Aussies claim first win

What the forecasters did not predict was for the Pumas to start with an acute sense of nerves.

After vowing the occasion would not get the better of them, it promptly did just that.

Worst affected was hooker Mario Ledesma, who saw his first line-out throw snatched by the Aussies after his side had pushed to within a metre of the home line.

That was bad, what followed was even worse as Ledesma proceeded to find himself penalised on five separate occasions for failing to get his line-out throw straight.

The gamble of playing Contepomi at stand-off also backfired as he missed four of his five shots at goal and was also wide with a drop-goal chance. With brother Manuel finding himself in the sin-bin for taking out Mat Rogers while he was in the air, it was a wonder the visitors still had any chance as they trooped off at the interval.

As it was, some pugnacious defence meant they still had the tiniest grip on the game, although no thanks to former rugby league man Sailor, who grabbed a deserved try midway through the opening period when he shrugged off the attentions of three Pumas defenders and crashed over.

Indeed, watching coach Eddie Jones must have been quite heartened, especially as the pack he had expected to come under severe strain actually forced their way on top.

Phil Waugh and David Lyons were particularly effective, while Nathan Sharpe and the unfortunate Giffin cleaned up on their own line-out ball.
Something though was missing.

Maybe it was the clinicalness of their attack for there was no excuse available to prop Bill Young when he fed Joe Roff a forward pass after another Sailor burst had set Australia charging towards the Pumas line.

Instead, Australia had to settle for penalties, which admittedly Elton Flatley had no problem slamming over.

In contrast, Contepomi was having a nightmare, failing again just after the hour mark, leaving the visitors with little option other than to run when the Wallabies next infringed near their own line, and then missing what could have been a vital kick when full-back Ignacio Corleto's touchline effort was given the green light by the video referee.

As it was, Roff's late score took a bonus point out of their reach, which is good news for Pool A rivals Ireland at least.