The Pumas held off Australia to win 22-17 in Mendoza in a bizarre match which saw Australian players sin-binned two times.
In fact Israel Folau was shown a yellow card as well but Owens admitted he was wrong and let him stay on the park when video replays showed the winger was pushed off balance into a Pumas player and didn’t mean knock his man down in the air. Though he still gave the hosts a penalty.
The win is the first time the Pumas have beaten the Wallabies since 1997 and their first ever win in the Rugby Championship after 18 attempts.
Despite a number of calls from Owens being more than questionable, the Wallabies’ discipline was poor and the Puma forwards were outstanding.
Bernard Foley also had a number of chances to put the Wallabies back in front, shanking one kick from range and another simple one when he was clearly put off by a laser from a fan.
The visitors got off to a flyer with Folau setting up Tevita Kuridrani after three minutes and Scott Higginbotham crossed after 12 minutes to extend the lead. But that’s where the good news ended.
Argentina scored through Leonardo Senatore before half-time.
Nick Phipps was yellow-carded early in the second half and Juan Imhoff claimed a five-pointer as the Pumas took advantage of the one-man advantage.
When captain Michael Hooper was sent off for the remainder of the game there was no way back for the Wallabies.
It came down to the kickers and although Nicolas Sanchez didn’t have a night to remember, his three penalties from six attempts and one conversion from two was better than Foley’s one from three penalties and two conversions.
The Wallabies must now regroup to face New Zealand on October 18 in their third Bledisloe Cup match.
They’ll face an All Blacks side keen to atone for their loss to South Africa, their first defeat since December 2012, earlier on Saturday in Johannesburg.
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