1979 Australia rugby union tour of Argentina

The 1979 Australia rugby union tour of Argentina was a series of matches played between October and November 1979 in Argentina by Australia. The Wallabies won six matches of seven and drew the two game test series against Los Pumas, led by Hugo Porta.[1]

1979 Australia rugby union tour of Argentina
Tour captain(s)Mark Loane
Summary
P W D L
Total
07 06 00 01
Test match
02 01 00 01
Opponent
P W D L
 Argentina
2 1 0 1

It was the first tour of an Australian side in Argentina.[2] The Australian squad captain was the Queenslander Mark Loane.

With this visit of Australia, a new rugby relationship begins with a country that has an excellent level of play, similar to New Zealand, which means multiplying the possibilities of assimilation and improvement of our sport. It is also worth pointing out the correction and discipline observed by the Australian delegation during the course of their visit.

— The Argentine Rugby Union praising the first visit of an Australian side[2]

Players

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Player Match
Played
Score Total points
tries conv. pen. drop
Tony Melrose 5 1 4 3 2 27
Michael O'Connor 6 4 1 2 24
Phil Crowe 4 6 24
Paul McLean 4 5 4 22
Brendan Moon 5 5 20
Roger Gould 2 1 6 16
Tony Shaw 6 3 12
Paddy Batch 4 3 12
Phillip Cox 4 2 8
Mark Ella 3 1 1 7
Mark Loane 6 1 4
Peter McLean 6 1 4
Andrew Slack 6 0
Stan Pilecki 5 0
Greg Cornelsen 4 0
Chris Handy 4 0
Mick Mathers 4 0
Bill Ross 4 0
Peter Carson 3 0
John Coolican 3 0
Tony D'Arcy 3 0
Duncan Hall 3 0
Peter Horton 3 0
Martin Knight 3 0
Andy Stewart 5 0

Match details

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13 October 1979
San Isidro Club12–17Australia
Try: penalty try
Con: Loffreda
Pen: Loffreda
Drop: F.Sainz Trápaga;
Try: O'Connor, Moon, Crowe;
Con: Paul McLean
Pen: Paul McLean
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Referee: Ángel Garrido (Argentina)

16 October 1979
Seleccionado del Interior [note 1]12–47Australia
Try: Basile
Con: Virgolini
Pen: Virgolini
Drop: Rodriguez
Try: Crowe 2, Ella
Loane, Peter Mc Lean
Batch, Gould, Cox
Con: Gould 6
Drop: Ella
Club Universitario, Salta
Referee: Bruno Bertelli (Argentina)

20 October 1979
Buenos Aires RU6–22Australia
Try: Puccy
Con: G.Beccar Varela
Try: Cox, T.Shaw
M.O'Connor, Batch;
Con: P.Mc.Lean 3
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Referee: Ricardo Colombo (Argentina)

23 October 1979
Rosario RU13–21Australia
Try: Tallo, Basilico;
Con: Baetti
Pen: Baetti
Try: Crowe (2)
O'Connors
Pen: O'Connors (2)
Drop: Melrose
Gimnasia y Esgrima (R)
Referee: Roberto Magnani (Argentina)

First test

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27 October 1979
Argentina  24–13  Australia
Try: Madero 2
Con: Porta
Pen: Porta
Drop: Porta (3)
Try: Crowe
Pen: Paul McLean 2
Drop: Melrose
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Steve Strydom (South Africa)

30 October 1979
Cuyo RU4–43Australia
Try: AntoniniTry: Show 2, Moon 2
Melrose, O'Connors;
Con: Melrose 4, M.O'Connor;
Pen: Melorse 3
Club Marista, Mendoza
Referee: Felipe Ferrari (Argentina)

Second Test

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3 November 1979
Argentina  12–17  Australia
Try: Petersen
Con: Porta
Pen: Porta
Drop: Porta
Try: Batch, Moon (2)
Con: Paul McLean
Pen: Paul McLean
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Steve Strydom (South Africa)
Notes
  1. ^ Combined team formed by players outside Buenos Aires

Match details

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13 October 1979
San Isidro Club12–17Australia
Try: penalty try
Con: Loffreda
Pen: Loffreda
Drop: F.Sainz Trápaga;
Try: O'Connor, Moon, Crowe;
Con: Paul McLean
Pen: Paul McLean
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Referee: Ángel Garrido (Argentina)

16 October 1979
Seleccionado del Interior [note 1]12–47Australia
Try: Basile
Con: Virgolini
Pen: Virgolini
Drop: Rodriguez
Try: Crowe 2, Ella
Loane, Peter Mc Lean
Batch, Gould, Cox
Con: Gould 6
Drop: Ella
Club Universitario, Salta
Referee: Bruno Bertelli (Argentina)

20 October 1979
Buenos Aires RU6–22Australia
Try: Puccy
Con: G.Beccar Varela
Try: Cox, T.Shaw
M.O'Connor, Batch;
Con: P.Mc.Lean 3
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Referee: Ricardo Colombo (Argentina)

23 October 1979
Rosario RU13–21Australia
Try: Tallo, Basilico;
Con: Baetti
Pen: Baetti
Try: Crowe (2)
O'Connors
Pen: O'Connors (2)
Drop: Melrose
Gimnasia y Esgrima (R)
Referee: Roberto Magnani (Argentina)

First test

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27 October 1979
Argentina  24–13  Australia
Try: Madero 2
Con: Porta
Pen: Porta
Drop: Porta (3)
Try: Crowe
Pen: Paul McLean 2
Drop: Melrose
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Steve Strydom (South Africa)

30 October 1979
Cuyo RU4–43Australia
Try: AntoniniTry: Show 2, Moon 2
Melrose, O'Connors;
Con: Melrose 4, M.O'Connor;
Pen: Melorse 3
Club Marista, Mendoza
Referee: Felipe Ferrari (Argentina)

Second Test

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3 November 1979
Argentina  12–17  Australia
Try: Petersen
Con: Porta
Pen: Porta
Drop: Porta
Try: Batch, Moon (2)
Con: Paul McLean
Pen: Paul McLean
Ferro C. Oeste, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Steve Strydom (South Africa)
Notes
  1. ^ Combined team formed by players outside Buenos Aires

References

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