Australia scored a last-minute try through reserve prop Angus Bell to secure a 28-24 comeback win over Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The Wallabies trailed 21-7 at halftime but rallied behind two tries from center Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i before Bell crossed in the sixth minute of added time. Australia had turned down three kickable penalties after the 80th minute, choosing instead to press for the winning score.
“It’s just relieving,” Bell said. “It’s awesome we could get the win in the end; not go for the penalty goal and back our system.”
Captain Harry Wilson said the team was determined to finish strongly.
“We could have gone for the goal and taken the draw. But everyone believed we could finish the job … 25,000 people pleading for us to tap it and try and win the game made the difference.”
Argentina dominated the first half with penalties from Mateo Carreras and tries to Bautista Delguy and Carreras, leading 21-7 at the break in humid conditions. Halfback Nic White scored Australia’s only points in the opening 40 minutes.
Sua’ali’i began the Wallabies’ comeback with a try early in the second half and added another soon after Argentina were reduced to 14 men when Carreras was sent off following repeated infringements. The match was tied 21-21 after 63 minutes before the teams exchanged penalties.
Bell’s late effort then sealed Australia’s second win of the tournament.
“It was far from a good performance,” Argentina captain Julian Montoya said. “In the second half, we gave away a lot of penalties that we can control, and then we gave them position pretty easy.”
Both sides are now 2-1 after three rounds of the Rugby Championship.
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