Pumas fall to French Barbarians in Rosario

Daniel Hourcade’s preparation for the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup hit a rock this afternoon as Los Pumas were defeated 28-22 by the French Barbarians in Rosario. The result and the manner in which both the team and individual players performed raises questions over where the team stands just three months out from the World Cup.

While the team was not the genuine Los Pumas article there were, nonetheless, ten starting players who are contracted to the UAR for the 2016 Super Rugby season. The majority of these players are young and beginning their international careers and are expected to become permanent senior squad members in the years following Rugby World Cup 2015.

After a promising start in which Matías Moroni broke the defense and fed Román Miralles the South Americans looked set to score. Execution, however, let them down and they were made to pay as the French Barbarians responded by scoring the opening try through back-rower Julien Tastet. The try came through the visiting team’s first phase of play in Argentine territory.

It was the first of a number of tries scored in which Argentina’s defense was found lacking close to the tryline. Fly half Benjamín Urdapilleta was off-target with the conversion while his opposite responded to get Argentina on the board shortly thereafter with a penalty. It came after two simple opportunities had been turned down in preference of kicking for touch.

Handling errors hurt Argentina throughout the first half with opportunities created by players being ruined by others. The French Barbarians found themselves 12-3 ahead following Urdapilleta’s conversion of a penalty try which came when Argentina attempted to wheel the scrum five metres out from their own tryline.

Captain Tomás Cubelli hit back by scoring Argentina’s first try in response. In failing to secure the kick-off the French Barbarians found themselves retreating quickling allowing Cubelli to spot a gap from close range and dive over. Socino added the extras to make it a 12-10 game.

Signs of an Argentine resurgence were put on hold as the French Barbarians again exploited a weakness in the defense close to the try line. Jean-Charles Orioli’s try was the final play of the half and saw the home side nine points down.

The second half opened with Los Pumas looking differently. Interlinking between Tomás Lezana and Joaquín Tuculet led to Lucas Noguera Paz scoring near the posts allowing Socino to make it 19-17. A two point deficit became a three point lead almost immediately as Santiago Cordero chased down a kick to go over in the right corner.

With their heads up Argentina appeared on course for a home victory. It was not to be however as the South Americans would fail to score again and, instead, allowed unwanted Argentine Benjamín Urdapilleta an opportunity to shine as he landed three penalties to reclaim the lead and see out the win.

Disciplinary issues harmed Argentina’s chances. An inability to deliver at scrums saw Francisco Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Bruno Postiglioni both committing penalties there and in general play. Starting hooker Matías Cortese similarly was simpled out as was Matías Díaz whose yellow carding for entering a ruck dangerously proved decisive.

The teams will meet again on Friday in the second of two matches. The fixture will be played in La Plata.

Scorers:

Argentina
Tries: Cubelli, Noguera Paz, Cordero
Conversions: Socino 2
Penalties: Socino

French Barbarians
Tries: Tastet, Penalty Try, Orioli
Conversions: Urdapilleta 2
Penalties: Urdapilleta 3

Argentina
1 Lucas Noguera Paz, 2 Matías Cortese, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 5 Matías Alemanno, 6 Tomás Lezana, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Benjamín Macome, 9 Tomás Cubelli (Captain), 10 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Santiago Cordero, 12 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Joaquín Tuculet, 15 Román Miralles

French Barbarians
15 Gaetan Germain, 14 Julien Jane, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Benjamín Lapeyre, 10 Benjamín Urdapilleta, 9 Heini Adams (Captain), 8 Virgile Bruni, 7 Karim Ghezal, 6 Julien Tastet, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Thibault Lassalle, 3 Walter Desmaison, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Lucas Pointud