Argentina dominated possession, carried the ball 59 more times and forced Australia to make 221 tackles — but two late yellow cards and a penalty try turned a seven-point Pumas lead into a dramatic 28–28 draw in Mendoza.
Australia secured its first multi-Test series victory on Argentine soil after surviving a remarkable second Test against Los Pumas at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas.
The Wallabies led 14–0, were pulled back to 14–14 by halftime and went ahead again early in the second half.
Argentina responded, eventually taking a 28–21 lead through Pablo Matera’s second try.
Then the match changed again.
Yellow cards to Lucio Cinti and Santiago Carreras reduced Argentina to 13 players, with Carreras’ deliberate knock-on also resulting in a penalty try that brought Australia level at 28–28.
Neither side scored again.
Combined with Australia’s 27–21 victory in the opening Test in Jujuy, the draw gave the Wallabies a 1–0 series victory.
Australia Strikes First
The opening quarter produced no points before Australia captain Harry Wilson broke the deadlock in the 20th minute.
Ryan Lonergan converted for 7–0.
Argentina’s task became more difficult when Franco Molina was shown a yellow card in the 27th minute, and Australia quickly capitalized.
Max Jorgensen crossed shortly afterwards and another Lonergan conversion stretched the Wallabies’ advantage to 14–0.
At that stage Australia appeared to have control.
It didn’t last.
Jeremy Williams was sent to the sin bin for Australia, and Argentina took advantage almost immediately.
Matera scored his first try in the 36th minute before Ignacio Mendy followed three minutes later.
Santiago Carreras converted both.
In the space of a few minutes, Argentina had erased the entire deficit.
Halftime: Argentina 14–14 Australia.
Momentum Keeps Swinging
Australia reclaimed the lead seven minutes into the second half through Fraser McReight.
Lonergan’s third conversion made it 21–14.
Argentina responded again.
Hooker Ignacio Ruiz crossed in the 55th minute and Carreras converted, tying the match at 21–21.
The Pumas then began applying sustained pressure near the Australian line.
After 23 phases, Matera crossed for his second try in the 64th minute. Carreras added the conversion.
For the first time all evening, Argentina led.
Argentina 28–21 Australia.
Argentina Had the Ball — Australia Kept Tackling
RFC’s match data shows just how heavily the second Test tilted toward Argentina in terms of possession and defensive workload.
| Match Statistic | Argentina | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 63% | 37% |
| Territory | 52% | 48% |
| Carries | 153 | 94 |
| Metres carried | 316 | 293 |
| Clean breaks | 3 | 4 |
| Defenders beaten | 32 | 17 |
| Offloads | 7 | 5 |
| Rucks won | 131 | 68 |
| Tackles | 119 | 221 |
| Missed tackles | 17 | 32 |
| Tackle success | 83% | 83% |
| Tries | 4 | 4 |
Australia was asked to make 102 more tackles than Argentina.
Argentina made 59 more carries, won almost twice as many rucks and beat 32 defenders to Australia’s 17.
Yet the territorial difference was only 52–48 and the metres carried were relatively close at 316–293.
Australia actually produced one more clean break, four to three.
Argentina controlled far more possession, but Australia remained capable of turning considerably less ball into points. Both teams ultimately scored four tries.
Two Yellow Cards Change Everything
Argentina entered the final stages seven points ahead.
Then discipline became decisive.
Cinti was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on in the 68th minute.
Barely a minute later, Carreras deliberately knocked down a pass intended for Filipo Daugunu with Australia attacking close to the Argentina line.
Carreras was shown another yellow card.
Referee James Doleman also awarded Australia a penalty try.
Seven points were automatically added.
Argentina’s 28–21 advantage had disappeared.
Argentina 28–28 Australia.
Los Pumas now had to negotiate much of the closing period with just 13 players.
Remarkably, they did.
Australia had opportunities to find the winning score but could not break the deadlock.
Matera Leads Argentina
Pablo Matera’s influence went considerably beyond his two tries.
Matera’s two tries accounted for 10 of Argentina’s 28 points.
Australia’s Back Row Absorbs the Pressure
If Argentina’s possession numbers tell one side of the story, Australia’s tackle numbers tell the other.
Fraser McReight made a match-high 25 tackles.
Harry Wilson made 22.
Rob Valetini added 19.
Those three Australian back-rowers therefore combined for 66 tackles.
McReight also carried for 43 metres — the highest total by an Australian — and scored Australia’s third try.
Wilson contributed the opening try and recorded three dominant tackles.
Australia spent enormous stretches without the ball but continued to make enough defensive interventions to stay within reach.
Carreras Perfect From the Tee
Carreras converted all four Argentina tries, giving him eight points from the boot.
Lonergan converted Australia’s first three tries.
Australia’s fourth score was the automatic seven-point penalty try.
That meant neither side left points behind through missed conversions.
The difference had to come elsewhere.
Ultimately, it never came.
What the Numbers Say
This was not a conventional 28–28 draw.
Argentina’s 63% possession and 153 carries show a team that spent substantially more time attempting to break down the opposition.
Australia’s 221 tackles show the defensive burden that created.
But possession alone did not produce separation.
Australia made 293 metres from only 94 carries — just 23 fewer metres than Argentina managed from 153.
The Wallabies also produced four clean breaks to Argentina’s three.
Argentina had volume.
Australia found efficiency.
And when Argentina finally converted its pressure into a seven-point second-half lead, two deliberate knock-ons provided Australia with a route back into the match.
Full Scoring Summary
The Bottom Line
Australia leaves Argentina with a historic series victory.
Los Pumas leave Mendoza wondering how a match in which they had 63% possession, made 153 carries and forced the Wallabies into 221 tackles still ended level.
For Australia, part of the answer lies in defensive resilience and making considerably more from considerably less possession.
For Argentina, the defining sequence came after Matera’s second try had finally put the home side ahead.
A 28–21 advantage became two players in the sin bin and a 28–28 scoreline.
Yet even with 13 players, Argentina prevented Australia from finding a winner.
The scoreboard belonged to neither side.
The series belonged to the Wallabies.
Go Deeper: Argentina 28–28 Australia
Explore the full match data from Mendoza, including team statistics, player performances, lineups and the complete match timeline.
