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Welcome to our live coverage of the second Rugby Championship Test of the tournament, with Australia hosting Argentina on the Gold Coast. The Wallabies got out of jail against South Africa last weekend, while the Pumas posed many questions of the All Blacks before the New Zealanders ran away with the verdict. Australia will fancy their chances, given their strong backline, but Argentina will believe they can dominate the forward exchanges.
We're under way with Bernard Foley kicking off, and Argentina collect under stern pressure before rumbling forward through the back and then roosting the ball crossfield to the Australia 10m.
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| 1 |
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Wallabies showing slick hands left and right, and Michael Hooper makes a solid half-break.
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| 2 |
5 - 0 |
Wallabies recycle again and again to complete 10 phases before Bernard Foley puts Michael Hooper into a chasm, and the Wallabies captain runs 20 to score through a tryline tackle. Superb try from Australia, just like last week, but "Iceman" Foley pulls his conversion badly.
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| 3 |
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Bernard Foley attacking the line strongly for Australia and timing his passes beautifully to put the team firmly on the front foot. Handling really good at the minute, especially considering what will be greasy ball in wet conditions.
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| 6 |
5 - 5 |
What a try for Manuel Montero, who runs 55m and beats Peter Betham, Bernard Foley and Bernard Foley to capitalise on turnover ball. Great pace and power from the winger, and no wonder Western Force are chasing him to replace Nick Cummins. Wonder what his nickname is?
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| 7 |
5 - 7 |
Sanchez - conversion
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| 8 |
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Penalty from Rob Horne, for going into a ruck from the wrong angle, no doubt will have Ewen McKenzie grating his nails.
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| 10 |
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Izzy Folau spills a high ball, and we have the first scrum of the game. Wallabies set-piece 1kg heavier. No doubt the Pumas won that, and Sekope Kepu looked to struggle, but Australia effect a penalty at the ensuing breakdown.
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| 13 |
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Australia continue to put the ball wide quickly, and Israel Folau is finding himself increasingly prominent inside his winger on either flank. Leonardo Senatore pinged there for coming into the ruck from the side.
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| 15 |
8 - 7 |
Poor from Australia at the restart there, Israel Folau under pressure from Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, and Argentina win the ball back and claim second scrum of the game.
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| 18 |
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Argentina penalised for hinging at the scrum.
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| 19 |
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Third long, loopy pass from Matt Toomua to go adrift, and Argentina almost claim the intercept.
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| 21 |
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Nick Phipps taps ang goes, but pretty sure Michael Hooper wanted to kick the goal but scrum-half had his back turned. Straight in front, and should have gone for goal. All well and good trying to play quickly, but Australia lacking just a little structure at the minute.
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| 22 |
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Australia giving as good as getting at the scrum, but Pumas awarded a penalty at following breakdown for not rolling away.
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| 25 |
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The game is just in a slight slump at the minute, but Australia will be pleased with their scrum as it is Argentina who seem to be struggling - with both props struggling to keep the bind.
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| 26 |
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Australia's handling has slackened since earlier praise, most probably because of the pace at which they're trying to play, Scott Fardy in at scrum-half at the breakdown, and his delivery to Matt Toomua was lamentable.
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| 28 |
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Australia have had 68% ball and 76% territory; they'll be disappointed to lead by just one point.
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| 29 |
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Rob Simmons does well to win an Argentina lineout at the front, but Jame Slipper then drops the ball cold at the next phase. Argentina scrum left of centre deep in Australia 22. Leonardo Senatore picks and goes from the scrum but Martin Landajo's pass then is so obviously forward. Poor play.
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| 31 |
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Wallabies scrum and have a split attacking set up even deep in 22, but Argentina penalised again at the scrum for collapsing. Can only imagine the headlines in Australia if their scrum was this poor tonight ...
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| 32 |
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Australia now deep in Argentina 22 after back-to-back-to-back penalties. Win the ensuing lineout and go off the top. Bernard Foley makes a slick break only to be held up just short. Nick Phipps darts from the ensuing breakdown under the posts but Michael Hooper penalised for obstruction. Poor, poor, poor from the skipper.
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| 34 |
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Argentina unable to clear lines, and Australia back on the attack. Nick Phipps passes to Bernard Foley with a 3-on-1 to the left, but the pivot coughs the pill under pressure from Marcelo Bosch and Juan Imhoff. Creating opportunities but execution under pressure leaving something to be desired.
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| 35 |
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Tatafu Polota-Nau looking very ginger after a breakdown, copping a knock on his left ankle.
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| 36 |
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Penalty for Australia after Argentina try to pick from the back of a scrabbling scrum. Referee adjudicates a maul and ball not coming out. Fantastic work from the pack there and they back up with a solid scrum at ensuing set-piece.
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| 37 |
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Australia unable to capitalise on the ball before awarded another penalty. This time Nick Phipps is nowhere near the ball and Bernard Foley steps up from 10m in front of the posts.
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| 38 |
11 - 7 |
Israel Folau collects the kick-off and then beats about six players - several twice - in carting the ball to the 10m line. Australia putting patience phases together and now at Argentina 10m.
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| 40 |
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Australia still putting phases together after the siren, and the win a penalty after Benjamin Macome penalised for not rolling away.
