Pumas pound Europe’s best
10 Nov 2012
SIMON BORCHARDT saw Argentina score two second-half tries to beat Six Nations champions Wales 26-12 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
With Wales leading 12-9 after what had been a largely forgettable 55 minutes, Pumas left wing Juan Imhoff blew the game open with an excellent try that saw him round fullback Leigh Halfpenny.
Five minutes later, right winger Gonzalo Camacho scored in the corner and flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez nailed the touchline conversion.
Sanchez then slotted a 72nd-minute penalty that meant Wales, who had offered nothing on attack, needed to score two converted tries to draw level. It was never going to happen and the Pumas, who were captained by Man of the Match Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, claimed a famous victory.
While Argentina dominated the second half, the first was highly competitive.
Felipe Contepomi and Halfpenny exchanged early penalties, before Sanchez put the Pumas back in front with the first drop goal of his Test career.
The visitors then suffered a big setback when Contepomi, who was set to retire after the Pumas’ final Test of this tour against Ireland, tore knee ligaments and left the field on a stretcher. It was a sad way for the veteran’s 14-year international career to end.
After Halfpenny’s second penalty had levelled the scores again, Argentina had the best try-scoring opportunity of the half when they forced a turnover and sent the ball wide to Imhoff, who kicked ahead for Gonzalo Tiesi. But the midfielder knocked on 5m out when attempting to pick up the loose ball.
Wales also lost their inside centre when Jamie Roberts took a heavy knock to the head, before another Halfpenny penalty edged them ahead 9-6.
Sanchez should have levelled the scores early in the second half but his penalty attempt hit the left-hand upright. He had another opportunity a minute later but slipped just before he struck the ball.
Halfpenny had no problems with his fourth penalty, before Sanchez made amends with his second drop goal.
Then came the two Pumas tries that stunned the 51 000 crowd and drew first blood for the southern hemisphere this November.
69 Comments
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10 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm
Go RG´s!!! I knew it. We are gonna crash europeans from now on!
10 Nov 2012, 18:26 pm
WOOOOHOOOOO
The good looking boys win
10 Nov 2012, 18:27 pm
@Slumtown-48: The Argies are a first rate team. Many however think “we have to beat Argentina. They are only good against other teams, not ours”.
It’s lovely to see Argentina back. They move up to 7 in the rankings.
10 Nov 2012, 18:28 pm
now for the game of the weekend
10 Nov 2012, 18:29 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-54: The ref for our game must be decent. Hondo hasn’t been blithering.
10 Nov 2012, 18:30 pm
Bwahahahahahaahahahahaha. Guscott reckons Scotland fancies their chances against NZ.
10 Nov 2012, 18:30 pm
@mikeybrass-56: In rugby?
10 Nov 2012, 18:32 pm
@mikeybrass-55:
hehe
good point
wayne barnes i think
10 Nov 2012, 18:32 pm
@katman-57: Yup.
Poor Guscott. One too many blows to the head.
10 Nov 2012, 18:32 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-58: Good
10 Nov 2012, 18:38 pm
@mikeybrass-56:
just to be clear, if the ref blows it fair and true and further more indeed paid attention to the ‘big 5′ key priorities as agreed at the IRB’s most recent meeting, namely:
well..
• All aspects of the tackle with particular emphasis to be placed on the tackler releasing the tackled player and rolling away and arriving players staying on their feet.
• Offside at the breakdown.
• Offside from kicks.
• All aspects of the scrum, particularly the engagement process and front-row binding.
• All aspects of the maul, particularly what constitutes legal maul defences.
i would think the scots could fancy their chances. we seen what happens when nz gets blown properly in a match just recently.
10 Nov 2012, 18:39 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-61:
IRB referees panel’s most recent meeting
10 Nov 2012, 18:44 pm
Sweet!~I have a bet that the four “Championship” teams will be undefeated. I also believe that Samoa should win all its games and that Tonga was robbed!!!
As briefly as I can state, the Bleatingish and Oilyish teams are clap!!!!!!
10 Nov 2012, 18:51 pm
Congratulations Argentina and their supporters…!!! Very very good win!
Fernandez Lobbe must be the best Number in the world right now… been very impressive all year.
10 Nov 2012, 18:54 pm
hmmm…
1. Guinazu & Vergallo playing for the Kings next year
2. Only 4 of those 1st XV Kings players in the 1st leg Currie Cup promotion/r playoff likely to regularly make the Kings 1st XV next year
3. Likewise, only 4 of those 1st XV Kings players in the 2nd leg Currie Cup promotion/r playoff likely to regularly make the kings 1st XV next year
4. Alan Solomons correct – the Kings in the playoffs not the Kings in Super 15….
& o ja, hats off to the Pumas!
(GO BOKKE!)
10 Nov 2012, 18:56 pm
The benefits of Arg playing in the 4 Nations is beginning to show already.
In 10 years time Arg are going to be a top 4 team, just as Aus, SA and NZ make a permanent top 3 now.
10 Nov 2012, 19:03 pm
Number 8…
10 Nov 2012, 19:20 pm
Wouldnt call it a ‘famous victory’ the Pumas always have the ability to beat any northern hemisphere team not only on their day but on any normal day as well!
12 Nov 2012, 08:09 am
@mikeybrass-53:
@dquinn25-68:
Have to fully agree with both parties – magnificent Argie world-level performance; they are a rugby force in the making and a beautiful thing to see.
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