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Argentina wrote history against Ireland on Thursday. In their second match at the Junior World Championship (JWC) in Georgia, Los Pumitas scored their highest ever total against a Tier 1 opponent in JWC history. The South Americans backed-up their big win over the USA by beating Ireland 62-40.
The opening ten minutes were like a dream for Los Pumitas. Dogos winger Luciano Avaca transferred his form from Super Rugby Americas (SRA) into the JWC. He scored in the 2nd minute in what was his first of two tries in the match. Fullback and Tarucas player, Simón Pfister also scored twice in the match.
Avaca’s opening try was quickly followed by a second; fly half Federico Serpa Laporte scored in the 9th minute of play. Serpa Laporte completed an unforgettable performance as he scored 27 points with 8 conversions and two penalties to go with his try.
Ireland opened their account at the close of the first quarter. Rian Handley scored what was the only Irish try of the first-half. In response, Los Pumitas added two more first-half tries with one going to Pfister and the other to his Tarucas teammate, Tomás Dandé.
The close of the first-half had the result sealed with Argentina holding a 31-7 lead. The second-half saw an much better showing from the Irish; however, Los Pumitas were able to double their first-half total.
Pfister and Charlie O’Shea exchanged tries early on in the second-half. Avaca then joined Pfister in completing his double. Then came Ireland’s best period of play as Jack Deegan, Blake McClean and O’Shea each score a try between the 55th and 67th minutes.
Los Pumitas remained in control of the scoresheet but the three tries had changed the flow of play with Argentina now leading 45-35. Tries to Bautista Lescano and Manuel Giannantonio ensured the victory for the South Americans before Josh O’Neill scored in the final minute for Ireland.
Ireland now turn their attention to the USA while Argentina will look to win the pool when they take-on England. Both matches will take place on Tuesday, July 07.
SCORING
ARGENTINA U20 (62)
TRY – L Avaca 2 (3′, 53′), F Serpa Laporte (9′), S Pfister 2 (34′, 46′), T Dande (36′), B Lescano (74′), M Giannantonio (76′)
CON – F Serpa Laporte 8 (4′, 10′, 35′, 37′, 47′, 54′, 75′, 77′)
PEN – F Serpa Laporte 2 (32′, 72′)
IRELAND U20 (40)
TRY – R Handley (20′), C O’Shea 2 (49′, 67′), J Deegan (55′), B McClean (60′), J Neill (80′)
CON – C O’Shea 5 (21′, 49′, 55′, 60′, 68′)
LINE-UPS
ARGENTINA U20
1 Benjamín Farías Cerioni, 2 Manuel Cuneo Camargo, 3 Bautista Salinas Mallea, 4 Joaquín Pascual Viale, 5 Bautista Benavides, 6 Tomás Dandé (capt.), 7 Jerónimo Sorondo, 8 Federico Torre, 9 Juan Preumayr, 10 Federico Serpa Laporte, 11 Luciano Avaca, 12 Benjamín Ordiz Yujnovsky, 13 Pedro Coll, 14 Bautista Lescano, 15. Simón Pfister
Replacements 16 Nicolás Cambiasso, 17 Fabrizio Cebron, 18 Federico Narvaez, 19 Felipe Hygonenq, 20 Basilio Canas, 21 Valentino Reggiardo, 22 Manuel Giannantonio, 23 Ramón Fernández Miranda
IRELAND U20
1 Max Doyle, 2 Rian Handley, 3 Sam Bishti (capt.), 4 Joe Finn, 5 Donnacha McGuire, 6 Josh O’Neill, 7 Alex Lautsou, 8 Diarmaid O’Connell, 9 Christopher Barrett, 10 Tom Wood, 11 Daniel Ryan, 12 James O’Leary, 13 Jack Deegan, 14 Charlie Molony, 15 Noah Byrne
Replacements: 16 Duinn Maguire, 17 Adam Cooper, 18 Blake McClean, 19 Dylan McNeice, 20 Ben Blaney, 21 James O’Dwyer, 22 Charlie O’Shea, 23 Robert Carney
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
This article was originally published by Americas Rugby News.
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