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Hearts were pounding as Argentina defeated Fiji on Friday. The 43-22 win saw Los Pumitas finishing 9th in the World Rugby u20 Championship in South Africa. Fiji finished 10th. Both teams will be back again for the 2024 tournament which will also be played in South Africa.
Fiji scored first at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. Kavaia Tagivetaua was in to the try zone in the 8th minute of play. The score save Fiji some early hope which was eroded away before half-time.
Argentina’s response saw Valentín Soler Filloy crossing in the 12th minute. Following the qualifier, Los Pumitas turned on the afterburners to score four tries in twelve minutes. Hooker Valentino Minoyetti, center Ernesto Giudice and N8 Eliseo Chiavassa and scrum-half Tomás Di Biase all scored.
Fiji needed a miracle to overcome the 29-5 half-time scoreline. The Oceania side quickly had a two man advantage as both Mateo Soler and Mateo Lorenzo were yellow carded. Waqa Nalaga scored Fiji’s second try as a result. Yet, even with two fewer players, Los Pumitas secured a penalty try.
Fiji were 43-12 down but fought on until the end. They won the final 35 minutes by a scoreline of 14-7. Fullback Isikeli Basiyalo ran-in two tries for Fiji while Chiavassa scored the final try of the match.
SCORING
ARGENTINA (43)
Try – V Soler Filloy (12′); V Minoyetti (21′); E Giudice (25′); E Chiavassa 2 (30′, 69′); T Di Biase (33′); Penalty Try (47′)
Con – V Dicapua 3 (26′, 34′, 69′)
YC – M Soler (40′); M Lorenzo (43′)
RC – F García Hamilton (73′)
FIJI (22)
Try – RK Tagivetaua (8′); W Nalaga (42′); I Basiyalo (55′, 66′)
Con – I Basiyalo (42′)
YC – P Baselala (40′); Nakalevu (48′), Masiwini (77′)
TEAMS
ARGENTINA
1 Matías Medrano, 2 Valentino Minoyetti, 3 Marcos Camerlinckx, 4 Mateo Lorenzo, 5 Alejandro Michael Barrios, 6 Facundo García Hamilton, 7 Felipe Bares, 8 Eliseo Chiavassa (capt.), 9 Tomás Di Biasi, 10 Valentino Dicapua, 11 Valentín Soler Filloy, 12 Ernesto Giudice, 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 14 Mateo Soler, 15 Felipe Mallía
Replacements: 16 Tomás Bartolini, 17 Juan Manuel Vivas, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Efraín Elías, 20 Aitor Bildosola, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Nicolás López González, 23 Franco Rossetto
FIJI
1 Moses McGoon, 2 Ratu Kavaia Tagivetaua, 3 Lasaro Vuluma, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Nalani May, 6 Timoci Nakalevu, 7 Moti Murray (capt.), 8 Juda Saumaisue, 9 Zach Kama, 10 Philip Baselala, 11 Manieta Navonovono, 12 Pateresio Finau, 13 Waqa Nalaga, 14 Sireli Masiwini, 15 Isikeli Basiyalo
Replacements: 16 Joeli Nainoca, 17 Siti Tamani, 18 Marika Toga, 19 Emosi Natubailagi, 20 Sakenasa Nalasi, 21 Frank Ralogaivau, 22 Peni Waqalala, 23 Bronson Lee
