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Played today in London, final match of the year for Los Pumas saw the South Americans toppling a strong Barbarians side 49-31. The result sees the Argentine players capping off a positive year which saw a Semi Final finish in the Rugby World Cup and an historic away win over South Africa in Durban.
Today’s match, though, was not the end of a cycle but, rather, the beginning as Daniel Hourcade’s team was missing European based professional players. In taking on a team packed with Super Rugby star players past and present Argentina’s franchise will now enter the 2016 season as a team to look out for.
Taking to Twickenham to face a lineup featuring the likes of Stephen Moore, Charlie Faumuina, Lood de Jager, Victor Matfield, Scott Fardy, Nemani Nadolo, Tevita Kuridrani, Waisake Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder a Pumas side missing a host of World Cup stars played with flair to give those in attendance full value for their money.
The opening score game from the Barbarians with Australian center Tevita Kuridrani crossing in the 8th minute. All Black Lima Sopoaga added the extras but Hourcade’s team hit-back quickly with Facundo Isa crossing in the 12th minute for a try converted by Nicolás Sánchez.
Seven minutes later Argentina went ahead thanks to the first of two tries to man of the match Santiago Cordero. The speedster was also involved in Argentina’s third try, scored by Ramiro Moyano who was making his debut for the Pumas senior team. The Barbarians and Pumas then traded tries to bring the opening half to a close with the South Americans leading 28-12.
Captain for the day, Martín Landajo crossed for the first points of the second half in the 51st minute. Four minutes later the result was seemingly in the bag as center Jerónimo De la Fuente put Argentina 30 points ahead.
Converting De la Fuente’s try was debutant Emiliano Boffelli who at just 20 years of age is the latest in what could come to be a golden generation for Argentina. The Babarians hit back with Australian Joe Tomane and Fijian Nemani Nadolo both scoring and the Fijian converting both.
The two teams then finished the game by scoring a try a piece with Nicolás Sánchez crossing for Argentina and Victor Matfield doing so for there Barbarians. Matfield’s long-time second-row partner, Bakkies Botha lined up the conversion. In what was his final act on a rugby field Botha’s attempt hit the cross bar.
Scorers
Barbarians
Tries: Kuridrani, Naholo (2) Tomane, Matfield
Conversion: Sopoaga, Nadolo (2)
Argentina
Tries: Isa, Cordero (2), Moyano, Landajo, De la Fuente, Sánchez
Conversion: Sánchez (6), Boffelli
BARBARIANS
1 Thomas du Toit 2 Stephen Moore 3 Charlie Faumuina 4 Lood de Jager 5 Victor Matfield (captain) 6 Scott Fardy 7 Ardie Savea 8 Stephen Hoiles 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow 10 Lima Sopoaga 11 Nemani Nadolo 12 Ryan Crotty 13 Tevita Kuridrani 14 Waisake Naholo 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder
16 James Hanson 17 Jamie Mackintosh 18 Toby Smith 19 Bakkies Botha 20 Jarrad Butler 21 Cobus Reinach 22 Patrick Lambie 23 Joe Tomane
ARGENTINA
1 Lucas Noguera Paz 2 Julián Montoya 3 Ramiro Herrera 4 Guido Petti 5 Matías Alemanno 6 Pablo Matera 7 Javier Ortega Desio 8 Facundo Isa 9 Martín Landajo (captain) 10 Nicolás Sánchez 11 Santiago Cordero 12 Santiago González Iglesias 13 Jerónimo de la Fuente 14 Matías Moroni 15 Ramiro Moyano
16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez 17 Santiago García Botta 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 19 Tomás Lezana 20 Leonardo Senatore 21 Felipe Ezcurra 22 Gabriel Ascárate 23 Emiliano Boffelli
