Pumas pound Europe’s best

Pumas pound Europe’s best

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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  • 1.carol: Reply to this comment

    Welsh Dragons

  • 2.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    do it pumas

    do it

  • 3.carol: Reply to this comment

    Come on Wales.

  • 4.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    @carol-1:
    very sharp :grin:

  • 5.carol: Reply to this comment

    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

    Cmon Argies, whip these pompous pretenders.

  • 7.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment

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

  • 8.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    arg looking good

  • 9.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    @carol-5:
    ja, give yourself a beer

  • 10.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    that was forward

  • 11.kaksioek: Reply to this comment

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

  • 12.carol: Reply to this comment

    @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

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

  • 14.carol: Reply to this comment

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

  • 15.kaksioek: Reply to this comment

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

  • 16.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    yes!

  • 17.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    pumas doing it

  • 18.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    arg on fire!

    mooi!

  • 19.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    two tries in ten minutes

    keep the pressure on arg

  • 20.lesiba: Reply to this comment

    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

    poor option wales
    should have taken the points

  • 22.katman: Reply to this comment

    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

    arg have gained by being in the RC

  • 24.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment

    Go Argies!!!

  • 25.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    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

    yyyeeesssss

  • 27.Big Hit: Reply to this comment

    Some touchline kick from Sanchez

  • 28.Slumtown: Reply to this comment

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

  • 29.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment

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

  • 30.katman: Reply to this comment

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

  • 31.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment

    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

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

  • 33.katman: Reply to this comment

    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

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-32: Definitely MOM.

  • 35.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    what stupid option taking

    should have passed the ball

  • 36.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment

    Lobbe has got it

  • 37.Big Hit: Reply to this comment

    @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

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

  • 39.carol: Reply to this comment

    Oh dearie me!!

  • 40.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    @katman-34:
    agreed.

  • 41.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment

    @carol-39: Hubby in a bad mood?

  • 42.Slumtown: Reply to this comment

    @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

    Booing when the whistle went for full-time.

  • 44.Slumtown: Reply to this comment

    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

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

  • 46.katman: Reply to this comment

    Headline tomorrow should read: HARPOONED.

  • 47.David: Reply to this comment

    Looks like GHs time there hasn’t been wasted.

  • 48.Slumtown: Reply to this comment

    @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

    Lights out welsh drag-queens!

    Viva Juan Martin Fernandes Lobbe viva!!

  • 50.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment

    Honourable after match talk by Lobbe. Class act.

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