The Wallabies have pulled off the biggest come back in rugby

Australia recovered from a 31-7 deficit at the interval to defeat Argentina 45-34 in their Rugby Championship clash in Salta on Saturday. The visitors, who scored through Michael Hooper, Izack Rodda, Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty (2) and David Pocock, avoid the wooden spoon, thus handing bottom spot to the Pumas, who will rue how they let slip that buffer at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena. Argentina’s scorers were Pablo Matera, Emiliano Boffelli, Matias Orlando and Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias in what was a match of two halves.

It was a dream opening 40 for the Pumas as they went in with that handy 31-7 cushion thanks to four tries, with Australia’s defence in pieces. The Wallabies were slipping off tackles – 17 in total during the first-half – and Argentina made them pay, starting in the second minute when Matera hit a superb line before racing over. The conversion from Nicolas Sanchez made it 7-0 and it was 14-0 a couple of minutes later as Reece Hodge’s pass was intercepted and full-back Boffelli eventually finished off the breakaway score. However, Australia did respond on 14 minutes thanks to a well worked over-the-top line-out move that saw Hooper go over from recycled ball.