Argentina Flop against South Africa at Junior World Championship

Argentina blew a 16-7 half-time lead to fall to a 24-16 defeat against South Africa on Tuesday. The match was the final fixture for both teams in the pool phase of the 2-23 Junior World Championship. The result sees South Africa into the Semi Finals while Argentina will meet Japan in the 9th place final.

Los Pumitas were on fire early-on. Three early penalties from Valentino Dicapua had the Argentines out to a 9-0 lead. Captain Eliseo Chiavassa then powered over for the game’s opening try. Intervention from the TMO ruled it to be a non-score.

South Africa responded to score. Hooker Juann Else went over for the first of the game. The visitors responded with tight-head Renzo Zanella finishing what had been an impressive break from he backs. The score made it 16-7 late in the half.

Argentina appeared in control, yet, the home side played all the rugby in the second-half. Jean Smith started the comeback with a penalty. Hakeem Kunene then cut the defense to ribbons for a memorable try. It was cancelled by the TMO.

The nono-try fired up the home side. South Africa used it for motivation and came away with two tries. N8 Corne Beets claimed a double. With it South Africa were up to 24 points and did not conceded any second half points.

Argentina’s disappointing second half follows being well-beaten by Georgia in game two. The pressure is now on Los Pumitas for a big finish against Japan. Italy and Fiji are on the other side, with an eye on the result.

 

SCORING

SOUTH AFRICA
Try – Else (25′); Beets 2 (68′, 75′)
Con – Smith 3 (26′, 69′, 76′)
Pen – Smith (42′)
YC – van Heerden (31′)

ARGENTINA
Try – Zanella (34′)
Con – Dicapua (35′)
Pen – Dicapua 3 (3′, 14′, 22′)

 

TEAMS

SOUTH AFRICA
15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Jurenzo Julius, 13 Katlego Letebele, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Michael Annies, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Corne Beets, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Paul de Villiers (capt.), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Coetzee le Roux, 3 Dian Heunis, 2 Juann Else, 1 Cornè Lavagna

ARGENTINA
15 Mateo Soler, 14 Ernesto Giudice, 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 12 Nicolás López González, 11 Ignacio Lucero, 10 Valentino Dicapua, 9 Agustín Moyano, 8 Benjamín Grondona, 7 Aitor Bildosola, 6 Eliseo Chiavassa (capt.), 5 Efraín Elías, 4 Federico Rolotti, 3 Renzo Zanella, 2 Tomás Bartolini, 1 Matías Medrano