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The Argentina XV made it a second win in as many weeks against World Cup countries. Having beaten Namibia last weekend, the Argentina XV knocked-over Chile 40-13 in Antofagasta on Saturday.
Chile held their own at times. Los Cóndores showed that they are training very hard to be at their strongest for their Rugby World Cup debut. Indeed, the early exchanges indicate that Chile intended on playing attacking rugby. They were rewarded with two early penalties. Francisco Urroz landed both for a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes.
The Argentina XV recovered the ball from the kick-off and turned it into the game’s opening try. Rafael Iriarte darted over from a maul. Joaquín de la Vega Mendía converted for the lead.
Chile fought back to score an excellent try. Nicolás Garafulic broke down the right. He off-loaded to Benjamín Videla who found Domingo Saavedra for the try. Urroz converted from wide.
In rugby the small things often matter greatly. This was so with a 50-22 kick restoring attacking field position. Hooker Facundo Bosch subsequently scored from a breakaway maul.
The first half ended with the Argentina XV scoring their third try. Joaquín Oviedo crossed from a pick-and-go. The conversion made it 21-13.
The Argentina XV dominated the third quarter, scoring three tries to zero. First, Bosch put up his hand for World Cup consideration with a second try. He had a strong game with accuracy in the lineout and a busy workload.
An unmarked Sebastián Cancelliere scored next. Too much ball saw Chile’s defensive line fade allowing a simple score. Rodrigo Isgró had to work harder for his try which followed. Both he and Cancelliere played in this match after starting for Los Pumas in the 2023 Rugby Championship. Of them it was Isgró who did his chances a favor.
Meanwhile, winger Bautista Delguy played the match at fullback. He was dangerous with ball in hand throughout. He and both starting wingers may face Chile again when then teams compete in Santiago on August 26. That is the final match involving a South American RWC 2023 competitor before the World Cup.
Before then, however, Chile will turn their attention to Namibia. The Africans are coming off a pair of losses against the Argentina XV and Uruguay. Chile is their final match before returning home. The match next Saturday in Temuco will mark the beginning of international competition between Chile and Namibia.
SCORING
CHILE (13)
Try – D Saavedra (23’)
Con – F Urroz 1/1 (24′)
Pen – F Urroz 2/2 (4’, 15’)
YC – N Garafulic (75)
ARGENTINA (40)
Try – F Iriarte (18’); F Bosch 2 (32’, 44’); J Oviedo (40’); S Cancelliere (52’); R Isgró (59’)
Con – J de la Vega Mendía 5/6 (19’, 33’, 40’, 44’, 60’)
TEAMS
CHILE
1 Salvador Lues, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Augusto Sarmiento, 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Raimundo Martínez, 8 Joaquín Milesi, 9 Lukas Carvallo, 10 Benjamín Videla, 11 Franco Velarde, 12 José Ignacio Larenas, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Nicolás Garafulic, 15 Francisco Urroz
Replacements: 16 Vittorio Lastra, 17 Tomás Dussaillant, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Javier Eissmann, 20 Clemente Saavedra, 21 Nicolás Herreros, 22 Matías Garafulic, 23 Iñaki Ayarza
ARGENTINA XV
1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Facundo Bosch, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Federico Lavanini, 6 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 7 Manuel Bernstein, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 9 Rafael Iriarte, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía (capt.), 11 Rodrigo Isgró, 12 Luciano González, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Bautista Delguy
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Santiago Pulella, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Lorenzo Colidio, 20 Eliseo Fourcade, 21 Julián Hernández, 22 Juan Pablo Castro, 23 Benjamín Elizalde
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Craig Evans (UK)
Assistant Referees: Francisco González (UY); Matías Esteban (UY)
