The home side in the 2019 U20 Championship, Argentina finished in fourth place. Los Pumitas missed out on a place on the podium after falling to a 41-16 defeat today against South Africa.
It was South Africa’s day as errors from Los Pumitas saw the Junior Springboks more than making up for their loss against Argentina in a pre-tournament warm-up.
Today’s U20 Championship Bronze Final match was both won, and controlled by South Africa. The Junior Springboks impressed in the opening half to hold a 17-3 advantage at half-time.
In the second half Argentina would fight back well with quick-fire tries being scored by Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, and Mateo Carrera. With a penalty then added from replacement Nicolás Roger the match was poised art 17-16 with one quarter remaining.
In the final quarter it would be all South Africa. Three unanswered tries would see Argentina’s South Atlantic rivals claiming the win and the Bronze Medals.
TEAMS
ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Pablo Dimcheff, 3 Estanislao Carullo, 4 Manuel Bernstein, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 7 Juan Martín González, 8 Bautista Pedemonte, 9 Gonzalo García (capt.), 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 13 Tomás Acosta Pimentel, 14 Francisco Jorge, 15 Ignacio Mendy
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Kudzwai Dube, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 5 Elrigh Louw, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 7 Celimpilo Gumede, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi (capt.), 9 Sanele Nohamba, 10 David Coetzer, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 13 David Kriel, 14 Angelo Davids, 15 Vaughen Issacs