Argentina Blast Past Italy in Junior World Championship

Argentina delivered an impressive opening performance in the Junior World Championship. Los Pumitas were convincing winners over Italy. The 43-15 victory saw the South Americans outscoring the European team by six tries to two.

Playing with many Dogos and Pampas players from Super Rugby Americas, Los Pumitas were up for the challenge. They blast their way to a strong lead, doing so after having scored well-constructed tries. Impressive go-forward ball saw Italy retreating with Argentina coming away with points.

Early on, though, there was a moment of madness. Italy were down to 14-men after Destiny Aminu was red carded for foul play on Benjamín Elizalde. The Italians were unable to recover from the 15th minute incident.

Los Pumitas ultimately recovered from an 8-0 deficit to win the remainder of the contest 43-7. Super Rugby Americas players Juan Bautista Baronio, Mateo Soler and captain Eliseo Chiavassa all scored first half tries. Baronio added the conversions for a 21-8 half-time lead.

The second-half started with further dominance from the South Americans. Tries to Elías Efraín and Valentino Minoyetti out the result beyond doubt. Italy was unable to withstand the one-man disadvantage.

Baronio continued his fine performance with a drop-goal from inside his own half. The teams then exchanged late tries. Flanker David Odiase scored in the try zone for Italy and Benjamín Elizalde had the final say for Los Pumitas.

Argentine Attention now turns to Georgia. Los Pumitas will face the Eastern Europeans on Thursday, June 29. Italy’s second match will be against South Africa on Thursday.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA (43)
Try – Chiavassa; Baronio; Soler, Elías; Minoyetti; Elizalde
Con – Boronio 4; Dicapua
DG – Baronio

ITALY (15)
Try – Passarella; Odiase
Pen – Sante
RC – Amenu

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
1 Matías Medrano, 2 Tomás Bartolini, 3 Renzo Zanella, 4 Elías Efraín, 5 Federico Rolott, 6 Eliseo Chiavassa (capt.), 7 Felipe Bares, 8 Benjamín Grondona, 9 Nicolás Viola, 10 Juan Bautista Baronio, 11 Ignacio Lucero, 12 Ernesto Giudice, 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 14 Mateo Soler, 15 Benjamín Elizalde

Replacements: 16 Valentino Minoyetti, 17 Francisco Palazzi, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Facundo García Hamilton, 20 Aitor Bildosola, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Valentino Dicapua, 23 Nicolás López González

ITALY
1 Destiny Aminu, 2 Giovanni Quattrini (capt.), 3 Marcos Gallorini, 4 Alex Mattioli, 5 Pietro Turrisi, 6 Carlos Berlese, 7 David Odiase, 8 Jacopo Botturi, 9 Sebastiano Battara, 10 Giovanni Sante, 11 Matthias Douglas, 12 Nicola Bozzo, 13 Dewi Passarella, 14 Alessandro Gesi, 15 Simone Brisighella

Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Riccardo Bartolini, 18 Federico Pisani, 19 Enrico Pontarini, 20 Fabio Ruaro, 21 Lorenzo Casilio, 22 Filippo Bozzoni, 23 Lorenzo Elettri