Los Pumas impress with 12 tries against Uruguay
MATCH REPORT: Argentina made a big statement, beating Uruguay by 79-5 on Saturday in the first official test between them in 18 years.
Wing Ignacio Mendy scored a double inside 12 minutes and concluded the match with a hat-trick of tries in Maldonado.
It was more than a special match for several members of the Argentine squad.
Marcos Kremer fulfilled the role of captain for the first time in his career; while Jerónimo de la Fuente and Gonzalo Bertranou, completed 80 and 60 caps with the Los Pumas, respectively.
Los Pumas, who have never lost to Los Teros, eclipsed their previous biggest win, 72-5 in 1998.
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Uruguay was playing only its second match under new coach Rodolfo Ambrosio, an Argentine who played flyhalf for Italy.
Los Teros lost to a France Development XV 28-48 in the first match of Ambrosio’s tenure last week in Montevideo.
The Los Teros headed into the match with optimism. However, it quickly diminished when Mendy scored a try within four minutes of the game.
The Los Pumas were ruthless on attack, scoring seven in the first half.
Mendy, Joaquín Moro, Joaquin Oviedo, Jerónimo De la Fuente, Mateo Carreras and Santiago Cordero all got their name on the scoreboard in the first stanza.
They cruise to a comfortable 40-0 lead at the break.
Argentina did not take their foot off the gas and continued their onslaught in the second-half.
Tries from Mateo Carreras, Mendy, Coria Marchetti, Moro and Santiago Carreras gave them dominance against an opponent who could only reach the Argentine goal once, through the substitute Juan Bautista Hontou.
Los Pumas closed a good international window with optimism, which also included a defeat and a win against France.
Now they will turn their focus on the Rugby Championship.
They open their campaign against All Blacks on Saturday, August 10 in Wellington.
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The scorers:
For Urugaua:
Try: Hontou
For Argentina:
Tries: Mendy 3, De la Fuente, Cordero, Moro 2, Oviedo, M. Carreras 2, Marchetti, S. Carreras
Cons: Albornoz 8
Pen: Albornoz
Teams:
Uruguay: 15 Ignacio Alvarez, 14 Juan Manuel Alonso, 13 Tomas Inciarte, 12 Andres Vilaseca, 11 Nicolas Freitas, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 9 Santiago Alvarez, 8 Manuel Diana, 7 Santiago Civetta, 6 Manuel Ardao, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 2 German Kessler, 1 Mateo Sanguinetti.
Replacements: 16 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Diego Arbelo, 18 Lucas Bianchi, 19 Joaquin Suarez, 20 Ignacio Peculo, 21 Diego Magno, 22 Carlos Deus, 23 Juan Bautista Hontou.
Argentina: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer (captain), 6 Joaquin Moro, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Calles, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Matias Orlando.
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland), Frank Méndez (Chile)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Sources: AP & UAR