Paenga-Amosa reveals how four forwards outsmarted three backs to open Wallabies win

Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s opening try set the tone for Australia’s 27-21 victory over Argentina in Jujuy last weekend, and the Wallabies hooker has now revealed just how spontaneously it came together — four forwards spotting a mismatch against three backs and backing themselves to finish.

Scrum-half Ryan Lonergan triggered the sequence by finding openside flanker Fraser McReight, who moved the ball quickly to lock Jeremy Williams. Argentina’s defenders made their presence felt with some heavy tackles, but the Wallabies kept the phase alive. Josh Canham broke down the left edge before Williams received the ball a second time, drew in three Pumas defenders, and delivered the final pass to Paenga-Amosa to crash over in the seventh minute.

“We just saw it off the cuff,” Paenga-Amosa told reporters. “We’re always encouraged to actually see the picture, go for it, have a crack. We looked up and it was literally four of us — myself, Fraser, Canham and Williams — and we’re calling out to Lonergan to come down the blind. We’re up against three backs; it was four forwards against three backs. There was some individual brilliance and I’m glad that we got to finish it in the end.”

Canham and Williams both impressed across the contest, again proving reliable lineout targets. It was a return to Test rugby for Canham, who had missed the 56-17 win over Japan in Townsville. The USA-born lock had already made history in July, becoming the first Wallabies lock to score a Test hat-trick in the win over Italy. Williams, the most experienced lock in the squad for the Nations Championship fixtures, continues to anchor the engine room.

The Wallabies’ lineout has emerged as one of their genuine strengths this season, with hookers Josh Nasser, Billy Pollard and Paenga-Amosa all finding consistency at throw-in time. Paenga-Amosa credited the locks for making that possible.

“We’re blessed in that aspect that all of our locks have the ability to call really well and operate a good lineout,” he said. “Canham has done a really good job since coming on the scene and all the boys back him and have full confidence in him.”

Australia now have the chance to sweep the two-Test series in Argentina 2-0, though history offers a sharp warning. Two years ago, the Wallabies also led the series 1-0 before Los Pumas responded with a crushing 67-27 victory in Santa Fe. The Wallabies are under no illusions about the response that awaits them in the second fixture on Sunday.