Argentina fly past outclassed Samoa

The Argentina XV left no doubts as to who the Americas Pacific Challenge favorites would be heading into the final round as they throttled an outclassed Samoa ‘A’ side by 85-14 on Wednesday afternoon. From start to finish the Argentines punished any mistakes made by the Samoans and showed no mercy after leading 45-7 at the break.

Axel Zapata was first to the line for Argentina from a driving maul. The ease of the score was ominous but it would be Samoa who struck next with arguably the try of the tournament.

Elisapeta Alofipo started the move with a scything run and finished it himself after four lovely offloads for a stunning long-range score. It would be a long time between scores for Samoa, their second not coming up the 78th minute.

Bautista Delguy, Juan Cruz González, and two each from Juan Cappiello and Germán Schulz made it seven tries for Argentina before halftime with five converted by Gonzalez. Three of those would come with only 13 players on the field for Samoa after Ikifusi Matamu and Paulo Scanlan were binned in quick succession for dangerous play.

The second half resembled a scrimmage more than a contest. With the result long decided the intensity was gone from Samoa and Argentina threw the ball around at will. Sebastián Cancelliere ripped the ball out of a tackle and sprinted 75 metres to score within a minute of the restart.

Two more players would score twice in Gonzalo Bertranou and Rodrigo Etchart while Rodrigo Bruni added the final blow to bring up full-time. Setu Enoka grabbed a consolation score just moments before to give Samoa a minute positive at the end of an otherwise one-sided hammering.

Only Uruguay ‘A’ stand in the way for the Argentines from repeating as champions of the Americas Pacific Challenge. Sunday’s final round will also pit Samoa against their Pacific neighbors Tonga ‘A’.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA 85
Tries – A. Zapata (6’), B. Delguy (15’), J. Cappiello 2 (20’, 37’), G. Schulz 2 (27’, 29’), J. González (35’), S. Cancelliere (41’), G. Bertranou 2 (47’, 64′), R. Etchart 2 (56’, 76′), R. Bruni (80′)
Cons – J. González 10/13 (7’, 16’, 21’, 28’, 30’, 42’, 48’, 57’, 77′, 80′)

SAMOA 14
Tries – E. Alofipo (10’), S. Enoka (78′)
Cons – A. Fruean 1/1 (11’), R. Ene 1/1 (79′)
Yellow cards – I. Matamu (27’), P. Scanlan (29’)

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA XV
1 Franco Brarda, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Benjamín Espinal, 4 Diego Galetto, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Juan Cruz González, 11 Germán Schulz, 12 Juan Cappiello, 13 Santiago Álvarez, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Bautista Delguy

Replacements: 16 Gaspar Baldunciel, 17 Roberto Tejerizo, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 20 Santiago Portillo, 21 Santiago Mare, 22 Juan Cruz Mallía, 23 Rodrigo Etchart

SAMOA ‘A’
1 Rodney Tapu, 2 Noel Sanft, 3 Tiamu Viliamu, 4 Ikifusi Matamu, 5 Aukusitino Ulugia, 6 Mikaele Tapili, 7 Joseph Fuimaono, 8 Suamalie Tuiletufuga (capt.), 9 Ionatana Tino, 10 Aukuso Fruean, 11 La’aloi Leilua, 12 Tagaloa Fonoti, 13 Leia Saofaiga, 14 Elisapeta Alofipo, 15 Paulo Scanlan

Replacements: 16 Ripine Fualau, 17 Tuaniu Tuaniu, 18 Setu Enoka, 19 Lester Sefo, 20 Fili Setu, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Ricky Pauli Ene, 23 Taimua Malielegaoi

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Francisco González (URU)