Kellaway treble fires Wallabies to victory over Los Pumas

Australia beat Argentina 17-32 in the final round of the 2021 Rugby Championship at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Andrew Kellaway’s sensational 2021 form continued with another clinical display of finishing by the left-wing, who grabbed a hat-trick.

Kellaway’s terrific treble took the flyer’s tally to seven tries in seven Tests.

The 25-year-old finisher also crossed against South Africa and New Zealand to complete the Southern Hemisphere scoring sweep.

Australia’s bonus-point win sees Dave Rennie’s side finish second in The Rugby Championship.

Four Test match wins in the last four outings have breathed new life into the men down under.

This was a gold star performance on the Gold Coast from the men in gold

Folau Fainga’a and Samu Kerevi also dotted down for the away designated home team, while Quade Cooper added seven points from the tee.

Fainga’a had a hand in Kellaway’s first and third scores after smart moves from the back of lineouts.

The Wallabies won four successive Tests in the Southern Hemisphere’s premier rugby tournament for the first time.

The Aussies beat South Africa and Argentina twice, although Rennie’s men did play all their games in Australia due to the Coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions.

Wallabies supporters will not care a jot, their team is back to winning ways and winning well.

Mario Ledesma’s charges end the competition winless with one bonus point. The Pumas only scored five tries in six Rugby Championship Tests.

In fact, Argentina never scored a first-half try in the tournament. The 17 points they scored in this defeat were the most of the six games played.

Rennie’s decision to bring back Cooper from international wilderness proved a masterstroke.

Cooper has been sensational since his return after a four-year absence. The Kiwi-born standoff was again instrumental at first receiver after other impressive Wallabies win.

The 33-year-old did not have a good day from the kicking tee – he kicked at less than 50% – but Cooper assist Kerevi’s second-half try, and set up Kellaway’s third five-pointer.

Rob Valetini had another storming game, he set up Fainga’a’s 27th-minute score and Kellaway’s second try 20 minutes later.

Australia pull after Tomas Lavanini’s ill-discipline proves costly for Argentina

Both kickers missed easy penalties before Cooper added a 10th-minute goal to open the scoring.

Flyhalf Santiago Carreras missed a long-range drop-kick moments later as Argentina searched for points.

Fainga’a and Kellaway’s tries saw Australia take a 12-point lead into the shed at halftime.

A magnificent lineout move off the back of the set-piece saw Kellaway score the game’s first try.

Fainga’a wrapped around the back of the ruck, stood up Julian Montoya before putting Valetini through a big gap.

Valetini charged forward, drew winger Matias Moroni, and put Kellaway in for his sixth Test try.

Seven minutes later, Fainga’a crashed over the chalk after breaking off the driving maul for his second Test five-pointer.

Tomas Lavanini’s 27th-minute yellow card for taking out Izack Rodda in the air at the lineout saw Los Pumas conceded 12 points while the lock was on the naughty step.

Emiliano Boffelli kicked a late penalty to get his team on the scoreboard.

Australia strike early after halftime before Kellaway took over the game

Kerevi’s eighth Test try came soon after the restart and increased the Aussies’ advantage to 17 points.

Cooper’s double pump fake opened the space for the centre.

The veteran flyhalf wrapped around Len Ikitau following a sustained attack inside the opposition’s 22.

Cooper sucked in Boffelli before sending Kerevi through the hole to score.

The Wallabies kept coming, they were relentless as they searched for a knock-out blow.

After 54 minutes, Australia sent the ball wide to Cooper, who played Valetini in the wide channel.

The number eight drew Santiago Chocobares, popped to Kellaway, who cut inside Moroni and slipped Chocobares’ weak tackle to cross the whitewash.

Cooper added the extras to make it 3-27 on 55 minutes.

Kellaway’s third and Cooper’s conversion four minutes later put the game to bed at 3-32.

Another superb lineout move involving Fainga’a from the back saw Cooper’s long pass cut out three defenders.

Len Ikitau drifted wide, sucked in fullback Juan Cruz Mallia and Moroni before his chicken-wing pass sent Kellaway away.

But Argentina did not lie down and die.

They found a way over the chalk a couple of times as Australia made changes, and relaxed the tempo.

Instead, Ledesma’s men scored two converted tries.

Gallo crashed over from close range twice in nine minutes for the South Americans to make the margin of defeat respectable.

Micheal Hooper’s late yellow card was not enough for the Pumas to grab another score at the death.

Final Score: Argentina 17 (3) Australia 32 (15)

Scorers

Argentina
Tries – Gallo (2)
Pen – Boffelli
Con – Boffelli (2)
Drop –
Cards – Lavanini (Yellow, 27′)

Australia
Tries – Fainga’a, Kellaway (3), Kerevi
Pen – Cooper
Con – Cooper (2)
Drop –
Cards – Hooper (Yellow, 81′)

Match Officials
Referee: Jaco Peyper (RSA)
Assistant Ref 1: Nic Berry (AUS)
Assistant Ref 2: Reuben Keane (AUS)
TMO: Brett Cronan (AUS)

Teams

Argentina

15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Rodrigo Martinez

Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Mateo Carreras

Australia

15 Reece Hodge, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Andrew Kellaway, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Pete Samu, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper

Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Jack Gordon, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Tom Wright