Australia have finished sixth at the 2024 World U20 Championship after a 14-6 defeat to Argentina in Cape Town.
The conditions turned the game into a dogfight as Athlone Stadium turned into a mud pit after continual rain and games throughout the day.
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Australia looked to take advantage of the wind at their back and opened the scoring thanks to a Harry McLaughlin-Phillips penalty.
Both teams would have chances to cross for the opening try, with the Australia U20s conceding a turnover metres away from the line, followed by Argentina held up over the line as their set-piece started to dominate.
The momentum shifted when Australian centre Kadin Pritchard was yellow-carded for a high shot off the ball that could’ve very well been called obstruction against Argentinian centre Tomas Medina.
Winger Timoteo Silva took advantage of the space to score the opening (and what would be the lone) try in the 26th minute.
As the half came to a close, Medina was yellow carded for his own high shot on Pritchard.
With the rain pelting down, the thought of the game being called off due to the conditions became more of a reality as McLaughlin-Phillips missed two penalties to put Australia in front at the break.
Nonetheless, the game restarted and Argentina went back on the attack, held up over the line as ball handling became the number one priority for both sides.
As the Australians defended their line, they were once again reduced to 14 when Jarrah McLeod was sin-binned for head-on-head contact, allowing Argentina to extend the lead to five.
The numbers advantage didn’t last long as Juan Penoucos went to the bin for a dangerous lifting tackle on McLaughlin-Phillips after the whistle, with the playmaker answering straight back with a penalty of his own.
Argentina continued to press and restored their lead via Santino Di Lucca’s boot, with Australia unable to mount a comeback amid a staunch defensive line and the muddy field conditions.
As they searched for a turnover, a costly penalty allowed Di Lucca to nail his third penalty to seal the win.
Argentina U20s 14 (Tries: Silva; Pens: Di Lucca 3) def Australia 6 (Pens: McLaughlin-Phillips 2)
