Wallabies win close Test in Argentina, coach Kiss still unbeaten

Topic:Rugby Union

Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa scores the first of four Australian tries against Argentina. (AP: Gustavo Garello)

The Wallabies have won a gritty and tense Test match described by two separate players as "bloody hard", securing a 27-21 win over Argentina.

Australia scored four tries to three in Sunday morning's clash in the mountain town of San Salvador de Jujuy, where the stadium sits more than 1,200 metres above sea level.

The Wallabies made a hot start with three tries in the opening 20 minutes, but had to show plenty of determination to hold off an Argentine fightback to secure the team's fourth Test win in a row.

The Australian forwards were excellent for much of the match, especially disrupting the Los Pumas' line-out in the second half.

Australia's forwards were very good in the set piece against Argentina. (AP: Gustavo Garello)

Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight was named player of the match after an effort where he was a constant feature around the ball, including a crucial penalty won late in the contest with Argentina attacking inside the 22m.

"It was a back-and-forth sort of match," McReight told the host broadcaster.

"Argentina were very good. I felt like we were pretty poor in some areas, but [I'm] just really proud of the group and I'm happy we got the win over here."

The Wallabies were by no means perfect in Jujuy, with winger Max Jorgensen and flanker Tom Hooper each describing the match and conditions as "bloody hard" in separate interviews.

The Wallabies made a hot start with the opening two tries of the match. Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa finished off a lovely passage of passing between forwards to score in the seventh minute, then fly half Carter Gordon touched down four minutes later from close range after the Wallabies forwards pounded their way to the goal line.

Argentina struck back through fullback Geronimo Prisciantelli after a lovely backline move, but when McReight scored in the 20th minute, the Wallabies were in control at 19-7.

But Los Pumas wrestled back the momentum, and a sin bin with Wallabies winger Harry Potter for deliberately knocking the ball down in the 25th minute put the home side in the ascendancy.

Argentina number eight Joaquin Moro took a quick tap from close range and powered over the line to reduce the deficit to five points, but a penalty goal from Wallabies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan gave Australia a 22-14 lead at the break.

Lonergan came off after just five minutes in the second half after making a desperate cover tackle to deny Prisciantelli a second try.

Los Pumas were denied a try due to a forward pass picked up by the TMO in the 48th minute, but loosehead prop Boris Wenger dove over three minutes later to reduce Australia's lead to one point.

But the Wallabies responded quickly, with a line break from centre Hunter Paisami putting Australia into the attacking 22m, and leading to Hooper reaching out a few plays later to give the Wallabies a 27-21 lead.

The Wallabies were on top as the second half wore on, but could not get the try to seal the game. Jeremy Williams knocked on while trying to score, then reserve scrumhalf Tate McDermott was held up over the line.

It kept Los Pumas in the contest, but the Wallabies' defence held firm in the final five minutes to secure the win.

"It was a very tough game. Everyone knows that coming over to Argentina is a bloody hard place to win. It's you against them, plus the whole stadium," Jorgensen told Stan Sport.

"It wasn't near perfect, we've still got a lot of work to do, but to come away with a win in Argentina is very good."

The win is Australia's fourth in a row, and maintains coach Les Kiss's perfect record after three Tests in charge.

Australia has leapfrogged Argentina into seventh on the World Rugby rankings, with both sides to meet next week in the second Test at Mendoza.

Follow all the live action from the first Test between the Wallabies and Argentina in the blog below.

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By Michael Doyle

This is where we will end this morning's live coverage of Australia's first Test against Argentina.

The Wallabies secured a 27-21 win, to make it four straight Test wins.

Thank you for joining us this morning.

By Michael Doyle

Here are the remaining Test matches for the Wallabies in 2026.

By Michael Doyle

Here are some of the thoughts from Wallabies coach Les Kiss after this morning's 27-21 win.

That's Test rugby, isn't it?

We weren't perfect; neither were they.

I think they really controlled the ruck well … I thought we didn't manage that as well as we could have.

Their defence certainly tested us, we're going to have to be better in that area next week.

By Michael Doyle

Wallabies openside flanker Fraser McReight has been named player of the match.

Here are some of his comments to the host broadcaster in Argentina.

It was a back-and-forth sort of match.

Argentina were very good. I felt like we were pretty poor in some areas, but just really proud of the group and I'm happy we got the win over here.

By Michael Doyle

It was a mighty tough Test match, thanks in no small part to the fact the stadium is over 1,200 metres above sea level.

Wallabies flanker Tom Hooper, who scored Australia's fourth try this morning, has summed up the challenge nicely, speaking to Stan Sport.

Here at altitude, the shoulders are sore, the lungs are sore, the legs have a bit of chaffing on them.

It was a bloody hard Test match.

Something that was noticeable on the broadcast was the small pockets of gold in the crowd at Jujuy.

They played their part in lifting the Wallabies to a very good win, and Hooper wanted to acknowledge that.

Just looking at a bit of gold support here that have travelled a log way to support us, we're very grateful to them.

By Michael Doyle

Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen is speaking with broadcaster Stan Sport, after Australia's 27-21 win in Jujuy.

