Gutsy Wallabies hold off Pumas

Updated October 07, 2012 12:38:49

Australia has ended the Rugby Championships with a third victory after hanging on for a gutsy 25-19 win over Argentina in Rosario this morning (AEDT).

The injury-stricken Wallabies lead from the outset after Mike Harris' radar-like boot gave the visitors a 15-9 half-time lead before a 65th minute try to winger Digby Ioane looked to the put the contest to bed.

The determined Pumas crossed the try line through Juan Imhoff with three minutes left, but shocking handling errors cost the hosts a chance of a memorable comeback victory.

Full-back Harris shrugged the distraction of a laser pointer from the crowd to kick 7/8, including six penalties and finished with 20 points.

The triumph means Australia ended the inaugural Rugby Championships in second place on 12 points, 14 points behind New Zealand and eases the pressure on beseiged coach Robbie Deans.

The Wallabies now have a fortnight before facing the All Blacks, undefeated in their last 17 Tests after a 32-16 mauling of South Africa, in the final Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane.

In front of a vocal crowd, both sides struggled to build momentum in a stop-start affair disrupted by 10 handling errors apiece and a 17-12 penalty count in favour of Australia.

The Wallabies struck their telling blow with Ioane's try right after surviving Argentina's most dangerous onslaught that almost delivered the Pumas a try.

From a scrum on Argentina's 22-metre line, a lovely set piece move saw the Queensland winger cut through a gap in the languishing Pumas defence to score under the posts with Harris converting.

Replacement winger Imhoff scored a late try for the Pumas which was converted by centre Marcelo Bosch. Fly half Juan Martin Hernandez slotted over three penalties and Bosch one.

Harris's steady kicking from penalties gave the Wallabies a 15-9 half-time lead.

He put three over early as Australia went 9-3 up and converted his fourth from under the posts in the 23rd minute after an infringement by Argentina when the Wallabies threatened to drive over and score.

Argentina lost lock Patricio Albacete to the sin bin two minutes later but the only advantage Australia was able to take was Harris's fifth penalty.

Hernandez then failed with two attempted penalties in the dying minutes of the half.
Australian replacement scrum-half Brett Sheehan was sin binned with less than six minutes remaining for an apparent high tackle.

Australia: 25 (D Ioane try; M Harris 1/1 con; 6/7 pens; K Beale 0/2 pens)

Argentina: 19 (JJ Imhoff try; M Bosch 1/1 con; 1/1 pen; JM Hernandez 3/5 pens)

ABC/Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, sport, argentina, australia

First posted October 07, 2012 11:53:50

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Bulls hold off gutsy Rebels

Updated May 04, 2012 22:08:56

Melbourne Rebels produced a spirited performance despite going down 41-35 to the Bulls at AAMI Park.

Both sides showed a willingness to attack at times with each scoring five tries but its was the boot of Bulls fly half Morne Steyn that proved the difference, courtesy of two penalties goal.

The win moves the Bulls back to the top of the South African conference with a 7-2 return from their nine matches, while the result was the Rebels' seventh defeat of the season.

Steyn produced another metronomic goalkicking display, slotting 16 points in addition to scoring a try and setting up two others, as the Bulls won their fourth successive match.

"It was pretty exciting from the stands, high intensity, good attacking from both sides, maybe not the best defensively from us but good to get the win," Bulls captain Pierre Spies said.

"We needed these points."

The match was one of milestones for the Rebels, with Mark Gerrard making his 100th Super Rugby appearance, while Stirling Mortlock was making his first of the season from the reserves bench after he recovered from a long-standing calf injury.

It was also their first match since they parted ways with enigmatic fly half Danny Cipriani, who has returned to England early. The former England international has signed with Sale for next season.

The first half was helter-skelter as both sides secured a bonus point by scoring four tries each with Rebels captain Gareth Delve crashing over after the hooter had sounded to vindicate his decision not to take a penalty shot at goal and ensure the match was evenly poised with the Bulls leading 31-28.

The second period, however, failed to live up to the first as both sides adopted a more conservative, patterned approach for the first 20 minutes before Steyn's deft chip kick ahead was gathered by JJ Engelbrecht to crash over and break the shackles.

Cooper Vuna struck back immediately for the Rebels for his second try, with Kurtley Beale adding his fifth conversion, before Steyn slotted a 72nd minute penalty for the Bulls to give them a 41-35 lead that they held until the final whistle.

The Bulls now have 42 points on the South African conference standings, one ahead of the Stormers, who have bye this round.

The Rebels are fourth in the Australia conference, three points ahead of Western Force, who play away to the Cheetahs on Sunday morning (AEST).

Bulls: 41 (A Ndungane, B Basson, M Steyn, CJ Stander, JJ Englebrecht tries; Steyn 5 cons, 2 pens)

Rebels: 35 (C Vuna (2), R Blake, N Phipps, G Delve tries; K Beale 5 cons)

ABC/Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, super-rugby, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted May 04, 2012 21:27:17

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