Argentina edge Fiji to win Pacific Challenge

The Argentina XV defeated the Fiji Warriors by the slimmest of margins with Juan Cruz González’s conversion of a Pedro Ortega try in extra time handing the South Americans the win by 27-26 at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo on Sunday. In doing so Argentina have been named champions of the Americas Pacific Challenge.

It was a dramatic ending to a match that saw Fiji claw back from a 17-0 half-time deficit and saw four lead changes in the final quarter. The win makes it a double for the Argentina XV who were also crowned champions in the Americas Rugby Championship. Their only defeat of the year came at the hands of Romania in the Nations Cup.

It was a slow start to the game as both sides gave little ground in defense and the collisions proved fierce. González sent over a penalty goal to open the scoring, and it was the nuggety flyhalf who got the first try at the half hour mark. With Mesake Doge sent to the bin for infringing at the scrum, a shorthanded Fiji eventually left a gap open in the midfield for González to race through untouched. A second try came not far behind for left wing Julian Dominguez, who popped up on the right side and showed good pace to make the line.

Ifereimi Tovilevu was shown yellow for a dangerous tackle just moments before the half, leaving Fiji in real trouble to start the second half. After holding off the Argentines a counterattack led by Alivereti Veitokani ended with Lepani Raiyala wrestling his way over for his first of three tries. Sitiveni Kunaga ripped through the midfield on a switch play to score Fiji’s second try just moments later, and all of a sudden Argentina were looking very vulnerable.

A near-miss came when Apete Daveta looked to have scored only to have it called back for knock-on via television review. There would be no denying Raiyala for his second try. Bautista Delguy was caught shooting for an intercept and the Fijian fullback turned on the jets to race 50 meters downfield, just reaching out of the despairing tackle from Domínguez to touch the line with Veitokani adding the extras and giving Fiji the lead for the first time.

González interjected with a penalty goal to nose Argentina ahead, but it was Raiyala again who stole the show as he intercepted a poor pass from Felipe Ezcurra to touch down under the posts. With time up on the clock Argentina were parked on Fiji’s line but couldn’t quite break through. Ortega drove ahead and looked to be stopped, but Nicolás Menendez added his weight and with help from the TMO the try was awarded. The kick was a tricky one to the far left of the uprights but González was on target and the Argentines rejoiced.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA XV 27
Tries – J. González (30). J. Domínguez (36), P. Ortega (80)
Cons – J. González 3 (31, 37, 80)
Pens – J. González 2 (14, 66)

FIJI WARRIORS 26
Tries – L. Raiyala 3 (48, 62, 69), S. Kunaga (52)
Cons – A. Veitokani (53, 70)
Yellow cards – M. Doge (23), I. Tovilevu (39)

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA XV
1 Facundo Gigena 2 Facundo Bosch 3 Cristian Bartoloni 4 Pedro Ortega 5 Ignacio Larrague 6 Tomás Lezana 7 Santiago Montagner 8 Benjamín Macome 9 Felipe Ezcurra (capt.) 10 Juan Cruz González 11 Julián Domínguez 12 Gabriel Ascárate 13 Santiago Álvarez 14 Segundo Tuculet 15 Bautista Delguy

16 Axel Zapata 17 Nicolás Solveyra 18 Santiago Medrano 19 Juan Cruz Guillemaín 20 Nicolás Menendez 21 Gonzalo Bertranou 22 Domingo Miotti 23 Fernando Luna

FIJI WARRIORS
1 Joeli Veitayaki 2 Jerry Naureure 3 Mesake Doge 4 Rupeni Nasiga (capt.) 5 Peni Naulago 6 Mesulame Kunavula 7 Vasikali Mudu 8 Nemani Nagusa 9 Henry Seniloli 10 Alivereti Veitokani 11 Apete Daveta 12 Sitiveni Kunaga 13 Fred Hickes 14 Ifereimi Tovilevu 15 Lepani Raiyala

16 Iliesa Leca 17 Robert Delai 18 Mosese Ducivaki 19 Esikia Macu 20 Sakiusa Nadruku 21 Eremasi Radrodro 22 Sakiusa Gavidi 23 Ilimeleki Leiloma

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Joaquín Montes (URU)
Assistants: Tim Baker (HKRFU) & Pali De Luca (UAR)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (URU)