The Sydney Morning Herald 

Iain Payten 

The Wallabies have finally put another trophy in the cabinet but they botched a chance to claim back-to-back wins in Argentina in a 28-all draw in Mendoza, after failing to make the most of a two-man advantage over the Pumas in the last ten minutes.

And the result could have come at a worrying cost, with star playmaker Carter Gordon sent for scans on an ankle injury after limping off in the second half, leaving him in doubt for the upcoming clash with South Africa.

Australia won back the Puma Trophy for the first time since 2023 and continued their unbeaten run under new coach Les Kiss, but it was something of a hollow result in a game the Wallabies had ample opportunities to win.

The Wallabies pose with the Puma Trophy, for the first time since 2023.

The Wallabies pose with the Puma Trophy, for the first time since 2023.Getty Images

Having led 14-0 deep in the first half, the Wallabies allowed the Pumas to rally back through ill-discipline and a pile of mistakes. And the home side even took the lead in the 63rd minute after a second try to inspirational skipper Pablo Matera, going up 28-21.

With less than 10 minutes on the clock, the Pumas then lost two men to the sin-bin for deliberate knock-downs, and the second one also gave a penalty try to Australia, which locked up the scores again. The yellow cards offered the Wallabies a gift-wrapped chance to sweep home and win.

But despite being up against 13 men for eight minutes, the Wallabies then couldn’t manage to press home their advantage. Needing to hold the ball and build pressure, the Wallabies instead rushed and turned the ball over when chances to ice the game arrived.

Fullback Tom Wright capped a forgettable 50th Test by kicking the ball away with one opportunity, and then knocking on another pass later on. It didn’t help that halfback Ryan Lonergan was playing no.10 for the last 12 minutes given Ben Donaldson had already replaced, and Gordon was off injured.

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Jorgensen catches 14-man Pumas short out wide

Max Jorgensen catches the 14-man Pumas short out wide as the Wallabies lead grows.

“They had a bit of field position, they really managed around four to five minutes out of it with their pistons down our end,” Kiss said.

“We certainly got the opportunity to get away from that. We went up to the other end and possibly had made some opportunities, probably kicked the ball away, (instead of) keeping it in the hand and keep the pressure on.

“A pass went awry that should have stuck. Fundamental things like that, just simple things that just didn’t give us a chance to take that game away from them. And in the end, they managed to hold that ball for a long period of time.

“We had opportunities to show the ref that we had hands on the ball. It didn’t quite get the call that we were after. But it’s Test Rugby, it becomes tough and fair play to them on their home turf.”

Fraser McReight of Australia celebrates in Mendoza after scoring a try.

Fraser McReight of Australia celebrates in Mendoza after scoring a try.Getty Images

On Gordon’s injury, Kiss said: “He’s going to get some scans. He just had a blow on his leg, lower limb, by contact on the lower limb. We’re just going to get that checked out properly with some scans hopefully over the next few hours and hopefully we’ve got some information in the morning.“

The post-match mood may have been bit flat but Kiss said it was important to celebrate the fact the Wallabies had walked away from a tour of Argentina without a loss, and with a trophy to put in the mostly empty cabinet back home.

Coming into the game, Australia only held two of the 11 bilateral trophies it regularly plays for against other nations (the Bevan Cup against Wales, and the Vuvale Cup against Fiji). Argentina had held the Puma Trophy since 2023.

The Wallabies managed to stop the trend of losing second Test matches in Argentina after a big first-up win, but there was no buoyant celebrations after a game where their struggle to smartly manage the game, and efficiently exit their half in particular, allowed the Pumas far too much opportunity to build pressure in the Aussie half, and stay in the game.

It all forced the Wallabies to defend for long stretches, and 37 per cent possession, they ended up making a staggering 223 tackles to Argentina’s 124.

With 26 tackles and a try, Fraser McReight was again the Wallabies’ best, ahead of his backrow colleagues Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson.

“Securing that trophy is definitely one of the things that we came here to do without a doubt, Kiss said. “So talking to the lads, very pleased that that part of the equation was on point.

“We probably took controls of patches of that game and put ourselves in a good position to win it. But as it is over here, it’s tough. The boys are a little bit disappointed that they just didn’t go on with it, for sure.

“So yeah, mixed feelings in a way, but there is something that we did come here to achieve and we got that.

Max Jorgensen celebrates in Mendoza.

Max Jorgensen celebrates in Mendoza.Getty Images

“We’re just probably two steps, three steps forward in controlling the game and then suddenly one or two steps, we’re back on our back foot again.”

The scores were locked at 14-all after the Wallabies raced to a lead early, but were pegged back by the Pumas.

The opening exchanges were plagued by errors and turnovers, and neither side was able to get any meaningful flow going in attack.

The Wallabies found their groove first, and Harry Wilson appeared to go in for an opening try in the 15th minute after a nicely worked front-of-lineout move that saw Ryan Lonergan and Angus Bell put the skipper down the right sideline and a try.

The touchie had his flag up, however and it was scrubbed out when the TMO ruled Lonergan put a foot in touch.

The visitors - and Wilson - didn’t have to wait long for another crack, though. Four minutes later, a scrum penalty saw the Wallabies kick to the line and fast, strong running from the forwards towards the line saw the Wallabies skipper eventually charge over from close range.

Harry Wilson is tackled in Mendoza.

Harry Wilson is tackled in Mendoza.Getty Images

The Pumas ill-discipline cost them a man soon after, when Franco Molina was binned for repeated offences in their own 22, and the Wallabies made them pay. Two tap moves saw more route-one barging at the line, before the ball was shifted wide and Max Jorgensen had open space to the left for an easy try in the 27th minute.

The home side rallied, however, and Australia invited them to do it with poor discipline and decision making.

Defending their own, Jeremy Williams was also sin-binned for slowing the play down, off his feet at a ruck.

And the Pumas did exactly what the Wallabies had done: made them pay. A strong scrum set up a chaotic goalline defence and Australia eventually conceded, with Argentina captain Pablo Matera scoring next to the posts in the 35th minute.

The Wallabies then shot themselves in the foot and conceded a second straight after, when Tom Wright made the poor decision to try and run out a simple exit, and then kicked open. He got the ball back but put his foot out when trying another kick, and from that lineout the Pumas ran a nice inside-pass move in the close channel that saw winger Ignacio Mendi score.

Yet another unnecessary brain fade from Wright almost cost the Wallabies another try, after halftime, when he collected and the kick and grounded the ball in goal, to end the half. But shoved off the Pumas halfback to the face, and conceded a penalty.

The hosts scrummed to score, and the Wallabies had to defend grimly. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii saved the day when he went for an intercept and knocked on. That ended the half.

The Wallabies came out with the better intent and Puma’s indiscipline allowed them to attack straight away. Again they turned to the tap, and close charges, and the dynamism of Fraser McReight saw him pick and drive through the middle for a try.

The visitors then turned in a terrible sequence where they botched multiple chances to exit their half, and though several turnovers saved them, another penalty at scrum saw the Pumas snatch another equaliser in the 54th minute.

Scores were locked again but the home side went ahead in the 63rd minute via another Matera try. The Wallabies allowed the Pumas into their half with a mistake on attack, and they ended up defending 23 phases on their line. But time and pressure cost them, and they couldn’t stop the Argentina captain from burrowing over.

Injury worry for star playmaker after Wallabies botch chance against 13-man Pumas