Even in the context of Australia’s recent rollercoaster rugby history, this was mindboggling.
Former Wallabies loose forward Stephen Hoiles described the 67-27 Pumas mauling as “humiliating” after the tourists had led 20-3 after half an hour in the Santa Fe sunshine on Sunday (AEST).
Joe Schmidt’s side were full of confidence on the back of the previous week’s win and Andrew Kellaway’s classy try.
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But that swagger completely evaporated as Argentina burst into life in captain Julian Montoya’s 100th Test and ratcheted up the aggression and emotion further still in the second half.
Australia conceded nine tries and the most points against in the country’s rich rugby history – a sad way to spend James Slipper’s record-equalling day.
“To lead a Test match 20-3 and get run down in the manner in which we did is really disappointing,” Schmidt told Stan Sport.
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“We will review the entire match and there were some positives in the first 30, but we cannot let a game get away from us like it did.
“But to be 20-17 ahead at halftime, to be 20-3 ahead after 30 minutes, I think we’ve got to try and anchor on those things that are positive.”
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Argentina were semi-finalists at last year’s Rugby World Cup and beat the All Blacks in Wellington last month.
They are a very good side but Wallabies fans will be dismayed at some of the defensive frailties.
Their Rugby Championship hopes are over but Australia get a shot at Bledisloe Cup redemption in Sydney on September 21 against an All Blacks side smarting from their fourth straight loss to South Africa.
Schmidt helped coach the All Blacks to last year’s World Cup final before replacing Eddie Jones at the Wallabies.
He is now 4-3 at the helm of Australia.
“Fire and brimstone now leading up to the All Blacks in two weeks,” Schmidt said.
“I think it’s got to be more about trying to build back confidence, try to build on elements on the game that were sufficiently well delivered and then there’s some aspects we’ve got to go after and be a heck of a lot better at.
“We’ve got to continue to be pragmatic because it’s very easy to wash away some of the gains that we’ve made with that second 40.”
Former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison said the pain of the record defeat would stay with the players forever.
“It doesn’t just hurt for a little while,” Harrison said on Stan Sport.
“It’ll get smaller and smaller but there’ll be a part of you that will hurt and remember that for as long as you are alive as a Test player.
“You do remember things like that.”
The loss eclipsed the 61-22 hammering against the Springboks in Pretoria in 1997 for most Wallabies points conceded.
It was also Argentina’s biggest Test win against Australia.
“Records are going to happen, I mean Argentina put a record score of 38 up against the All Blacks in New Zealand, that’s what they’re capable of,” Schmidt said.
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“No team has ever scored 38 points against the All Blacks in New Zealand, that’s what they can do.
“I am particularly disappointed that we fell off that period of the game the way we did because I think that the team are building a real pride in what they deliver…
“I’m not going to bury the squad on the basis of that half is well beyond what our expectations are.”
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Australia will hope to have the likes of Liam Wright and Fraser McReight available for the Bledisloe Cup and it remains to be seen whether Harry Wilson is retained as captain.
“I mean, for me, it’s really the way the team respond now,” Schmidt said.
“They are proud young men and incredibly proud to represent the Wallabies, so they will want to put their best foot forward. It’ll be a pretty sombre flight home and it’s a long flight home.”