Argentina v Australia - the form guide
Pumas made the breakthrough against Wallabies in the 2014 Rugby Championship and will be hoping to recreate the magic of Mendoza in the semi-final at Twickenham
LONDON, 20 Oct - Argentina’s development after four years in the Rugby Championship can be traced by the outcome of the last five editions of this fixture against Australia.
The Pumas tried, tried and tried again until a year ago in Mendoza they finally prevailed, earning their first victory in the competition, a breakthrough which has subsequently enabled Daniel Hourcade’s team to push on with confidence and properly express their talents at this World Cup.
Here is a rundown of the five most recent clashes between Sunday's semi-finalists:
ARGENTINA 9 AUSTRALIA 34
(Mendoza, 25 July, 2015)
Two tries in the final two minutes from Tevita Kuridrani and Adam Ashley-Cooper (pictured above, with Nicolas Sanchez) put a rather flattering gloss on what had been a none too fluid performance from the Wallabies and a miserably uninspired one from the hosts. They were within two points at the interval, thanks to some poor goal-kicking from Bernard Foley, but conceded 26 second-half points and never looked like repeating the heroics at the same ground the previous year.
ARGENTINA 21 AUSTRALIA 17
(Mendoza, 4 October, 2014)
An historic and ecstatically greeted triumph for the Pumas, which saw fireworks ignited over the stadium after they recorded their first ever Rugby Championship win at their 18th attempt stretching back three years. There looked no prospect of Argentina earning their first win over the Wallabies for 17 years when they quickly went 14-0 down through tries from Kuridrani and Scott Higginbotham but Leonardo Senatore's try cut the deficit before half-time and the Pumas went ahead with a score from Juan Imhoff. Argentina held on to win but there was controversy when Foley could only hit the post with a penalty with 10 minutes to go after he had a laser pen aimed at him as he lined up the kick.
AUSTRALIA 32 ARGENTINA 25
(Gold Coast, 13 September, 2014 )
A pulsating game which featured three tries from either side and saw Argentina threaten to pick up their first Rugby Championship win. But Michael Hooper (below) ploughed over for two tries, one at the start of each half, and in difficult, rainy conditions, Foley kicked 17 points.
ARGENTINA 17 AUSTRALIA 54
(Rosario, 5 October, 2013)
Israel Folau (below) was in blistering form, scoring a hat-trick in the Wallabies’ seven-try rout as they recorded their biggest test win over the Pumas for 13 years. From the moment the brilliant full-back whipped over for the first try in the second minute the boisterous home crowd were silenced and the visitors stormed into a 25-3 half-time lead. Foley scored a try on his debut.
AUSTRALIA 14 ARGENTINA 13
(Perth, 14 September, 2013)
On a miserable wet and windy day at the Subiaco Oval not designed for attractive rugby, Australia laboured to a badly needed win which was decorated by a brilliant try from Israel Folau, who blasted through four tackles to touch down. On a four-match losing streak, the home side found themselves under real pressure again after taking an early stranglehold. Juan Manuel Leguizamon's try brought the Pumas to within a point of the lead with 15 minutes to go but it was not enough to make their Rugby Championship breakthrough.
RNS ic/js/co/sw
Argentina’s entry into semi finals has increased the hopes of back home their national heroes have come out to support their rugby team. Watch Rugby Argentina v Australia Live Semi Final
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