- Wallabies break records in embarrassing defeat
- Argentina scored 67 points against the Australian defense
- It is the most points conceded in a test match by the Wallabies
Argentina gave the Wallabies a historic thrashing in Santa Fe, scoring nine tries to overturn a 17-point deficit and win 67-27.
The hosts trailed 20-3 before hitting top gear with 10 minutes remaining in the first half on Sunday morning (AEST), scoring four tries in the final nine minutes.
It is the most points the Wallabies have ever conceded in a Test, surpassing the 61-22 thrashing they received in South Africa in 1997.
The thrashing came after a last-minute 20-19 victory over Argentina in torrential rain seven days ago.
This time, in bright sunshine, Australia again came into their own when Ben Donaldson found joy down the blindside to set up fullback Andrew Kellaway for his second try and create a 17-point lead.
Back row Carlo Tizzano had previously scored the first try of the match after Los Pumas’ penalty goal.
But the hosts turned the game around 10 minutes before the break when Mateo Carreras finished off excellent work from Pablo Matera before captain Julian Montoya broke through the battered Wallabies defence.
They came close to scoring again before the break, but were undaunted after the restart: an early unforced error by Marika Koroibete gave them position on the field and allowed Juan Martín González to score.
Australia suffered a humiliating 67-27 defeat as Los Pumas scored nine tries
The Wallabies held a 17-point lead before conceding the most points in Test rugby.
Pablo Matera’s try came after Schmidt replaced his halves, who could only watch as Argentina reached full speed and Joaquín Oviedo’s try added 38 consecutive points.
Koroibete was pushed into touch after scrum-half Tate McDermott played him through a gap, the substitute scrum-half doing so himself, tapping in and running through traffic to stop the rot.
There was still a glimmer of hope with 10 minutes remaining, when Argentina slammed the door shut in a devastating final passage that created an unwanted story for Schmidt’s men.
Juan Cruz Mallia made two passes in just a few minutes and Oviedo added another to complete the massacre. Australia’s next mission will be New Zealand in Sydney on September 21.
