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Argentina and Australia competed to a 28-28 draw on Saturday. Played in Mendoza, the match featured momentum shifts but there was no winner. With Australia having won the first test match 27-21 in San Salvador de Jujuy, the draw in Mendoza means the Wallabies officially claimed a first ever series win over Los Pumas in Argentina.
The early minutes were balanced. Both teams had good ball but the defenses held firm. The deadlock was broken shortly before the end of the opening quarter. Wallabies NO. 8 and captain, Harry Wilson, went over from a pick-and-go after waves of Wallabies raids on the Pumas try zone.
Momentum remained with the Wallabies. In addition to being deep in Los Pumas’ territory again, a one-man advantage came with James Doleman yellow carding Franco Molina following consecutive defensive penalties. Australia then went 14-0 up with Max Jorgensen scoring.
The momentum shifted to Argentina on 33 minutes. Argentina were on attack deep in the Wallabies’ 22 and Jeremy Williams played the ball on the floor. He was yellow carded. What followed was two quick tries to level the scoring at 14-14. First, Pablo Matera barged over. Second, a set-piece move saw Ignacio Mendy scoring.
The second-half started with Australia back on top. Fraser McReight continued his excellent tour by backing-up his try in Jujuy by scoring again in Mendoza. However, the momentum would change again.
Argentina hit-back eight minutes after McReight’s score. Forwards pressure culminated with Ignacio Ruiz carrying the ball to down it on the try line. With Santiago Carreras’ conversion, the scores were back to level. Then, nine minutes later Pablo Matera scored again as he touched the ball down under the posts.
Los Pumas were leading 28-21 but the momentum shifted yet again with the Wallabies regaining the upper hand. Two defensive sins saw Argentina losing two players to yellow cards one minute apart. Both were for intentional knock-ons and the second included a penalty try.
A critical factor in the match as the different impacts that the respective replacements had. Argentina’s bench proved to be more affective. This proved to be vital during the nine minutes in which Los Pumas were playing without two men.
Time was up when Argentina was back to fifteen and they had ball. The Wallabies, though, were well inside the Pumas 22 and the home side were looking to attack. The Australians held firm and Nicolás Roger kicked the ball out to settle for a draw.
The Wallabies now turn their attention to South Africa and New Zealand. Meanwhile, the fixture was Los Pumas’ final home match of 2026. Felipe Contepomi’s team will next play in November against Ireland in Dublin. It will be a Nations Championship match with Contepomi having access to many players who were not involved in the July to September test matches.
| NOTES |
- Australia reclaimed the Puma Trophy.
- Argentina played in alternate jerseys rather than the traditional white and sky-blue hoops.
- Australia remain unbeaten under new head coach Les Kiss. The Wallabies defeated Japan 35-32 in Osaka, and 56-17 in Townsville, Australia and won last weekend 27-21 in Jujuy.
- Efraín Elías made his first start for Los Pumas in his 6th test match for his country.
- Facundo Cardozo debuted for Argentina. He is a hometown player from the Teqüe club.
- Mateo Soler also debuted. He is a second generation Puma. His father, Facundo Soler was a Pumas winger from 1996-2002.
- Tom Wright earned his 50th cap for Australia.
| SCORING |
ARGENTINA (28)
TRY – P Matera 2 (35, 63′), I Mendy (38′), I Ruiz (54′)
CON – S Carreras 4/4 (35′, 39′, 54′, 64′)
YC – F Molina (26′), L Cinti (68′), S Carreras (69′)
AUSTRALIA (28)
TRY – Wilson (19′), Jorgensen (27′), F McReight (46′), Penalty Try (69′)
CON: Lonergan 3/3 (20′, 28′, 47′), No Kick (69′)
YC – J Williams (33′)
| LINE-UPS |
ARGENTINA
1 Boris Wenger, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 3 Pedro Delgado, 4 Efraín Elías, 5 Franco Molina, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Guido Petti (vice-capt.), 8 Joaquín Moro, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 10 Nicolás Roger, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 15 Santiago Carreras (vice-capt.)
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Francisco Moreno, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Juan Martín Scelzo, 21 Facundo Cardozo, 22 Gonzalo Bertranou, 23 Mateo Soler
AUSTRALIA
1 Angus Bell, 2 Billy Pollard, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Josh Canham, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.), 9 Ryan Lonergan, 10 Ben Donaldson, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Max Jorgensen, 15 Tom Wright
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Massimo de Lutiis, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Charlie Cale, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Carter Gordon, 23 Issac Henry
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Television Match Official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Split Screen/FPRO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
