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Russia pulled off a shock upset his afternoon, downing the Argentina XV in the Nations Cup. The 48-40 victory was the first for Russia in the Nations Cup. They lost their opening match 48-26 against Uruguay yet today were the superior side and thoroughly deserved their win over the Argentina XV.
The Argentina XV went into the match as the firm favorites. They did so having beaten Namibia 39-25 five days ago. That win maintained the team’s unbeaten run in 2019, a streak which no longer exists after Russia took full advantage of a dormant Argentina XV team today.
So impressive were the Russian Bears that they ran in five first half tries. With it they were comfortably in front, holding an unthinkable 38-14 half-time lead.
The game started ideally for Russia. In just the third minute the star hooker from the game against Uruguay, Evgeny Matveev was again in the thick of the action. He went to within meters of scoring only to be stopped short. Winger German Davydov arrived to provide the support play to score.
Ramil Gaisin landed the conversion and would add a second four minute later. Russia’s second try was a car in point of taking advantage of the opposition’s errors. A simple dropped ball saw fullback German Godlyuk pouncing to score and give Russia a 14-0 lead.
The advantage was extended to 17-0 when Gaisin slotted a 13th minute penalty. It would be the action that would finally see the Argentina XV up their performance, though only temporarily.
Getting the Argentina XV on to the board was Nicolás Sbrocco. The No8 barged over to score beside the posts but his match would end shortly thereafter via a concussion.
In the 27th minute the game would be receded to a three point contest. The needs of the team saw regular second-rower Jerónimo Ureta playing at flanker but his try would be a traditional score from a lock-forward.
Russia hit-back swiftly, underlining that the Argentina XV would have to up their game to beat them. Their score saw Argentina XV fly half Martín Roger ran over by German Davydov who crossed for his second score of the opening half.
In the final ten minutes of the half it got even better for Russia. Two tries from Kirill Golosnitskiy saw Russia leading the match by 24 points at half-time.
The dream continued for Russia after the break. In there 43rd minute they took their lead up to 45-14. Second-rower Andrei Garbuzov touched down for the sixth Bears try and Gaisin was again on target from the kicking-tee.
The Argentina XV were being badly outplayed and the reacted by making personal changes. This included benching 27-time capped Puma Manuel Montero and moving fullback Facundo Cordero to the wing.
Cordero would run in three second half tries, all of which were scored in the same position. Also touching down was replacement No8 Santiago Montagner who was a genuine standout and looms as a strong bet as being a Jaguares flanker in 2020.
The tries meant it was back to a one score game. Russia were now leading by 45-40. The Argentina XV could fell victory though an error from a kick-off saw Montagner penalized and with it replacement Sergei Yanyushkin landed a 77th minute penalty.
The Argentina XV came close to scoring in the following minute only to be ruled to have knocked on in-goal. With it Russia would be able to play out the remainder of the game and secure a famous victory.
Both teams will play again on Saturday. Russia will play against Namibia while the Argentina XV take-on Uruguay.
SCORING
ARGENTINA 40
Tries – N. Sbrocco (14′), J. Ureta (26′), S. Montagner (52′), F. Cordero 3 (58′, 62′, 72′)
Cons – M. Roger 5/6 (15′, 27′, 53′, 59′, 63′)
RUSSIA 48
Tries – G. Davydov 2 (3′, 31′), G. Godlyuk (6′), K. Golosnitskiy 2 (34′, 39′), A. Garbuzov (43′)
Cons – R. Gaisin 6/6 (4′, 7′, 32′, 35′, 40′, 44′)
Pens – R. Gaisin 1/1 (12′), S. Yanyushkin 1/1 (76′)
TEAMS
ARGENTINA XV
1 Nicolás Solveyra (17 Rodrigo Martínez 44′), 2 Diego Fortuny (16 José Luis González 44′), 3 Martín Fernández Segurotti (18 Luciano Ortíz 69′), 4 Ignacio Calas, 5 Carlos Repetto (19 Lucas Santa Cruz HT), 6 Jerónimo Ureta, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Nicolás Sbrocco (20 Santiago Montagner 22′), 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Martín Roger, 11 Manuel Montero (23 Tomás Albornoz HT), 12 Lucas Mensa (22 Bautista Ezcurra 44′), 13 Tomás Cubilla, 14 Julián Domínguez, 15 Facundo Cordero
Not used: 21 Manuel Nogués
RUSSIA
1 Evgeny Mishechkin (17 Andrei Polivalov 56′), 2 Evgeny Matveev (16 Sergei Chernyshev 56′), 3 Kirill Gotovtsev (18 Innokenty Zykov 56′-59′, 63′), 4 Evgeny Elgin (19 Alexander Ilin 59′), 5 Andrei Garbuzov, 6 Roman Khodin (20 Tagir Gadzhiev 63′), 7 Vitali Zhivatov, 8 Viktor Gresev (capt.), 9 Vasili Dorofeev (21 Dmitri Perov 63′), 10 Ramil Gaisin (22 Sergei Yanyushkin 69′), 11 Vladislav Sozonov, 12 Kirill Golosnitskiy, 13 Vladimir Ostroushko, 14 German Davydov, 15 German Godlyuk (23 Vasili Artemiev 71′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Francisco González (URU)
Attendance: 500
