Colombia fall to Argentina in Historic First Meeting

Colombia fell to a comprehensive home defeat today against the Argentina XV. The match officially opened international competition at the senior men’s level between representative teams from the two South American countries.

The historic first contest rugby between Colombia and Argentina would see a 79-3 home defeat yet the opening points of the fixture would be scored by the Colombians. Scoring the opening points of the game was fullback and captain José Manuel Diosa. He did so with a 12th minute drop goal.

Colombia had played with intensity and conviction in the early minutes. They were, however, up against a side with far greater experience and of a vastly higher level to that which Colombia has ever played against.

Ignacio Fernández Lobbe’s Argentina XV would patiently take their time before unleashing raids on Los Tucanes. The first of their six first half tries would be scored in the 14th minute. Touching down was Matías Osadczuk.

Resolute defense from Colombia would see the Argentina XV forced to earn their tries. That they did with No8 Santiago Montagner, and center Lucas Mensa crossing for back-to-back tries in the 22nd and 24th minutes.

Mensa wold bag his second five minutes after his first while 27 time capped Pumas winger Manuel Montero would also score in the first half as would second-rower Jerónimo Ureta.

The second half could not have begun better for the Argentina XV. In the 41st minute of play Juan Manuel Pittinari continued the try scoring in what would be the first of seven second half tries. While the tries came in abundance the goal-kicking was less impressive with seven out of the thirteen tries being converted.

The Argentina XV return home to play host to Chile next weekend. They will do so in the northern city of Tucumán. Colombia are to remain in Medellín to face Paraguay in the second round of the Sudamérica 6 Naciones A.

 

SCORING

COLOMBIA 3
Drop goals – J. Diosa 1/1 (12′)
Yellow cards – S. Mejía (64′)

ARGENTINA XV 79
Tries – M. Osadczuk (14′), S. Montagner (22′), L. Mensa 2 (25′, 30′), M. Montero (27′), J. Ureta (36′), J. Pittinari (42′), G. del Prete (48′), T. Castiglioni (56′), J. Domínguez (60′), D. Fortuny (68′), F. Cordero (70′), B. Ortiz de Rozas (73′)
Cons – T. Castiglioni 4/9 (23′, 31′, 43′, 57′), M. Roger 3/4 (61′, 69′, 71′)

 

TEAMS

COLOMBIA
1 Mauricio Espinal (17 Yani Pérez 51′), 2 Diego Posada (16 Jorge Álvarez 51′), 3 Andrés Arango (18 Brayhan Pérez 51′), 4 Danny Giraldo (19 Santiago Mejía 52′), 5 Jhon Carlos Álvarez, 6 Arturo Contreras (20 David Rojo 45′), 7 Diver Ceballos, 8 Gerson Ortiz, 9 Julián Navarro (21 Alejandro Vanegas 52′), 10 Andrés Álvarez (23 Maicol Machado 59′), 11 Juan Sebastián Giraldo, 12 Geovanny Carvajal (22 Cristian Rodallegas 54′), 13 Juan Dávila, 14 Arley Urrutia, 15 José Manuel Diosa (capt.)

ARGENTINA XV
1 Juan Manuel Pittinari (17 Javier Corvalán 51′), 2 José Luis González (16 Diego Fortuny 45′), 3 Martín Fernández Segurotti (18 Jeremías Tarter 51′), 4 Jerónimo Ureta, 5 Ignacio Calas (19 Carlos Repetto 51′), 6 Francisco Gorrissen (capt.) (20 Santiago Portillo 54′), 7 Benito Ortíz de Rozas, 8 Santiago Montagner, 9 Gregorio del Prete (21 Manuel Nogués 49′), 10 Teo Castiglioni, 11 Manuel Montero, 12 Lucas Mensa (22 Martín Roger 54′), 13 Matías Osadczuk, 14 Julián Domínguez, 15 Agustín Segura (23 Facundo Cordero 54′)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Gonzalo Ventoso (URU)