Pumitas Stung Hard by Georgia in Junior World Championship

Los Pumitas were blown off the park of Danie Craven Stadium on Thursday. Georgia were 20-0 winners over Argentina in the second round of the World Rugby Junior World Championship. The result was the second loss Argentina has suffered at the hands of Georgia at u20 level. The previous defeat was 26-25 in 2017.

The difference could have been a lot more; Georgia were easily the better team. Georgia mastered the conditions and tactics. The Junior Lelos utilized the rain and mud to their advantage. Their physicality had them in firm control for all but brief periods.

Los Pumitas were on attack early on. This ended after a poor mistake. Luka Khorbaladze easily identified what was coming to claim a gift interception and run untouched to score. Petre Khutsishvili  converted for a 7-0 lead after 18 minutes.

Petre Khutsishvili added a second conversion before half-time. This time it was the grunt of the forwards. Georgia’s battering ram got them over the line for the second time. Basa Khonelidze claimed the 35th minute try with Khutsishvili making it a 14-0 scoreline.

Khutsishvili’s name was added twice in the second half. His two penalties were the only scores of the second half. Los Pumitas had no answer. The well-beaten South Americans have plenty of thinking to do.

The result was not the only upset of the day. In the pool’s other match, Italy downed hosts South Africa. The Italians were well-beaten by Argentina in their prior match while Georgia fell to South Africa. Combined this leaves Argentina in top spot of the pool. Argentina face South Africa on Tuesday while Georgia face Italy. Only one team will advance.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA (0)

GEORGIA (20)
Try – L Khorbaladze (17′); B Khonelidze (34′)
Con – P Khutsishvili 2 (18, 35′)
Pen – P Khutsishvili 2 (44′, 56′)

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
1 Francisco Palazzi (Matías Alemanno 44′), 2 Tomás Bartoloni (Valentino Minoyetti 57′), 3 Tomás Rapetti (Renzo Zanella 57′), 4 Mateo Lorenzo (Federico Rolotti 57′), 5 Efrain Elías, 6 Eliseo Chiavassa (capt.), 7 Aitor Bildosola, 8 Benjamín Grondona (Felipe Bares 63′), 9 Agustín Moyano, 10 Juan Bautista Baronio (Valentino Di Capua 61′), 11 Ignacio Lucero, 12 Nicolás López González (Felipe Mallía 64′), 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 14 Ernesto Guidice, 15 Mateo Soler (Nicolás Viola 66′)

GEORGIA
1 Giorgi Mamaiashvili (Lasha Pkhakadze 54′), 2 Nika Babunashvili (Basa Khonelidze 30′), 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 4 Guram Ghaniashvili, 5 Giorgi Gergedava, 6 Rati Zazadze, 7 Lasha Tsikhistavi (capt.), 8 Nika Lomidze (Tornike Ganiashvili 64′), 9 Davit Khuroshvili (Sandro Jigauri 53′), 10 Petre Khutsishvili, 11 Luka Khorbaladze (Vazha Mikadze 66′), 12 Giorgi Shvelidze, 13 Tornike Kakhoidze, 14 Shalva Aptsiauri, 15 Luka Tsirekidze