Argentina do enough to defeat Italy in Santa Fe

Played in glorious winter sunshine at the Estadio Brigadier López in Santa Fe, Los Pumas did enough to open their year with a 30-24 win over Italy.

A sloppy start from the opening kick saw Argentina turn over the ball in their own 22. What followed was 15 phases of Italian raids before Carlo Canna lined up a drop goal. His attempt was short and wide.

Los Pumas kicked back into the Italian half and would remain there for the bulk of the following minutes. Some aerial ping-pong followed before Santiago Cordero spotted a chance and put back-rower Facundo Isa down the right flank where he ran into the Italian 22.

Argentina had an opportunity shortly thereafter only for Tomás Lezana to knock on. Italy looked to run out from the resulting scrum only to be penalized for playing the ball off their feet. Nicolás Sánchez took the opportunity to open the scoring, landing a 12th minute penalty.

The Italian scrum cancelled it out three minutes later with the Pumas scrum being penalized for collapsing. With it Canna opened Italy’s scoring for the afternoon.

Canna was then everywhere in defense, twice sending Sánchez back several meters with fierce tackles. On the second occasion, however, Italy were penalized enabling Sánchez to kick his second penalty.

6-3 became 11-3 with Hernández putting in a well-weighted chip kick which was chased through and touched down by Manuel Montero in the 25th minute.

A 29th minute penalty by Canna made it a five-point ballgame. The opportunity came following the yellow carding of Guido Petti for tackling Dries van Schalkwyk, who had tried to jump over him.

The one-man advantage would see Italy capitalizing with Leonardo Sarto scoring in the 24th minute. Penalties either side of Sarto’s try kept Argentina in the clear only for discipline to factor in against Argentina with Canna adding a 40th minute penalty.

The 17-16 half-time lead was immediately taken away with Canna putting the Europeans ahead in the 41st minute. Sánchez had an opportunity to respond only for his 43rd minute penalty rebounding off the posts.

The Sánchez show then followed with there Tucumán playmaker breaking the line three times in a matter of minutes. The first break saw Los Pumas awarded a penalty which he kicked from close range. His second then had him combining with Matías Moroni who crossed for a try which started within Argentina’s half.

An additional break gave Argentina another try scoring opportunity only for Canna to cover and tackle Montero into touch one metre short. Italy managed to recover and score next, doing so through Simone Favaro who crossed from a lineout move.

The elusive running of Santiago Cordero came close to scoring twice in the final two minutes but a lack of communication saw opportunities missed. The Italians got themselves off the hook before having a late attacking lineout in Argentine territory.

Sánchez brought the game to a close with a kick to touch following an Italian infringement from the resulting scrum.

Both countries are to be playing again next weekend. Argentina will play host to France in Tucumán on Sunday while the Italians are to face the USA in San José, California.

ARGENTINA 30
Tries – M. Montero, M. Moroni
Cons – N. Sánchez
Pens – N. Sánchez 6
Yellow cards – G. Petti

ITALY 24
Tries – L. Sarto, S. Favaro
Cons – C. Canna
Pens – C. Canna 4

ARGENTINA
1 Santiago García Botta, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Matías Alemanno, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Tomás Lezana, 8 Facundo Isa, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Manuel Montero, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Santiago Cordero, 15 Joaquín Tuculet

Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Felipe Arregui, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Javier Ortega Desio, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 23 Ramiro Moyano

ITALY
1 Andrea Lovotti, 2 Ornel Gega, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 5 Marco Fuser, 6 Braam Steyn, 7 Simone Favaro, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 9 Edoardo Gori (capt.), 10 Carlo Canna, 11 David Odiete, 12 Tommaso Castello, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 15 Luke McLean

Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Giovanbattista Venditti

Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
Assistants: Luke Pearce (RFU) & Joaquín Montes (URU)
TMO: Johan Greeff (SARU)

Attendance: 26,000