Argentina XV down Emerging Italy in dreadful match

The Argentina XV were 19-8 winners over Emerging Italy today. The 11 point win starts the team’s Nations Cup campaign with the planned result. The rugby played, though, was less than impressive. The Argentina XV played all the rugby in what was a dreadful match.

Emerging Italy were defending for the bulk of the contest. The Argentina XV dominated possession but it was what the South Americans did with the ball that kept Emerging Italy in the match until the final minutes.

The Argentina XV had multiple opportunities to break clear with tries simply left begging. Basic errors including knock-on’s and poor passes resulted in it being a low scoring afternoon in Montevideo.

The Argentina XV did, nonetheless, score early. Crossing in the 11th minute was Facundo Cordero. The younger brother of RWC 2015 Puma, Santiago Cordero, went over in the left corner. Simple passes with an overlap saw Cordero touching down.

A second try was just missed out on eight minutes later. From an attacking scrum Tomás Cubelli ran and looked to score near the right corner flag. He lost control of the ball in what would have been a try.

At the other end Emerging Italy opened their account. They did so through fly half Andrea Menniti-Ippolito who landed his one and only successful kick of the match. The 5-3 scoreline would remain until the second half.

It took twenty minutes of the second half before further points would be scored. Diving over in the left corner was Pierre Bruno. The Emerging Italy winger did so after his team gathered an intercept from Tomás Granella and ran deep into the Argentina XV’s 22. The conversion was off target.

Bruno’s try handed the Emerging Italy the lead. The Argentina XV’s dreadful performance now required them to get it together or risk a second embarrassing defeat in a matter of weeks. Matters were not helped by replacement Joaquín Díaz Bonilla missing a regulation penalty.

With 5 minutes remaining the Argentina XV reclaimed the lead. They did so through Tomás Cubelli’s replacement, Gregorio del Prete. From a ruck in front of the posts he spotted a gap, picked up and darted over.

The youngster gave selectors plenty to think about as his injection helped the Argentina XV turn around their performance and get the win. Cubelli was comparably off the pace.

An attacking scrum in the final minute saw the Argentina XV finishing on a high. No 8 Santiago Portillo controlled the ball and dived over near the posts. Both late tries were converted by Díaz Bonilla to give the Argentina XV an eleven point victory.

Both the Argentina XV and Emerging Italy are to play again on Wednesday. The Argentina XV tackle the Fiji Warriors while Emerging Italy face Uruguay.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA XV 19
Tries – F. Cordero (12′), G. del Prete (73′), S. Portillo (80′)
Cons – T. Granella 0/1, J. Díaz Bonilla 2/2 (74′, 80′)
Pens – J. Díaz Bonilla 0/1

ITALY 8
Tries – P. Bruno (59′)
Cons – A. Menniti-Appolito 0/1
Pens – A. Menniti-Ippolito 1/3 (15′)
Yellow cards – L. Luus (23′), F. Conforti (79′)

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA XV
1 Franco Brarda (17 Nicolás Solveyra 61′), 2 Diego Fortuny (16 Gaspar Baldunciel 61′), 3 Lucas Favre (18 Marco Ciccioli 77′), 4 Federico Gutiérrez, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Benjamín Macome (20 Rodrigo Bruni 50′), 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Santiago Portillo, 9 Tomás Cubelli (21 Gregorio del Prete 69′), 10 Tomás Granella, 11 Santiago Resino (23 Manuel Montero 61′), 12 Tomás Videla (22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 50′, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Facundo Cordero, 15 Gastón Arias

Not used: 19 Franco Molina

EMERGING ITALY
1 Riccardo Brugnara (16 Niccolò Zago 49′), 2 Luhandre Luus (17 Nicolò Broglia HT), 3 George Iacob (18 Jody Rossetto 54′), 4 Ugo D’Onofrio (19 Davide Fragnito 49′), 5 Samuele Ortis, 6 Giovanni Pettinelli (20 Matteo Cornelli 77′), 7 Federico Conforti (capt.), 7 Andrea Trotta, 9 Charly Trussardi (21 Simone Parisotto 77′), 10 Andrea Menniti-Ippolito, 11 Pierre Bruno, 12 Matteo Gabbianelli, 13 Marco Zanon, 14 Andrea Bronzini (17 Nicolò Broglia 27′-34′) (23 Simone Balocchi 77′), 15 Massimo Cioffi

Not used: 22 Maicol Azzolini