Cockbain fumes after 'gouging'

The exchange of words between Australia and Argentina intensified yesterday as each accused the other of foul play during the Wallabies' 17-6 win on Saturday in Buenos Aires.

The flanker Matt Cockbain accused the Pumas' hooker Frederico Mendez of gouging out a contact lens in his right eye. Cockbain said: "I've been gouged before, but never like that." The hooker Jeremy Paul also suffered. "There's nothing manly about hitting someone and running away," he said. "It has to be up there with the worst Test for that sort of stuff."

The Pumas' scrum-half Agustin Pichot retaliated. "We play aggressively but Australia came here to play negatively," he said. "And they are cheats. They constantly pull your shirt and they step on you and they do it in a very professional way."