Argentina title dream ends with Semi Final defeat to Australia

Argentina’s title dreams ended this afternoon with a Semi Final defeat against Australia in the U20 Championship. The South Americans were beaten 34-13 by Australia and will now face South Africa in the Bronze Final on Saturday.

Following a competitive, and close, opening half Australia took control in the second half to turn a 17-13 half-time lead into a 21 point victory.

The win as earned with a man down following foul play from Michael McDonald. In being yellow carded for a second time he was sent-off and Argentina were awarded a penalty try from the incident.

While he was involved in the match McDonald would score a try, the second for the Australians. The first had gone to flanker Harry Wilson.

Yet the advantages would not transpire into a victory. To the contrary Australia would score again early in the second half, doing so via hooker Lachlan Lonergan. It gave the away side a ten point lead.

Argentina looked to have scored in response only for Rodrigo Isgro to have had a foot in touch. The non-try would be Argentina’s only scoring opportunity of the second half.

Australia would cross again with fly half Ben Donaldson delivering the killer blow. His impressive performance saw him scoring 19 points.

Defeat against Australia marked elimination in the Semi Finals stage for Argentina. Los Pumitas will face South Africa on Friday while defending champions France will be up against Australia in the Final.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA (13)
Try: Penalty Try
Conversion:
Penalty: de la Vega Mendía (2)

AUSTRALIA (34)
Try: Wilson, McDonald, Lonergan, Donaldson
Conversion: Donaldson (3)
Penalty: Donaldson (2)
Yellow Card: McDonald
Red Card: McDonald

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Pablo Dimcheff, 3 Francisco Coria, 4 Manuel Bernstein, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel, 7 Juan Martín González, 8 Bautista Pedemonte, 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 15 Ignacio Mendy

AUSTRALIA
1 Angus Bell, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 3 Josh Nasser, 4 Michael Wood, 5 Trevor Hosea, 6 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (capt.), 8 Will Harris, 9 Michael McDonald, 10 Ben Donaldson, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 12 Noah Lolesio, 13 Semisi Tupou, 14 Sione Tui, 15 Isaac Lucas