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, 16:26 pm
Welsh Dragons
10 Nov 2012, 16:27 pm
do it pumas
do it
10 Nov 2012, 16:28 pm
Come on Wales.
10 Nov 2012, 16:28 pm
@carol-1:
very sharp
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?
10 Nov 2012, 16:34 pm
Cmon Argies, whip these pompous pretenders.
10 Nov 2012, 16:36 pm
Go the Argies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10 Nov 2012, 16:39 pm
arg looking good
10 Nov 2012, 16:40 pm
@carol-5:
ja, give yourself a beer
10 Nov 2012, 16:47 pm
that was forward
10 Nov 2012, 17:08 pm
@carol-5: Why aren’t you watching England vs Fiji?
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!!
10 Nov 2012, 17:23 pm
@carol-12: Fair enough. What’s a WRS?
10 Nov 2012, 17:30 pm
My husband = WRS (Welsh Rugby Supporter)!!
10 Nov 2012, 17:44 pm
@carol-14: Hard luck. England are doing well though, if that helps.
10 Nov 2012, 17:50 pm
yes!
10 Nov 2012, 17:51 pm
pumas doing it
10 Nov 2012, 17:57 pm
arg on fire!
mooi!
10 Nov 2012, 17:58 pm
two tries in ten minutes
keep the pressure on arg
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.
10 Nov 2012, 18:04 pm
poor option wales
should have taken the points
10 Nov 2012, 18:05 pm
Argies skipper, Fernandez- Lobbe, is massive. Must be one of the best loosies in world rugby.
10 Nov 2012, 18:05 pm
arg have gained by being in the RC
10 Nov 2012, 18:06 pm
Go Argies!!!
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.
10 Nov 2012, 18:12 pm
yyyeeesssss
10 Nov 2012, 18:13 pm
Some touchline kick from Sanchez
10 Nov 2012, 18:14 pm
4th and last placed SH team taking the Six Nation champs apart – lol. No Contest man. No contest.
10 Nov 2012, 18:14 pm
@Big Hit-27: You must be enjoying this, BH
10 Nov 2012, 18:15 pm
And not just Fernandez Lobbe. Their no. 7, Leguizamon, is a class act too.
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.
10 Nov 2012, 18:17 pm
@katman-30:
lobbe was huge in this game
possible mom
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.
10 Nov 2012, 18:18 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-32: Definitely MOM.
10 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm
what stupid option taking
should have passed the ball
10 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm
Lobbe has got it
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
10 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm
Welsh are playing like twats – worse than the bloody Boks.
10 Nov 2012, 18:20 pm
Oh dearie me!!
10 Nov 2012, 18:20 pm
@katman-34:
agreed.
10 Nov 2012, 18:20 pm
@carol-39: Hubby in a bad mood?
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.
10 Nov 2012, 18:22 pm
Booing when the whistle went for full-time.
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.
10 Nov 2012, 18:22 pm
@Slumtown-42: Probably took the Argies for granted.
10 Nov 2012, 18:22 pm
Headline tomorrow should read: HARPOONED.
10 Nov 2012, 18:24 pm
Looks like GHs time there hasn’t been wasted.
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.
10 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm
Lights out welsh drag-queens!
Viva Juan Martin Fernandes Lobbe viva!!
10 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm
Honourable after match talk by Lobbe. Class act.
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