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Australia scrape past Argentina
Kane Douglas of the Wallabies controls a maul during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina at Patersons Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia.
(September 13, 2013 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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The Wallabies broke their Rugby Championship duck with a narrow 14-13 victory over Argentina in Perth on Saturday.
The win wasn't pretty but the hosts will take it, as it's the first under new coach Ewen McKenzie, and ends a four-match winless streak which stretches back to their loss in the series decider to the British and Irish Lions in July.
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AgustÃn Creevy of the Pumas is tackled by Quade Cooper of the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina at Patersons Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia.
(September 13, 2013 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Rob Simmons of the Wallabies contests for the ball against Angentinian players during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina at Patersons Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia.
(September 13, 2013 - Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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With most of the match played in driving rain and a howling wind there were plenty of handling errors and kicking for territory, especially during the opening half.
Man of the Match: Nic White deserves a mention, for a solid display in trying conditions, in his first start to a Test but Argentina's front row gets our vote for another dominant display in the scrums.
Moment of the match: With the game being played in atrocious conditions, there wasn't much expansive play but another moment of brilliance from Israel Folau ultimately sealed the win for the Wallabies
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Wallabies captain Ben Mowen is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina at Patersons Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia.
(September 13, 2013 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Christian Leali'ifano of the Wallabies evades a tackle by Felipe Contepomi of Argentina during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina at Patersons Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia.
(September 13, 2013 - Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Argentina appear to be getting closer and closer to their first win in the Rugby Championship but that promise continues to paper over the need for a long-term strategy to secure the future of the game in the South American country.
The current crop of Pumas, who largely play professionally in Europe, came within two points of their maiden win in a 14-13 defeat to Australia in Perth on Saturday, a week after going down 28-13 to the world champion All Blacks in Hamilton.
Argentina outscored the Wallabies 10-0 in the second half but were unable to add to their score after number eight Juan Manuel Leguizamon had grabbed their only try with 15 minutes to go at Subiaco Oval.
The Pumas struggled to get regular international play for years until their stunning third-placed finish at the 2007 World Cup forced administrators to find them a place at the top table of the game.
The southern hemisphere powerhouses (SANZAR) agreed to expand their Tri-Nations competition from last year, pending some financial guarantees from the International Rugby Board and plans that Argentina would look to establish a professional game.
That has yet to materialise and hopes of it happening are now largely focused on SANZAR's negotiations over the expansion of the provincial Super Rugby tournament in 2016, when a new broadcasting deal will come into force.
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Wallabies captain Ben Mowen is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina at Patersons Stadium on September 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia.
(September 13, 2013 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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