Australia secured the series win over Argentina despite the second Test ending in a 28-28 stalemate on Saturday night. The Wallabies, who had already taken a 27-21 victory in the opening match, managed to hold on for the draw thanks to a late penalty try and a series of hard‑won scores that kept the momentum on their side. In the first half the hosts established an early foothold when Harry Wilson broke through two tacklers to touch down, with Ryan Lonergan converting the try. Max Jorgensen added a second try before the break, giving Australia a comfortable lead.
Argentina responded through a brace from seasoned flanker Pablo Matera, who crossed the line twice, and additional tries from Ignacio Mendy and Ignacio Ruiz. However, disciplinary lapses by Lucio Cinti and Santiago Carreras in the closing stages cost the Pumas dearly, as both were sin‑binned and a crucial penalty try was awarded to the Wallabies. The match saw several pivotal moments. Early on, Fraser McReight saw a potential try disallowed after he was ruled out of touch at the 16‑minute mark.
Four minutes later, Wilson’s breakaway try restored Australia's advantage. Shortly after, Argentine forward Franco Molina received a yellow card, and Jorgensen extended the lead with a line‑break try. The momentum shifted quickly when Australia lock Jeremy Williams was also sin‑binned, allowing Argentina to score two quick tries within three minutes.
Matera completed a close‑range effort, and Mendy followed a superb pass from Joaquin Moro, with Carreras converting to level the score at 14‑14. After the break, McReight reclaimed the lead for the Wallabies by powering through three Argentine defenders, only for Ruiz to answer with a short‑range try eight minutes later, bringing the scores level again. Matera’s second try, coming after a sustained 23‑phase movement, gave Argentina a 16‑minute‑to‑go lead. Yet five minutes later, Cinti was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock‑on, and Australia capitalised with a penalty try when a pass intended for Filipo Daugunu was deliberately blocked by Carreras.
The referee’s decision reduced Argentina to 13 men, and the Wallabies pressed hard for a winning score. Despite a frantic final push, Australia could not breach the Argentine defense before the final whistle. The draw meant the Wallabies retained the series trophy, maintaining an unbeaten record over the two‑Test tour.
Captain Harry Wilson praised his side’s resilience but expressed disappointment at not securing a win in the closing moments, especially with a challenging test against world champions South Africa looming on September 27. "In those last ten minutes they played the conditions well, even with a man down. The deck was slippery and they clung to the ball as best they could," Wilson reflected.
"We’ve had a string of victories, so a draw isn’t ideal, but bringing another trophy home should give us momentum and confidence heading into the Springboks match." Head coach Les Kiss echoed Wilson’s optimism, highlighting the importance of the series win for a rejuvenated Australian side that has yet to taste defeat in its four 2026 tests. "Securing the trophy was a primary objective, and we achieved it," Kiss said. "We controlled large portions of the game and put ourselves in a strong position. The lads are a little disappointed they didn’t finish it off, but we have clear areas to improve – making our play more robust and fine‑tuning specific aspects." The match also featured notable disciplinary incidents that shaped its outcome.
Carreras’ deliberate hand‑block on a pass intended for Daugunu not only prevented a certain try but also earned him a yellow card, leaving Argentina with a numerical disadvantage. This moment proved decisive, as the penalty try awarded to Australia swung the series in their favour. Looking ahead, the Wallabies will turn their attention to the upcoming test against South Africa, a formidable challenge that will test the squad’s depth and tactical acumen. The series win in Argentina, combined with the lessons learned from the hard‑fought draw, should provide valuable experience as they prepare to face the Springboks on home soil.
Fans can catch the final Test of the season – New Zealand versus South Africa – live on Sky Sports Action from 10 pm next Saturday, broadcasting from Baltimore, USA. This marquee clash promises to showcase the pinnacle of Southern Hemisphere rugby as the All Blacks and Springboks battle for supremacy on foreign turf.