Hawks fall to Argentina Development XV in tour finale

The USA Hawks closed out their three-match tour of South America with a 45-33 defeat against an Argentina Development XV. It was played at the Deportiva Francesa club in Buenos Aires, one day before the previously announced kickoff and just four days after Friday’s game against the Pampas.

Argentina’s selection was comprised of youngsters competing for spots in their under-20 side which will play two games in North Carolina next month. Five players are currently attached to Super Rugby Americas sides including captain and scrumhalf Tomás Di Biase, flanker Felipe Bares, center Felipe Mallía, wing Lautaro Cipriani, and prop Lautaro Peralta.

The Hawks got off to a flying start with tries from Sam Faoagali, Ethan Fryer, and Tai Kauwe all within the first 20 minutes. Argentina’s pack then began to take control with hooker Boris Cec scoring twice and then a penalty try that saw Hunter Blanchard sent to the sin bin. Mallía’s try on the stroke of halftime made it 28-21 to the home side.

D’Montae Noble raced free to bring the visitors back within two, but then fresh legs gave the Argentines three tries in a row. Cipriani got the first, followed by Nicanor Acosta and Juan Lovell. A consolation effort went to Evan Conlon at full-time, which he duly converted himself.

It’s back to the USA for the Hawks, who will camp out in Charlotte to prepare for their four remaining games. They will face Super Rugby Americas sides Cobras and Yacare on April 6 and 29 respectively. In between it will be the Pumitas u20s on April 15 and 21.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA 45
Tries (7) – B. Cec 2 (25’, 29’), Penalty try (35’), F. Mallía (40’), L. Cipriani (57’), N. Acosta (61’), J. Lovell (70’)
Cons (5) – T. Bunge 3 (26’, 30’, 40’+1’), No kick (35’), S. Di Lucca (71’)

USA 33
Tries (5) – S. Faoagali (4’), E. Fryer (12’), T. Kauwe (16’), D. Noble (51’), E. Conlon (80’)
Cons (4) – C. Warner 3 (5’, 13’, 17’), E. Conlon (80’+1’)
YC (1) – H. Blanchard (35’)

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA DEVELOPMENT XV
1 Genaro Merola, 2 Boris Cec, 3 Lautaro Fanlo, 4 Federico Rolotti, 5 Luciano Acevedo, 6 Benjamín Rocca, 7 Felipe Bares, 8 Santiago Acuña, 9 Tomás Di Biase (capt.), 10 Tomás Bunge, 11 Franco Rossetto, 12 Nicolás López González, 13 Felipe Mallía, 14 Gerónimo Vittar, 15 Simón Walker

Replacements: Juan Manuel Vivas, Benjamín Garrido, Esteban Acosta, Lautaro Peralta, Elías Banach Simic, Felipe Julián Rodríguez, Juan Pedro Bernasconi, Juan Lovell, Santino Di Lucca, Nicanor Acosta, Lautaro Cipriani, Federico Zarza

USA HAWKS
1 Hunter Blanchard, 2 Sam Faoagali, 3 Trent Rogers, 4 Bill Whiteside, 5 Lucas Gramlick, 6 Marnus Spangenberg (capt.), 7 Ethan Fryer, 8 Aidan Christians, 9 Tai Kauwe, 10 Coleson Warner, 11 D’Montae Noble, 12 Chase Suznevich, 13 Trace Bolstad, 14 Jason Tidwell, 15 Christian Olney

Replacements: Doyle Hedgepeth, Ivan Pula, Oliver Kane, Matt Gelhaus, Aminae Amiatu-Tanoi, Evan Conlon, Kyle Fulton, Isaiah Caver, Maxime Wilson, Elijah Hayes

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Pali Deluca (Argentina)