Australia overcome Argentina with 20-19 victory

Argentina 19-20 Australia, La Plata

Ben Donaldson kicked the decisive penalty in the closing stage as Australia edged out Argentina with a 20-19 margin in the third round of the Rugby Championship in La Plata on Saturday.

The Pumas had already won the previous two clashes against Australia and had a two point lead heading into the final minute when Donaldson handed them a heartbreak on what was Agustin Creevy's final international game.

Argentina were the first to get off the mark in the 12th minute as Australia conceded a maul infringement and Santiago Carreras kicked the three-pointer from a 15m distance to make it 3-0.

They extended the lead further by the 16th minute when Juan Martin Gonzalez dived over at the back of a rumbling maul and once again Carreras kicked the conversion to make it 10-0.

The Wallabies responded back in the 28th minute when Len Ikitau sent an inside pass to Tom Wright, who offloaded to Jake Gordan as he went over the line and Noah Lolesio improved to reduce the arrears to three points before Argentina made it 13-7 as Hamish Stewart infringed and Carreras converted the three pointer.

With the break approaching, Lolesio missed a penalty chance for Australia as they completed the opening half with a six point deficit.

As Australia conceded a scrum penalty early in the second half, Carreras converted it to extend their lead to nine points before the Wallabies struck back in the 50th minute as Gordon set up Rob Valetini to touchdown and Lolesio improved to make it 16-14.

The start of the final quarter saw Australia take the lead for the first time as Gonzalo Bertranou infringed allowing Lolesio to kick the three-pointer but his effort was negated with Tomas Albornoz kicking a penalty of his own as the scoreline became 19-17 heading into the final 10 minutes.

Argentina managed to held the Wallabies for the most part of the final phase following an infringement from Mayco Vivas allowing Donaldson to kick a penalty goal to complete a 19-20 win - the first under Joe Schmidt in the tournament.

Team line up:

Argentina XV: Mallia; Cordero, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (cap), Scalvi, Molina, Rubiolo, Matera, Kremer, Gonzalez.

Reserves: Creevy, Vivas, Bello, Petti, Lavanini, Grondona, Bazan Velez, Albornoz.

Australia XV: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Stewart, Koroibete; Lolesio, Gordan; Bell, Faessler, Tupou, Frost, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, Tizzano, Wilson (cap)

Reserves: Nasser, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Williams, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Jorgensen.