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Sun 7 Oct 2012 | 11:53
The Wallabies hold on for victory over Argentina in Rosario

15
Comments

The Wallabies ended the Rugby Championship in second place following their 25-19 victory over Argentina in Rosario on Saturday. They will now move up to second in the World Rankings, overtaking South Africa, who lost to the All Blacks earlier in the day.

The visitors led 15-9 at halftime after the trusty boot of Mike Harris kept the scoreboard ticking over. A 65th minute try to Digby Ioane stretched the lead, before Argentina came back with a Juan Imhoff try late in the game.

Harris ended the game with 20 points after slotting seven kicks despite the obvious distraction of laser pointers in his face, a tactic some members of the crowd used against the All Blacks too.

The Wallabies end the tournament on 12 points, joint with South Africa. They won three matches though, whereas South Africa won two and drew one. Both teams are 14 points behind the victorious All Blacks, who got to 26 points with their unbeaten streak.

Struggling with injuries for the last few weeks, the Australians will face New Zealand in a fortnight in the final Bledisloe Cup game of the season, which will take place in Brisbane.

They then head on a northern hemisphere tour which comprises of matches against France on 10 November, followed by England, Italy, and Wales in consecutive weeks.

Longer highlights will be posted if and when possible

Posted By: Grant Constable

15 Comments

  • pretzel
    3:06 PM 09/10/2012

    El Pibe, as I said, Good job showing your class!

  • feddderico
    9:26 PM 08/10/2012

    Agree with you Pretzel.

  • pretzel
    9:23 PM 08/10/2012

    Wow, you're a nice guy El Pibe, well done for proving MY point about football fans turning to rugby!

  • pretzel
    8:07 PM 08/10/2012

    Is it possible to convert them though? I have met some self proclaimed "hard" men, who love football, and I have invited them to come and play with my club, they were relatively strong guys, I thought they could probably hold their own, and who knows they might sail through the 3rds into the 2nds or 1sts... however... they did not... they failed miserably at 3rd level rugby, they failed miserably in training, and they did not return after about a month of failure (I was surprised they lasted that long). The reason for it all was there attitude... They had the physicality and the structure, but their attitude stinks! They couldn't take a good hard clean hit without trying to fight the guy that made it, they couldn't take a hard drive in a ruck without thinking it was something personal, and they just couldn't break away from that noisy as hell football fan idiotic attitude..

    Perhaps there is hope for the Arg fans, maybe there are enough of them to combat the bad behaviour of the others. I sincerely hope they stamp out that bullshit though. I've had enough of blind fans who think any decision against their team is an utter travesty without there being a new load coming in...

    "Can't we all just get along" ...lol

  • pretzel
    8:00 PM 08/10/2012

    Well... I'm not 100% sure, but I can't imagine it would be TOO hard to pick out, I mentioned searching everyone, of course as someone stated it would be a logistical nightmare, and not really a feasible option, however how do you stop this? Let's say EVERY fan in that stadium for one team gets a laser pointer, it would render the other team useless... Imagine all the beams shining around in your face etc... So really a few dicks have done it in this game, I believe it was also done in another game... What is the Arg governing bodies reaction to this? Unless they state otherwise, I view silence as a "go ahead" type of reaction, so is this a good idea? Are there going to be twice as many in the next Arg match? Will opposition supporters now turn up to Arg matches armed with laser pointers "Just in case" so they can deal out some retribution? Think about it, you turn up to the next match and 5-6 supporters shine a laser in your teams kickers face, is a good enough reason to do it to their kicker?

    I am just glad that it Harris did not miss all his kicks as a result of this.

  • juggernauter
    5:16 PM 08/10/2012

    Well I was at the stadium and must say that the atmosphere was electric. Each time the Pumas got the ball the stadium erupted, as it did every time the ref blew in Australia's favor and every time poor Mike Harris lined up a kick. "Hijo de puta!" was the softest insult I heard from the people around me.

    The laser tactic is a big big big shame. I noted that most of the audience were football fans that were keen for rugby (Rosario is both a big football and rugby place) and the shouting and cursing became quite annoying after a while, but I guess you justneed more time to turn a football orientated audience to embrace the values of rugby - specially silence during opposition kicks.

