Australia stun Argentina with last-gasp comeback win in Townsville

Australia 28-24 Argentina, North Queensland Stadium

Australia pulled off a dramatic 28–24 comeback win over Argentina in Townsville, overturning a 14-point halftime deficit with a clinical second-half performance.

The match started in Argentina's favour, with Santiago Carreras slotting penalty goals in the 4th and 11th minutes to put his side 6–0 up. The Wallabies responded with a 22nd-minute try by Nic White, which was converted by Tom Lynagh to give Australia a brief 7–6 lead.

However, Argentina surged ahead with back-to-back tries. Bautista Delguy crossed over in the 28th minute, although Santiago Carreras missed the ensuing conversion.

Mateo Carreras then added another try in the 32nd minute, this time successfully converted by Santiago Carreras. He extended Argentina's lead further with a penalty goal in the 35th minute, sending the Pumas into halftime with a strong 21–7 advantage.

Australia began their fightback early in the second half. Joseph-Aukuso Suaali‘i touched down in the 46th minute, with James O’Connor converting to narrow the gap to 21–14.

Argentina’s momentum was disrupted when Mateo Carreras was shown a yellow card in the 61st minute, reducing them to 14 players.

The Wallabies quickly capitalized. Suaali‘i scored his second try in the 63rd minute, and O’Connor again added the extras to level the scores at 21–21 before Mallia's penalty goal in the 78th minute giving Argentina to a slender three point lead.

The closing stages were tense, with both teams probing for the winner. Australia struck decisively in the 86th minute as Angus Bell powered over the line, and O’Connor’s conversion in the 87th minute sealed a remarkable 28–24 win.

Team line up:

Australia: 1 Tom Robertson, 2 Billy Pollard, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Tom Hooper, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 9 Nic White, 10 Tom Lynagh, 11 Corey Toole, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Max Jorgensen, 15 Andrew Kellaway.

Reserves: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu.

Argentina: 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Juan Cruz Mallia.

Reserves: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Joaquin Ovideo, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 23 Benjamin Elizalde