be staying on for Rubiolo, they clear through a box-kick.

11:26 PM BST

PENALTY S CARRERAS! Argentina 3-0 Australia

Clinical strike from the Gloucester back and after all that defending, it’s Argentina who take the early lead.

From the restart he then clears long under pressure from Valetini.

11:24 PM BST

11 mins - Argentina 0-0 Australia

Argentina with their first penalty and Santi Carreras is eyeing up a shot at the posts.

11:23 PM BST

10 mins - Argentina 0-0 Australia

It’s a night for nasty chip kicks and one from Lolesio causes Argentina a bit of bother, before Argentina kick long, send the Wallabies scrambling back and Lolesio harries a clearance to touch outside of his 22.

11:21 PM BST

8 mins - Argentina 0-0 Australia

Maul rumbles for a bit before Australia look wide. Blitz defence going well for Argentina, not much time for the Wallabies despite the rising phase count. Going backwards actually, good hands from Bell the loosehead out the back but still the defence holds firm. Over 15 phases now, Ikitau tries a grubber and it pinballs around coming back Australia’s way.

Tupou with his third run in the last two minutes, 20 phases now. Australia still outside the 22. Now 25 phases, almost back to the 10-metre line. Lolesio now chips over the top and it sits up, goalline dropout.

Australia went through 27 phases and came away with nothing. So, good skills in the wet but even better defence.

11:17 PM BST

5 mins - Argentina 0-0 Australia

There’s the impact of Tupou coming back already, as Gallo folds under pressure to give up a scrum penalty. Tupou back in action after the death of his father.

Lolesio with a good touchfinder from the penalty, Australia set up 10 metres out.

11:15 PM BST

3 mins - Argentina 0-0 Australia

Good defensive work from Australia to get the ball back and clear. Bomb sent up and Mallia knocks on, so a Wallaby scrum. Going to be plenty of high-ball errors in these conditions.

11:14 PM BST

2 mins - Argentina 0-0 Australia

A slice of a clearance from Wright gives Argentina an attacking lineout. Early stoppage with Rubiolo still down after his head caught the hip of Salakaia-Loto, he’s off for an HIA and blood treatment while Lavanini comes on.

11:13 PM BST

Kickoff!

James Doleman from New Zealand is your referee, as Lolesio gets us going, taken well given the wind and rain by Rubiolo.

11:10 PM BST

Creevy arm-in-arm with Matera

Even in the rain you can see the tears. We’re also getting the extra-long version of Argentina national anthem, which threw me for about 30 seconds.

11:05 PM BST

Late change on the bench for Argentina

Gonzalo García comes in for Lautaro Bazán Vélez, who picked up a knock in the warm-up.

11:00 PM BST

The weather is... bad

Looks proper grim, very wet, very windy. A big night for the mauls.

10:52 PM BST

Almost time

10:40 PM BST

New Wallabies skipper

Harry Wilson’s cap against Georgia recently was his first appearance for Australia in 655 days. With flanker Liam Wright, the original captain, out injured, here was Schmidt’s honest assessment of Wilson being given the captaincy and what it means long term.

10:32 PM BST

Team news

Three changes for Argentina from that loss in Auckland, with Joel Sclavi in a tighthead, Franco Molina at lock and Marcos Kremer shifting to the back row.

The Wallabies meanwhile have a new captain in Harry Wilson, the 90th player to lead Australia. Hamish Stewart makes a debut at inside centre but the big news is at tighthead, where Taniela Tupou is welcomingly back involved and ready to cause havoc. Lock Nick Frost and scrum-half Jake Gordon also return.

Argentina: J Mallia; S Cordero, L Cinti, S Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, G Bertranou; T Gallo, J Montoya (c), J Sclavi, F Molina, P Rubiolo, P Matera, M  Kremer, J Gonzalez

Replacements: A Creevy, M Vivas, E Bello, G Petti, T Lavanini, J Oviedo, L Bazan Velez, T Albornoz

Australia: T Wright; A Kellaway, L Ikitau, H Stewart, M Koroibete; N Lolesio, J Gordon; A Bell, M Faessler, T Tupou, N Frost, L Salakaia-Loto, R Valetini, C Tizzano, H Wilson (c)

Replacements: J Nasser, I Kailea, A Alaalatoa, J Williams, L Gleeson, T McDermott, B Donaldson, M Jorgensen

10:20 PM BST

A bit more on the great Creevy

- 109 caps for Los Pumas

- Four Rugby World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023)

- His Test debut came in 2005, as a back-row against Japan, two years before he signed his first professional deal with Biarritz

We spoke a couple of years ago and he was equally elated by Argentina’s first-ever win in New Zealand and crushed to not be part of it. So to contribute so significantly in Wellington earlier this month must have meant the world to him.

10:00 PM BST

Welcome along

Evening (to everyone in the UK) and hello to the rest of the world as we build up to the second Rugby Championship game of the day between Argentina and Australia in La Plata.

If you missed the mini classic earlier, fear not - here is an excellent write-up from Charles Richardson soaking in a Test which the All Blacks appeared set to win when leading 27-17 in the final quarter, only for the Springboks to find a way to win, as they seem to so often do at the moment. Personally, very much here for the continuing rise of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half.

As for this game, it’s goodbye to a legend in Agustin Creevy, the former Argentina captain who is playing his final Test at the age of 39. Starting from the bench as he has in recent Tests, Creevy was magnificent in the recent win over New Zealand and truly has aged like a fine wine during the last few years during his time in the Premiership with first London Irish and then Sale Sharks, while continuing to be a hugely valuable asset for Argentina. On the evidence of his try-scoring cameo in Wellington a few weeks ago, Creevy is going out on a high. A fantastic player, obviously, but a top guy as well.

Argentina copped a bit of a backlash from the All Blacks at Eden Park, which was partly to be expected, but they certainly look in better shape than Australia after a couple of matches. No side is undergoing a bigger revamp than Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies and a win here would be a welcome boost after two bashings from South Africa on home soil.

All the build-up coming your way over the next hour so get your coffees (or maté) ready for kickoff in an hour.