Genia stars as Wallabies outrun Pumas by 36-20 in Perth

Australia 36-20 Argentina, NIB Stadium
Scorecard

Will Genia grabbed a couple of tries to help the Wallabies outrun the Pumas by 36-20 and secure a bonus-point win at the nib Stadium in Perth during the 2016 Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.

Coach Michael Cheika and his men scored three tries within just the first 12 minutes of the game to rattle the visitors, who failed to recover within time as they succumbed to a 16-point defeat.

Fly-half Quade Cooper and Genia showcased their attacking flair throughout the match. Cooper was instrumental in setting up a couple of tries, while Genia was awarded the man-of-the-match for his double.

The hosts got off to a perfect start as on the very first minute of the game Bernard Foley got hold of a loose kick to pass it on to Michael Hooper who did brilliant to create enough space for tighthead prop Sekope Kepu to score in the right corner.

Foley's conversion shifted the momentum into the favor of the home side early into the match.

Nicolas Sanchez's desperate attempt to put the Pumas on the scoreboard with a drop goal attempt failed miserably on the sixth minute.

A couple of minutes later the Wallabies found themselves in middle of another try scoring opportunity. A phase into an attacking lineout, Genia-Cooper duo's impressive play enabled right-wing Dane Haylett-Petty to score a try on his home ground.

Foley's conversion made the scoreline 14-0 at the end of the ninth minute.

Another couple of minutes into the game and after a scrum infringement by the visitors, Genia found himself battling with Sanchez in the midfield. the Papua New Guinean-born cleverly toed the ball forward to collect it under pressure and slide over the try line.

Foley continued his perfect kicking streak with another conversion as the hosts now completely took charge of the proceedings.

The Pumas continued to struggle for direction in offence, while making poor decisions that allowed the pressure to be relieved off the hosts.

After toiling hard to earn themselves some territory and possession, the visitors found themselves a penalty opportunity in the 23rd minute. Sanchez slotted the kick to open the account for his side on the scoreboard.

The Wallabies loosehead prop Scott Sio was sent to the sin-bin in the 33rd minute for tackling a man without the ball. Sanchez took on the opportunity to kick another penalty to reduce the deficit down to 15 points as both the teams failed to make any further addition to their points tally in the remaining seven minutes of the first-half.

Immediately after the start of the second-half, the Pumas finally managed to score their first try of the match when right-wing Santiago Cordero cut back inside Cooper on the right-wing to score. Sanchez's conversion brought down the trail to eight points for the visitors.

However, eight minutes later, Genia scored his second try of the match to hammer comeback hopes for the Pumas. Sean McMahon who replaced David Pocock, burst past four opponent players after the lineout as Genia dummied his way over the try line from the ensuing ruck.

Foley missed upon two conversion attempts, hitting the first one at the posts, however, getting a second chance as the Pumas charged the kick early. The second attempt was way to the left missing the posts as the visitors remained 13 points behind the hosts.

Michael Hooper went on to score the fifth try of the match for the Wallabies in the 64th minute as the openside-flanker jogged unopposed to the try line following a sublime inside ball from Cooper. Foley's conversion stretched the lead to 20 points for the home side.

On the 68th minute Cooper found himself in trouble as the 28-year-old was sent to the sin-bin for tackling Sanchez without the ball and without arms.

The Pumas made the most of the presented opportunity number-eight Fecundo Isa scored the second try of the match for the visitors after they rumbled a drive from the back of a lineout. Sanchez's conversion reduced the deficit once again down to 13 points.

Left-wing Reece Hodge's 75th minute penalty steered the hosts clear past two converted tries.

The two teams failed to make any further contribution to the scoreboard in the final five minutes as the visitors succumbed to a 16-point defeat.

The back-to-back win has now positioned the Wallabies second in the points table, three points ahead of the Springboks.