It was a very tough game. Everyone knows that coming over to Argentina is a bloody hard place to win. It's you against them, plus the whole stadium.

It wasn't near perfect, we've still got a lot of work to do, but to come away with a win in Argentina is very good.

Key Event

By Michael Doyle

Wallabies coach Les Kiss remains unbeaten as Australia recorded a 27-21 win over Argentina in Jujuy.

The Wallabies started well with two tries in the opening 15 minutes and held a 19-7 lead after 20 minutes.

A sin bin to Australia winger Harry Potter in the 25th minute shifted the momentum, and Argentina worked themselves back into the contest.

The Wallabies led 22-14 at half-time, but when Argentina scored first in the second half, the Wallabies' advantage was just one point.

But Australia lifted as the game went on, with Tom Hooper's 55th-minute try giving the Wallabies a six-point lead, which they would hold for the final 25 minutes.

By Michael Doyle

The Wallabies have a scrum and win the ball.

Australia shifts the ball to the right and makes a linebreak.

The ball is passed inside to Fraser McReight, who drops the ball.

Argentina gets the ball, and they need to go 70 metres as the final siren sounds.

But a dropped ball is picked up by Australia, and kicked out.

Wallabies win.

By Michael Doyle

Argentina have a line-out, 35 metres away from the Wallabies' goal-line.

Los Pumas need a converted try to win the Test match.

But the Wallabies contest the line-out and win the ball.

Australia has 90 seconds to hold on, but the ball is stolen back by Argentina.

The crowd lifts, but a knock-on from Los Pumas winger Rodrigo Isgro ends the attack.

Australia has a scrum with less than one minute to play.

By Michael Doyle

Argentina had shifted the momentum after a couple of poor kicks from Australia.

A kick from Tate McDermott did not go far, and Los Pumas had the ball inside the attacking 22m.

But a massive hit from the Wallabies drove Argentina back, then Fraser McReight came over the top, got his hands on the ball, and won the penalty in the breakdown.

Key Event

By Michael Doyle

The Wallabies have an attacking scrum, five metres from the Argentina goal-line.

The Wallabies are awarded a free-kick for Argentina going early.

Scrumhalf Tate McDermott quickly taps and goes for the line.

McDermott gets over the line, but he is held up. It is a goal-line dropout.

A huge save for Argentina.

Argentina 21

Wallabies 27

Key Event

By Michael Doyle

The Wallabies believed they had scored, with lock Jeremey Willimas being awarded a try.

But the TMO has intervened, finding a knock-on from Williams before getting to the line.

It is a no try, but the Wallabies were playing with advantage and have another penalty.

The Wallabies elect for a scrum, five metres out.

Argentina 21

Wallabies 27

By Michael Doyle

The Wallabies have a scrum in the attacking half, and the big men rip apart the Argentina pack.

The Wallabies have a penalty and could choose to go for goal.

But Australia kick for the corner.

By Michael Doyle

The Wallabies hold a narrow six-point lead.

Both sides have been trying to gain a territorial advantage in the previous 10 minutes with the kicking game.

A few errors have crept in for both sides as the pressure ramps up.

Argentina 21

Wallabies 27

Key Event

By Michael Doyle

Wonderful rugby from the Wallabies.

A nice offload at midfield from Rob Valetini put inside centre Hunter Paisami into a gap.

Paisami went down, got back up, and made another 10 metres.

That run put Argentina on the back foot and the Wallabies inside the attacking 22m.

The Wallabies continued to march forward until Tom Hooper charged over.

Ben Donaldson, who has come off the bench, missed the conversion attempt.

Argentina 21

Wallabies 27

By Michael Doyle

Argentina tap from close range and try to charge over the goal-line.

After inching forward, loosehead prop Boris Wenger picks and drives, and he gets the ball on the line.

Argentina 21

Wallabies 22

By Michael Doyle

The Wallabies need to clear the ball from inside their own 22.

A kick from the base of the ruck from Tate McDermott is charged down by Argentina, but as the Wallabies regather the ball, they were penalised for obstruction.

Argentina tap quickly and defend the goal-line.

The Wallabies are repeatedly offside, drawing another penalty and a warning from referee Ben O'Keeffe.

By Michael Doyle

The Wallabies were in attack, but were too cute with their short passing and knocked the ball forward.

Argentina is on the counterattack, streak down the left wing, and they score.

There looked to be at least one forward pass in that sequence, and maybe two forward passes.

The TMO immediately has a look at the play and finds that the final pass, which was a looping pass infield from scrumhalf Simon Benitez Cruz, was forward.

By Michael Doyle

Argentina attacks the goal-line and fullback Geronimo Prisciantelli is charging to the left corner.

Wallabies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan makes a desperate cover tackle to deny Argentina's fullback.

But Lonergan stays down, appearing to hold a forearm.

He is off and Tate McDermott has come on for Australia.

Argentina 14

Wallabies 22

Key Event

By Michael Doyle

Argentina kick off to begin the second half.

The Wallabies are running to the right of your screen.

The kick-off goes out on the full, and the Wallabies will have a scrum on halfway.

The Wallabies win a scrum penalty, with Argentina loosehead prop Boris Wenger pinged for pulling his binding arm back.

Key Event

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