McReight's 26-tackle masterclass anchors Wallabies' historic series win in Argentina

Fraser McReight produced another defensive masterclass as Australia drew 28-28 with Argentina in Jujuy on Saturday, completing the Wallabies’ first-ever series win in Argentina. The openside flanker led all players with 26 tackles and crossed for a try six minutes into the second half to give his side the lead at a pivotal moment.

McReight had already been named Player of the Match in the previous fixture — a six-point Wallabies victory that secured the series — and he was equally influential in the finale. Captain Harry Wilson was the only other player to reach 20-plus tackles on the night, while the Wallabies collectively made 233 as Los Pumas dominated possession with 63 per cent across the match, rising to nearly 80 per cent in the final ten minutes.

Australia led 14-all at half-time, with Wilson and Max Jorgensen both touching down in the first half. McReight’s try restored the lead early in the second period, but Argentina — despite conceding two late yellow cards — held on to deny the tourists a victory, booting the ball into touch as a wall of Wallabies jerseys repelled a last-ditch Pumas attack from inside their own 22.

Coach Les Kiss, who worked with McReight across multiple Super Rugby Pacific seasons at the Queensland Reds, said the display came as no surprise. The flanker captained the Reds during the 2026 campaign and has long been regarded as one of the most industrious loose forwards in the southern hemisphere.

“I don’t think they surprise me,” Kiss told reporters. “It was a game that was necessary. I think our backrow between them were all in high double-digit tackles and high impacts. Really good north carries down in the A-zone and putting pressure on the opposition. I thought our backrow really stood up in that area for sure. But Fraser’s tenacity in terms of staying at the battle is impressive, absolutely, and he was impressive again tonight.”

Kiss acknowledged the mixed emotions of a draw after the series had already been secured, but was clear about the significance of the achievement. “Securing that trophy is definitely one of the things that we came here to do, without a doubt,” he said. “We probably took control of patches of that game and put ourselves in a good position to win it but as it is over here, it’s tough. The boys are a little bit disappointed that they just didn’t go on with it for sure.”

The head coach added that there remains work to do ahead of future fixtures. “The rugby bit is trying to get some areas of our game a little bit better and a bit more robust and we’ve got things to work on for sure.”