Rugby Championship 2024 As It Happened: Wallabies ship a record defeat against Argentina

After such a bright start, roaring into a 20-3 lead in the first thirty minutes, few of us could have predicted a record-loss in the sunshine of Santa Fe.

There are defeats, then there are defeats, and this is one that will cause collective nightmares for the Wallabies coaching staff, as the pack was outmuscled and tackles became paper thin in defence in the second half.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt always knew he was taking on a huge challenge, but this has become something different, for a team to capitulate so badly, he will need to call on every ounce of his experience to ensure that they are at least competitive against the All Blacks, who will arrive in Australia desperate to prove a point after successive defeats against the Springboks.

Thank you for your company so early on a Sunday morning.

An ashen-faced Joe Schmidt speaks to Stan Sport.

So far, Schmidt has been genial in nature, but he is finding it very hard to mask his frustration at this record defeat.

“There were aspects of it that were really good, obviously, to lead artist match 20 points to three but then to get run down, and the manner which we did is really disappointing.

“We will review the entire match, there were some positives in those first 30 minutes, but we cannot let a game get away from us like it did and fall off a cliff effectively.”

“I thought we lost connection in our defensive line, we were forever chasing them. We didn’t put enough pressure on at the breakdown.

“They were operating off lightning-quick ball, and it’s just too difficult to keep chasing a team on a hot day without the ball.”

The oldest cliche in sport stands here, it was absolutely a game of two halves, and it was the best of times and the absolute worst of times, as the Wallabies ship their biggest ever score in their history.

The first half showed more pages of coach Joe Schmidt’s attacking playbook, and the Wallabies responded with exciting running, rugby going into a 17 point lead.

Argentina constantly threatened with the ball in hand, and in the second half, the absence of Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou was really felt as the forward pack crumbled like old chocolate.

A battered captain with a bloodied nose Harry Wilson captures the feeling speaking to Stan Sport.

“I guess it hurts all of us, I guess you’ve just got to take the feeling and really use it as motivation. Next game, we’re going to regroup have a few days off and really get ready to rip into the All Blacks.

“It’s a tough way to finish a tour after a really good win in the first game. And yeah, it’s going to hurt for a little while”.

It will take a long time to recover from a loss like this, with tackles not being made and the defensive system completely shot.

The task against the All Blacks has become even tougher.

Juan Cruz Mallia is tackledCredit: AP

That is the most points the Wallabies have ever conceded and Santiago Carreras makes it the Wallabies worst ever loss.

Lucio Cinti scored a try that has left the Wallabies shellshocked here, they took a small forward in La Plata and sprinted backwards.

This was a disaster for the confidence of the Wallabies that was slowly building under coach Joe Schmidt.

How can you explain a defensive combustion like that? There will be huge questions to answer now.

The only positive about that second half is it’s over.

Argentina 67 Wallabies 27

Andrew Kellaway is tackledCredit: AP

This is brutal to watch for the Wallabies after such an encouraging first half, they have combusted completely in the heat, melting like old dulche de leche.

Juan Cruz Mallia enjoys a huge overlap to dot down for another try.

The defence has been a disaster for much of the game, but in the second half it has collapsed, and the Wallabies will just want the referee to call this as the Pumas toy with them.

And another try from Joaquin Oviedo. The white flag is being waved rapidly from Australia and there is a collective ‘no mas’.

Argentina 60 Wallabies 27

Joaquin Oviedo goes over for another try for the PumasCredit: AP

Juan Cruz Mallia goes over for the Pumas to score a great try as Marika Koroibete is turned inside out in defence.

The Wallabies seem to be saying ‘no mas’, and this is game over here in Santa Fe.

While Australia have shown far more ambition in attack, their defensive game has been atrocious at times as the Pumas vary their attack and pace.

The Lord Laurie Fisher will be spending a long week hunched over his laptop with his squad to try and sort this out.

Argentina 46 Wallabies 27

Classic Tate McDermott. Takes a quick penalty and weaves through a maze of blue and white to dive over for a crucial try.

He does exactly what he is there to do and gives the Wallabies something to work with here in a second half that has been a disaster so far.

We have ten minutes to make this more of a contest.

Argentina 41 Wallabies 27

A difficult time for secondrow Josh Canham to make his debut as his pack is getting brutally beaten up here.

Marika Koroibete was through for a clean break and an outstanding tackle by Argentina five-eight Tomas Albornoz with the try line in sight for the Wallabies winger.

The Wallabies desperately needed something from that and a brave call to go for that attacking move, but there was no choice but to roll the dice.

Argentina 41 Wallabies 20

Let’s think back to that first half, adventurous running rugby and a Wallabies side that showed that anything was possible.

Now, we are into the second half, and the Wallabies are getting outmuscled, outran and out thought by this Pumas side that is turbo charged by the crowd in Santa Fe.

Argentina extend their lead with a penalty and the Wallabies desperately need to get some points on the board.

As I type, it’s got far worse for the Wallabies, losing a turnover, and Joaquin Oviedo running past some weak tackles to extend their lead. Not good at all.

Argentina 41 Wallabies 20

The Wallabies are all on the ropes here in the forwards, losing the scrum battle and at close range unable to respond to the Pumas muscle as Pablo Matera barrels over.

The game could easily run away from them here as the crowd gets behind the Pumas as they extend their lead.

It is hard for the Wallabies to think back to the distant days when they held a 17 point lead. It is a totally different game now.

Argentina 31 Wallabies 20

Wallabies tackle against the PumasCredit: AP