rugby.com.au 16.Sep.2012
In the first ever Rugby Test at the venue 22,278 turned out on the Gold Coast for a game that started slowly but finished with a flurry and a last ditch push by the Pumas for their first victory on Australian soil since 1983.
After trailing 3-6 at half time the Qantas Wallabies found themselves trailing by two tries within 12 minutes of the second half starting.
The Pumas crossed for the first try of the match in the 50th minute through Tomas Leonardi and then followed up with another just two minutes later from Julio Farais Cabello.
Unfortunately the Pumas couldn’t add the extras, however in the 58th minute added three more points from a penalty goal to lead by 13 points.
The flurry of attacking forays by the Argentinians seems to spark the Wallabies to life and after a number of phases a hard running Pat McCabe crossed to get the Qantas Wallabies back within six points with 20 minutes to play.
The Gold Coast crowd didn’t have to wait long for a second Qantas Wallabies try after new scrum half, Nick Phipps spotted a gap on the blindside and after missing three tackles released man-of-the-match Digby Ioane.
Barnes added the extras and earned himself a rest after some solid work at full back.
The Qantas Wallabies went further ahead in the 79th minute when substitute Kurtley Beale slotted a long range penalty goal from close to the side line.
With just a minute left on the clock the Pumas had one last chance to steal a victory after Tatafu Polota-Nau knocked on from the kick off, however some solid defending saw the Qantas Wallabies register their second win of The Investec Rugby Championship.
