Pumas pound Europe’s best

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

  • 1.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:26 pm

    Welsh Dragons

  • 2.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:27 pm

    do it pumas

    do it

  • 3.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:28 pm

    Come on Wales.

  • 4.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:28 pm

    @carol-1:
    very sharp :grin:

  • 5.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:30 pm

    It has been flipping ages since I got a Dragon……

    Do I get double points for a Welsh one?

  • 6.sandeno: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:34 pm

    Cmon Argies, whip these pompous pretenders.

  • 7.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:36 pm

    Go the Argies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 8.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:39 pm

    arg looking good

  • 9.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:40 pm

    @carol-5:
    ja, give yourself a beer

  • 10.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 16:47 pm

    that was forward

  • 11.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:08 pm

    @carol-5: Why aren’t you watching England vs Fiji?

  • 12.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:19 pm

    @kaksioek-11:
    2 reasons

    1. WRS supports Wales and is in charge of the remote control.

    2. We do not have subscription to Sky tv!! :-)

  • 13.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:23 pm

    @carol-12: Fair enough. What’s a WRS?

  • 14.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:30 pm

    My husband = WRS (Welsh Rugby Supporter)!! :-)

  • 15.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:44 pm

    @carol-14: Hard luck. England are doing well though, if that helps.

  • 16.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:50 pm

    yes!

  • 17.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:51 pm

    pumas doing it

  • 18.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:57 pm

    arg on fire!

    mooi!

  • 19.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:58 pm

    two tries in ten minutes

    keep the pressure on arg

  • 20.lesiba: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 17:59 pm

    Argentina’s attacking flair is more exciting than that of the boks at the moment… can’t wait to see how we’ll deal with Ireland.

  • 21.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:04 pm

    poor option wales
    should have taken the points

  • 22.katman: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:05 pm

    Argies skipper, Fernandez- Lobbe, is massive. Must be one of the best loosies in world rugby.

  • 23.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:05 pm

    arg have gained by being in the RC

  • 24.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:06 pm

    Go Argies!!!

  • 25.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:11 pm

    arg gonna take this

    was too lazy to work out a few bets and at 3.50 to the rand arg certainly caught my eye.
    shoulda placed the bets.

  • 26.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:12 pm

    yyyeeesssss

  • 27.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:13 pm

    Some touchline kick from Sanchez

  • 28.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:14 pm

    4th and last placed SH team taking the Six Nation champs apart – lol. No Contest man. No contest.

  • 29.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:14 pm

    @Big Hit-27: You must be enjoying this, BH :-)

  • 30.katman: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:15 pm

    And not just Fernandez Lobbe. Their no. 7, Leguizamon, is a class act too.

  • 31.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:16 pm

    The play isn’t of a high standard. However, the Argies also have a support player on the shoulder or nearby and this makes all the difference for continuity in play instead. Take note Meyer.

  • 32.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:17 pm

    @katman-30:
    lobbe was huge in this game
    possible mom

  • 33.katman: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:17 pm

    George North is supposed to be the Welsh Lomu, but today I’ve only seen him try to go round the outside and tackled into touch about half a dozen times.

  • 34.katman: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:18 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-32: Definitely MOM.

  • 35.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm

    what stupid option taking

    should have passed the ball

  • 36.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm

    Lobbe has got it

  • 37.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm

    @Slumtown-28: well Wales don’t have Gatland as coach right now so perhaps a bit harsh, but Argentina are certainly improved

    @mikeybrass-29: It’s a better game than the England-Fiji mismatch

  • 38.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm

    Welsh are playing like twats – worse than the bloody Boks.

  • 39.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:20 pm

    Oh dearie me!!

  • 40.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:20 pm

    @katman-34:
    agreed.

  • 41.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:20 pm

    @carol-39: Hubby in a bad mood?

  • 42.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:21 pm

    @Big Hit-37: well in all fairness the majority of these welsh players have been playing together for some time under Gatland – new coach or not they should beat Argentina as Six Nation champs one would think. Wales have been extremely poor today.

  • 43.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:22 pm

    Booing when the whistle went for full-time.

  • 44.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:22 pm

    pretty boring match though – pff – 2 tries from the Argies only real spark in the match. Argentina are becoming a real quality side but still lack attacking prowess.

  • 45.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:22 pm

    @Slumtown-42: Probably took the Argies for granted.

  • 46.katman: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:22 pm

    Headline tomorrow should read: HARPOONED.

  • 47.David: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:24 pm

    Looks like GHs time there hasn’t been wasted.

  • 48.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:24 pm

    @mikeybrass-45: yeah possibly – but that would have been bloody daft considering they drew with the Boks and almost took Australia in a match and were leading the All Blacks for the majority of one half of a match. Theyve been excellent in the RC this year considering its been their first year. Boks better catch a huge wakeup.

  • 49.fishdish: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm

    Lights out welsh drag-queens!

    Viva Juan Martin Fernandes Lobbe viva!!

  • 50.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm

    Honourable after match talk by Lobbe. Class act.

  • 51.FINERG: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm

    Go RG´s!!! I knew it. We are gonna crash europeans from now on!

  • 52.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:26 pm

    WOOOOHOOOOO

    The good looking boys win

  • 53.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    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.

  • 54.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:28 pm

    now for the game of the weekend

  • 55.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:29 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-54: The ref for our game must be decent. Hondo hasn’t been blithering.

  • 56.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:30 pm

    Bwahahahahahaahahahahaha. Guscott reckons Scotland fancies their chances against NZ.

  • 57.katman: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:30 pm

    @mikeybrass-56: In rugby?

  • 58.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:32 pm

    @mikeybrass-55:
    hehe
    good point

    wayne barnes i think

  • 59.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:32 pm

    @katman-57: Yup.
    Poor Guscott. One too many blows to the head.

  • 60.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:32 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-58: Good :-)

  • 61.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:38 pm

    @mikeybrass-56:
    well.. :grin: 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:

    • 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.

  • 62.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 18:39 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-61:
    IRB referees panel’s most recent meeting

  • 63.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    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!!!!!!

  • 64.ufo: Reply to this comment
    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.

  • 65.Angostura: Reply to this comment
    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!)

  • 66.Liewe Luiperd: Reply to this comment
    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.

  • 67.ufo: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2012, 19:03 pm

    Number 8…

  • 68.dquinn25: Reply to this comment
    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!

  • 69.J.B. Cowper: Reply to this comment
    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.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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