Pumas too strong for French Baa-baas

Editor

Argentina rounded off their Rugby Championship preparations with a 21-9 victory over the French Barbarians in La Plata on Friday.

Los Pumas dominated from the outset and outscored the visitors by two tries to none with flankers Pablo Matera and Javier Ortega Desio crossing the whitewash and Juan Pablo Socino contributed 11 points via three penalties and a conversion. 

Argentina held an 11-6 lead at the interval with Matera's try proving to be the difference after Martin Landajo laid the foundation with a fine break in the build-up and Benjamín Urdapilleta kicked two penalties for the visitors.

The second half saw the hosts continuing with their fine work and Ortega Desio secured the win with a try in the corner after running on to a pass from Nicolas Sanchez.

The victory means Argentina levelled the two-match series after the French Barbarians beat them in Rosario last weekend.

The scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries: Matera, Ortega Desio
Con: Pablo Matera
Pens: Pablo Matera 3
 
For French Barbarians:
Pens:
Urdapilleta 3

Argentina: 15 Román Miralles. 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Tomás Carrió, 10 Santiago González Iglesias, 9 Martín Landajo (c), 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 3 Matías Díaz, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Lucas Noguera.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Benjamin Macome, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

French Barbarians: 15 Geoffrey Palis. 14 Benjamin Lapeyre, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Silvere Tian, 10 Benjamín Urdapilleta, 9 Jerome Fillol (c), 8 Virgile Bruni, 7 Pierre Rabadan, 6 Antoine Burban, 5 Arnaud Mela, 4 Thibault Lassalle, 3 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 2 Brice Mach, 1 Antoine Tichit.
Replacements: 16 Jean Charles Orioli, 17 Lucas Pointud, 18 Walter Desmaison, 19 Gilles Bosch, 20 Julien Tastet, 21 Heini Adams, 22 Julien Rey, Jocelino Suta