    The game itself was a bit floppy, but being on the stadium just gives you another perspective. You just let yourself into the spirit and atmosphere, and I think this is the best the Argentinians will bring to the championship - the screaming, chanting, horns and collour. Can't wait to make the trip again next year!

  • valar
    2:02 PM 08/10/2012

    I just managed to watch the second half of the game, which i guess was the best of it.

    Sorry about the lasers btw, its one or two assholes that don't know what rugby is...

    I do believe Landajo, Sanchez and Imhoff played very well, too bad the last two only get to play for like 20 minutes.

    Cheers, and im sorry if the Argies disappointed this game.

  • ando
    4:56 AM 08/10/2012

    Gutsy win by the Aussies, really positive to see them battle out a win with their backs to the proverbial wall.

  • 10:23 PM 07/10/2012

    A few things:
    1) yes, the laser stuff was reprehensible, but logistically searching every spectator prior to a game is a nightmare. I don't think going so overboard would be an appropriate response to one jerk-off doing something like this. Let's also not forget how the announcer at the La Plata game asked spectators to be respectful and quiet when NZ's kickers were kicking
    2) It the text it mentions how SA were overtaken by Aus because of the draw against Argentina. That's tangible evidence of what kind of an effect their inclusion is having. You can talk all day about the intangible stuff (playing quality, making the others change some tactics, shaking up assumptions, etc.) but at least they got something to hold up on the scoreboard
    3) This game showed both sides that there are players on the bench who perhaps ought to start more often. For Aus this could be Higginbotham, Cummins, or Harris, and for Argentina this could be Sanchez or Imhoff. All of these guys impressed, and speaking as a neutral, I'd like to see all of them get more chances to show us their stuff

  • pretzel
    9:40 PM 07/10/2012

    Well of course I do realise that it's morons fault and not real fans fault, I would just love a hard reaction BY the Argentinian rugby management and fans alike.

    Lets say Harris missed the kicks when he got a laser pointer shined in his face... would that be a happy occasion for the Arg team? To win like that... I mean as the commentator said horns etc are one thing but to affect someones eyes is really wrong.

    The worrying thing for me is when you see footballers hit with a toilet roll and they fall to the ground like they've been fatally injured, I dread seeing something like that, I mean Harris could have thrown a fit and wondered round looking dazed because he has "been blinded" by a laser pen, and then what would have happened? Would the game be called off? It's just really not on in my opinion. I don't think the GOOD fans should be blamed, nor the Arg team, but how do you stop it?

  • eggman
    9:26 PM 07/10/2012

    God how many handling errors and ruck infringements were there in that game?? I had the feeling Joubert started ignoring the ruck a bit in the second half because he was tired of blowing his whistle every 20 seconds..

    Apart from that, I'll take the win considering all the injuries and the hostile environment.. A bit lucky that Argentina showed it's worst game so far in the tournament, kinda gifted the Aussies the game with all those infringements, especially in the frist half..

  • brunogiandi
    9:22 PM 07/10/2012

    I'm Argentinian and I totally agree with your comment. But please, PLEASE do not judge all of us just for one or two morons who think that it was funny.

    I felt embarrased myself with those guys behaviour, but it's nobody else's fault!
    We try so hard to earn some respect, don't look down on us for such a thing..

    Pd: Sorry for my english.

  • czerw
    6:47 PM 07/10/2012

    @ Pretzel
    I have the exact same feeling about this. Disgraceful

  • pretzel
    5:11 PM 07/10/2012

    I'm disgusted with the laser pointer tactic. I am glad to see the Argies have joined a professional International competition, but if they're going to bring pathetic little football fans with them, then frankly I'd be happy to see them out of the competition by next year. It's not the teams fault who have played gallantly throughout the competition, but where do you draw the line? No home games in Arg? Metal detectors in the entrances? It's just a bit pathetic really and I find that type of conduct makes ALL rugby fans look like morons!

  • 3:43 PM 07/10/2012

    This was a terrible game, hardly any flow, tons of knock ons, poor skills and even poorer reffing.

    Craig Joubert is considered the best ref in the world, but frankly I find him to be the best in the world at guarannteeing the favorite will win.

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