Pumitas Defeat Japan to Reach Semi Finals

Argentina’s under 20 side, Los Pumitas are into the Semi Finals of the 2016 World Rugby Junior World Championship. The Pumitas defeated Japan 39-20 this afternoon to confirm themselves as Pool 3 winners after previously having defeated both France and South Africa.

The Nicolás Fernández Lobbe coached side came out deserved winners but were given an early warning as Japan ran in two early tries with winger Ata’ata Moeakiola and captain Tevita Tatafu crossing once each.

Los Pumitas hit back with man of the match José Barros Sosa bagging a double on the right wing and a Domingo Miotti penalty handing the South Americans the half time lead.

Against both South Africa and France the Japanese were significantly outplayed in the second half and this continued today against Argentina. 18 year old future Puma Marcos Kremer scored the first try of the second half before replacement Mariano Romanini latched onto a superb Miotti pass to seemingly seal victory.

With there being plenty of time left Japan was not interested in throwing in the towel and the Asians out-mauled Los Pumitas with Tatafu touching down for the second time.

Los Plumita, nonetheless remained nine points clear and this was extended through captain Juan Cruz Mallía who scored the games final try. His score again included the play-making of Miotti who is increasingly looking likely to be on his way to higher honors.

ARGENTINA 39
Tries – J. Barros Sosa 2, M. Kremer, M. Romanini, J. Mallía
Cons – D. Miotti 4
Pens – D. Miotti, M. Elías

JAPAN 20
Tries – A. Moeakiola, T. Tatafu 2
Cons – A. Moeakiola
Pens – A. Moeakiola

ARGENTINA
1 Rubén Ricco, 2 Gaspar Baldunciel, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Ignacio Calas, 6 Marcos Kremer, 7 Bautista Stávile, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Lautaro Bazán, 10 Domingo Miotti, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Teo Castiglioni, 13 Juan Cruz Mallía (capt.), 14 José Barros Sosa, 15 Bautista Delguy

Replacements: 16 Román Pretz, 17 Juan Pablo Enríquez, 18 Gonzalo del Pazo, 19 Nahuel Milán, 20 Mariano Romanini, 21 Tomás Malanos, 22 Martín Elías, 23 Santiago Mare

JAPAN
1 Ryosuke Iwaihara, 2 Tae Kaneko, 3 Yoshitaka Tashiro, 4 Yoshikazu Fujita, 5 Daichi Akiyama, 6 Daisuke Inoue, 7 Masato Furukawa, 8 Tevita Tatafu (capt.), 9 Daiki Nakajima, 10 Ren Takano, 11 Tomoya Yamamura, 12 Doga Maeda, 13 Shintaro Nagatomi, 14 Ata’ata Moeakiola, 15 Takuhei Yasuda

Replacements: 16 Yuya Saito, 17 Yoshiaki Takeuchi, 18 Taku Toma, 19 Naoaki Horibe, 20 Hyunji Shin, 21 Ken Saito, 22 Takayuki Watanabe, 23 Yuta Yamada