Los Pumas record 50-point rout over Azzurri
11/09/2024 02:58 PM
MATCH REPORT: Argentina enhanced their reputation as one of the most improved teams of the year with a 50-18 rout of Italy at Stadio Friuli, in Udine, on Saturday.
The first half was competitive, but after the break Los Pumas cut lose and scored five tries in a dominant showing.
After 48 minutes, with the visitors leading by just four points (17-13), the home team still had hope.
However, that faded like mist before the morning sun - tries by Joel Sclavi and Tomas Albornoz ending the match as a contest.
The rout was completed with tries by Santiago Cordero, Matias Alemmano and Bautista Delguy.
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Man of the match: For Italy Monty Ioane, Sebastian Negri, Tommaso Allan, Tommaso Menoncello, Mirco Spagnolo and Gianmarco Lucchesi all earned their salaries. The Los Pumas players that impressed included Joel Sclavi, Pedro Rubiolo, Bautista Delguy and Juan Cruz Mallia. However, the foundation for the win was laid by the forwards - with captain Julian Montoya, No.8 Joaquin Oviedo and centre Matias Orlando. Our award goes to Los Pumas lock Pedro Rubiolo for his workrate - including a match high 23 tackles.
Moment of the match: The Joel Sclavi try in the 48th minute halted the Azzurri comeback, but the Tomas Albornoz try in the 57th minute ended the game as a contest.
Villain: The game was played in good spirit, but Azzurri No.8 Lorenzo Cannone let his frustration get the better of him and in the 75th minute charged with a shoulder into the head of Los Pumas scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou and was justifiably carded. He was lucky it was a yellow and not a red variety.
The scorers
For Italy
Tries: Penalty try, Nicotera
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion,
Pens: Allan 2
For Argentina
Tries: Mallia, Bertranou, Sclavi, Albornoz, Cordero, Alemmano, Delguy
Cons: Albornoz 6
Pens: Albornoz
Yellow card: Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina, 33 - cynical foul, collapsing a maul near his tryline), Lorenzo Cannone (Italy, 75 - foul play, shoulder charge to the head)
Teams
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-relo, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Marco Zanon.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Matias Alemmano, 20 Bautista Pedemonte, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Adam Leal (England)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
