The Pumas have recorded a second victory against the touring NSW Barbarians today, outdoing their opponents by 53-12 in chilly conditions in Salta.
Trailing by 32-0 at the break, NSW hit back with tries from flanker Jed Holloway and 18-year-old Randwick playmaker David Horwitz to complete the final leg of their two-match series against Argentina.
The second-half tries were just reward for the young team’s perseverance against a vastly more experienced Test team. Boasting 437 caps in their run-on side, the Pumas superiority quickly showed, as they took the lead by slotting three points before adding a further seven courtesy of a converted try from scrumhalf Martín Landajo after seven minutes.
A drop goal followed by two further tries, one apiece from wingers Gonzalo Camacho and Juan Imhoff, extended the home side’s lead to 25-0 on 30 minutes, before a fourth effort, this time from outside centre Joaquín Tuculet, left them with a comfortable 32-0 advantage at the break.
Boosted by the arrival of fresh legs as coach Michael Cheika made the most of his extended bench, the visitors hit back after just three minutes with a try from young replacement playmaker David Horwitz, who also added the conversion.
Further tries from Pumas breakaway Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Camacho and replacement Horacio Agulla put the result beyond doubt but did nothing to diminish the NSW Barbarians’ efforts, as they continued to defend with vigour and attack with ball in hand. Their passion did result in a second try after 73 minutes, scored by Southern districts flanker Jed Holloway and converted by replacement scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin, shortly after Pumas replacement Pablo Matera had added his side’s eighth.
The full time score at a chilly Padre Ernesto Martearena in Salta was 53-12 in the home side’s favour, with the match completing the Pumas preparations for The Rugby Championship which kicks off next weekend when the Pumas take on South Africa and the Wallabies host New Zealand.
Argentina 58 (Landajo, Camacho 2, Imhoff, Tuculet, Leguizamon, Agulla, Matera tries; Contepomi 2 cons, pen; Hernandez con, pen; Sanchez 3 cons) d NSW Barbarians 12 (David Horwitz, Jed Holloway tries; Brendan McKibbin con)
NSW Barbarians: 1. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University), 2. Luke Holmes (Warringah), 3. Sam Talakai (Sydney University), 4. Will Skelton (Sydney University), 5. Mitchell Chapman (Eastern Suburbs), 6. Jack Dempsey (Gordon), 7. Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University, captain), 8. Tala Gray (Eastern Suburbs), 9. Matt Lucas (Manly), 10. Ben Volavola (Southern Districts), 11. Alofa Alofa (West Harbour), 12. Terrence Hepetema (Randwick), 13. Rob Horne (Southern Districts), 14. Cam Crawford (Northern Suburbs), 15. Drew Mitchell (Randwick)
Replacements (all used): 16. Kerren Straker (Penrith), 17. Tolu Latu (Sydney University), 18. Keliti Vangalo (Eastern Suburbs), 19. Jed Holloway (Southern Districts), 20. Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs), 21. Auvasa Falealii (Newcastle Waratahs), 22. David Horwitz (Randwick), 23. Michael McDougall (Eastwood), 24. Usaia O’Sullivan (West Harbour), 25. Alex Gibbon (Southern Districts), 26. Matt Carraro, 27. David Lolohea (West Harbour)
Los Pumas: Marcos Ayerza, (40 caps), 2. Agustín Creevy (22 caps), 3. Juan Figallo (17 caps), 4. Manuel Carizza (33 caps), 5. Mariano Galarza (12 caps), 6. Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (captain, 52 caps), 7. Juan Manuel Leguizamón (46 caps), 8. Leonardo Senatore (17 caps), 9. Martín Landajo (18 caps), 10. Juan Martín Hernández (39 caps), 11. Juan Imhoff (14 caps), 12. Felipe Contepomi (81 caps), 13. Joaquín Tuculet (5 caps), 14. Gonzalo Camacho (20 caps), 15. Lucas González Amorosino (21 caps)
Replacements: Eusebio Guiñazú (27 caps), Nahuel Lobo (2 caps), Matías Díaz (3 caps), Julio Farías Cabello (21 caps), Pablo Matera (2 caps), Tomás Cubelli (13 caps), Nicolás Sánchez (8 caps), Santiago Fernández (25 caps), Marcelo Bosch (18 caps), Horacio Agulla (42 caps)
Half-time: Pumas 32 – 0 NSW Barbarians
Stadium: Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta (Argentina)
Referee: Juan Hernán Sylvestre (UAR)
AR1: Federico Anselmi (UAR. AR2: Santiago Altobelli (UAR)
TMO: Marcelo Abdala (UAR)
Temperature: 1°C
Humidity: 67%, no wind
