Australia clinched the two‑match test series against Argentina after the second encounter ended in a 28‑28 stalemate on Saturday evening. The Wallabies had already taken the series with a 27‑21 win in the opening test, but the final game provided a dramatic finale that saw both sides exchange blows in a tightly contested battle. In the opening half, the hosts jumped ahead with two early tries. Harry Wilson broke through the Argentine defence to touch down, and his teammate Max Jorgensen added another score before the break.
Both conversions were successfully kicked by Ryan Lonergan, giving Australia a comfortable lead. Argentina responded through a pair of scores from their captain Pablo Matera, who crossed the line twice, and a try from Ignacio Mendy, with Ignacio Ruiz also adding a score.
However, disciplinary lapses from Argentina’s Lucio Cinti and Santiago Carreras in the closing minutes cost the Pumas dearly, as they were forced to play with fewer men and missed the chance to chase a win. The match saw its first controversy when a potential Australian try was disallowed after Fraser McReight was ruled to have gone out of touch at the 16‑minute mark. Four minutes later, Wilson demonstrated his speed and agility, evading two tacklers before grounding the ball, and Lonergan added the extra points.
Shortly after, Argentina’s Franco Molina received a yellow card, reducing the Pumas to ten men temporarily. Australia capitalised, with Jorgensen sprinting down the left wing to score a try that extended the lead. Argentina, however, fought back with vigor. When Wallaby lock Jeremy Williams was sin‑binned, the Pumas struck quickly, scoring two tries in just three minutes.
Matera finished a well‑worked move close to the line, and Mendy followed with a try after a superb phase of play orchestrated by Joaquin Moro. Carreras converted, leveling the score at 14‑14. After the half‑time break, McReight reclaimed the advantage for Australia by powering through three Argentine defenders to score.
Yet the momentum shifted again when Ruiz dived over from close range eight minutes later, restoring parity. The home side then took a decisive lead when Matera, after a marathon 23‑phase sequence, dived over between the posts with 16 minutes remaining, putting Argentina ahead. Five minutes later, a crucial moment unfolded. Cinti was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock‑on, and Australia was awarded a penalty try when a clear scoring opportunity was deliberately blocked by Carreras, who extended his arm to intercept a pass intended for Filipo Daugunu.
Carreras was also sin‑binned, leaving Argentina with only 13 players for the final ten minutes. The Wallabies threw everything at the Argentine defence in the dying stages, seeking a winning try, but were unable to breach the line. The result meant Australia secured the series, even though the final match ended in a draw.
Captain Harry Wilson praised his side’s resilience but expressed disappointment at not maintaining an unbroken winning streak ahead of the upcoming test against the world champions, South Africa, scheduled for 27 September. "In those last ten minutes they handled the conditions well, even with a man down. The deck was slippery and they clung to the ball as best they could," Wilson remarked. "We’ve enjoyed a run of victories, and a draw tonight isn’t ideal, but bringing another trophy back should give us momentum and confidence heading into the Springboks clash." Head coach Les Kiss echoed Wilson’s optimism while acknowledging areas for improvement.
He highlighted that securing the series trophy was a primary objective and that the team had largely achieved that goal. "We controlled large portions of the game and put ourselves in a good position to win," Kiss said. "The lads are a little disappointed we didn’t finish it off, but we have clear targets to make our rugby more robust and to fine‑tune specific aspects of our play." Both teams displayed a high level of skill and determination throughout the series, with Argentina showing flashes of brilliance despite the disciplinary setbacks.
The Wallabies, meanwhile, demonstrated depth in their squad and the ability to adapt under pressure, qualities that will be vital as they prepare for the formidable challenge posed by South Africa. Fans can look forward to the upcoming fourth and final test of the season, featuring New Zealand versus South Africa, which will be broadcast live from Baltimore, USA, on Sky Sports Action at 10 p.m.
next Saturday.