Twickenham, UK: Samu Kerevi scored two tries as Australia beat a slipshod Argentina 33-21 at Twickenham yesterday to finish runners-up in the Rugby Championship.
Defeat meant Argentina were left bottom of the table. This was the first Rugby Championship match played in the northern hemisphere and took place just over a year from Australia 29-15 World Cup-semi-final win over Argentina at Twickenham.
Success meant the Wallabies tasted victory for just the third time in nine Tests since their World Cup final defeat by runaway Rugby Championship winners New Zealand.
Australia outscored the Pumas four tries to two, with forwards Adam Coleman and Dean Mumm also crossing. Wallaby centre Bernard Foley kicked 13 points
By contrast Argentina were left ruing three missed first-half goal-kicks from Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias.
The Wallabies were twice reduced to 14 men in the first half as Michael Hooper and Coleman were both given yellow cards for high tackles.
Yet they still turned round 18-8 in front. But early in the second half Argentina centre Jeronimo de la Fuente’s converted try cut their lead to 18-15 only for centre Kerevi to score his second minutes later.
Gonzalez Iglesias’s penalty reduced Australia’s lead to just 25-21 with 10 minutes left but that was as close as they got, with a Foley penalty and Mumm’s late try extending Australia’s advantage.