Australia opened their five match autumn tour with an unconvincing 17-6 win over Argentina at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
According to the match report on the offiicail Australian rugby website, this was “a stodgy match punctuated by ferocious encounters up front with few highlights. It was marred by fighting, stop-start play, poor execution, a serious injury to winger Ben Tune and allegations by the Wallabies that the Pumas were guilty of eye-gouging.”
The Wallabies led 14-6 at the break but were perhaps lucky to do so as Puma out-half, Felipe Contepomi missed five kicks at goal and in general was less than impressive in the pivotal postion.
In contrast, his opposite number, Stephen Larkham played a hugely influential role in his side’s victory. His tactical kicking kept the home side continuously on the hind-foot and he set up left-wing Stirling Mortlock for the game’s only try just before the break.
Centre Matt Burke added three first-half penalties for the Aussies.
Argentina:Ignacio Corleto; Josi Marma Nuqez Piossek, Josi Orengo, Lisandro Arbizu (capt), Diego Albanese; Felipe Contepomi, Agustmn Pichot; Mauricio Reggiardo, Federico Mindez, Omar Hasan; Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Rimas Alvarez; Santiago Phelan, Rolando Martmn, Gonzalo Longo.
Replacements. Mario Ledesma, Roberto Grau, Pedro Sporleder, Martmn Durand, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Juan de la Cruz Fernandez Miranda, Gonzalo Camardon.
Australia: Mat Rogers; Ben Tune, Matthew Burke, Daniel Herbert, Stirling Mortlock; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), Bill Young. Jeremy Paul, Patricio Noriega; Justin Harrison, Daniel Vickerman; Matt Cockbain, George Smith, Toutai Kefu.
Replacements: Adam Freier, Ben Darwin, David Giffin, David Croft, Chris Whitaker, Elton Flatley, Wendell Sailor.
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand).
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