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| 40+1 |
14 - 7 |
Tatafu Polota-Nau really struggling with his ankle, and wonder how much of the second half he'll see from between the stripes. Sweet kick from Bernard Foley. Australia will really think they should be much further ahead given the possession and territory they've, and given that Argentina seem to have no scrum and nothing behind. We'll be back shortly for the second half.
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| 40 |
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We're back underway without Tatafu Polota-Nau. #HookersCurse. Argentina gift Australia penalty at kickoff and Matt Toomua roosts the ball into Pumas territory.
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| 42 |
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Australia now on the Pumas 22 as they go through the 14th phase. Patient play and Rob Horne and Bernard Foley have each made a half-break.
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| 43 |
19 - 7 |
Four more phases and they spill the pill for Argentina to hack clear. Israel Folau chips to no-one but Montero spills under no pressure and Michael Hooper swoops and runs 30m unchallenged to bag his second of the game. Talk about something from nothing.
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| 44 |
21 - 7 |
Wallabies making a good habit of starting games and halves with intent. Must go on with it.
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| 47 |
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Argentina going through phases after Nicolas Sanchez misses a penalty, with Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Juan Manuel Leguizamon each involved multiple times, but they do tend towards the lateral until Juam Imhoff makes a half-break. Producing phases but little threat.
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| 49 |
21 - 10 |
Sanchez - penalty goal
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| 50 |
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Back under way after a roundabout of players post penalty. All change due to a succession of injuries.
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| 51 |
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Wallabies choose a scrum after Pumas lineout not straight. Says a lot about their confidence up front, especially after Argentina players showing signing of frustration and fraying. The pack then wins their third scrum penalty. After initial trouble at the first set-piece, Sekope Kepu has been outstandings. Simply outstanding.
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| 52 |
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Interesting substitution. Good to see how Beale goes outside Foley rather than in place of.
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| 54 |
24 - 10 |
Good kick from Bernard Foley after Kurtley Beale had effectively won the penalty.
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| 57 |
24 - 13 |
Argentina finally execute a bajada but the butcher the pick up at the back, but Australia penalised for collapsing the set-piece.
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| 58 |
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Kudos to Sekope Kepu. Warrior-like in the tight tonight.
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| 59 |
29 - 13 |
Wonderful try from Australia, again out of nothing. Aimless kicks back and forward before Bernard Foley feeds Nick Phipps, who makes a super break in midfield before linking with Peter Betham. Winger runs on to the ball then does well under pressure from Manuel Montero to bag his first Test try. Something out of nothing again. And perhaps the Force might not now be so keen on Montero. He's been poor in defence.
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| 61 |
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Pumas trying to get back in the game, Nicolas Sanchez in particular, but ...
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| 63 |
29 - 18 |
Argentina very close to a try after tapping and going when Australian penalised for not being 10. Marcelo Bosch then crosses untouched after Argentina recycle the ball. Have to wonder how such a limited team can be so close on the board with just 25% possession.
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| 65 |
29 - 20 |
Sanchez - conversion
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| 66 |
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Superb break from Bernard Foley, who then pops a little pass but Scott Higginbotham can't pouch the pill. Foley surely close to being Man of the Match.
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| 67 |
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Argentina win their second scrum penalty, and the game has changed shape a little since the substitutions. Kurtley Beale and Scott Higginbotham not having much effect right now.
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| 68 |
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Argentina put the ball through hands left and they're back on the Australia 22. Little grubber chip from the outside of the boot of Tomas Cubelli, and Folau struggles to defuse. 5m scrum Pumas.
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| 70 |
29 - 25 |
Australia scrummage superbly, but Rob Horne spills in contact and how Argentina capitalise. Lovely kick through from Nicolas Sanchez, and Joaquin Tuculet touches down.
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| 72 |
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Penalty Australia, effected by Matt Hodgson as Argentina fail to release from the kick-off. Could be key. Very strong over the ball there, Matt Hodgson.
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| 73 |
32 - 25 |
Straightforward kick from Bernard Foley. Australia back out to seven-point buffer.
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| 74 |
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Australia secure that kick-off comfortably, and interesting to see Nic White roost the ball long away from the home 22.
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| 75 |
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Argentina now looking to put the ball though hands, and Montero just pulled down on the left. Tomas Cubelli then makes a wonderful break, but he dummies rather than passes and they miss a golden opportunity to score under the posts. Good tackle from Nic White, but poor decision making from the replacement half.
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| 76 |
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Australian scrum under pressure but just holding up. Replacement front-rankers certainly struggling.
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| 77 |
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"New front rows, unacceptable," referee Glenn Jackson says. Too true. Next infringment will be a penalty not a reset. And the penalty goes to Argentina. They call for another 5m scrum.
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| 79 |
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Wallabies hold the scrum, and the second surge. Really well done. Don't expect to see the Pumas let the ball leave the scrum.
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| 80 |
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Free-kick to Australia. "Nine put the ball in and I never said yes," Glenn Jackson says. And that's enough to see Australia home. They looked like running away with it, and in the end they'll be glad just to hang on. You don't expect to see that after they've had 75% possession and 81% territory. Thanks for your company, and we'll be back in a fortnight.
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