Los Pumas record 50-point rout over Azzurri
MATCH REPORT: Argentina enhanced their reputation as one of the most improved teams of the year with a 50-18 rout of Italy at Stadio Friuli, in Udine, on Saturday.
The first half was competitive, but after the break Los Pumas cut lose and scored five tries in a dominant showing.
After 48 minutes, with the visitors leading by just four points (17-13), the home team still had hope.
However, that faded like mist before the morning sun - tries by Joel Sclavi and Tomas Albornoz ending the match as a contest.
The rout was completed with tries by Santiago Cordero, Matias Alemmano and Bautista Delguy.
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Argentina notched up a ninth successive victory over Italy.
Los Pumas scored seven tries for a record victory over the Italians to set themselves up nicely for back-to-back matches to come against Ireland and France.
Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada, a former Argentina flyhalf, had predicted that his team would be ring rusty and so it proved in a largely toothless display that left the home side without a win over Argentina since 2008.
The most recent home Italian win over Los Pumas was in 1998 and that never looked like being matched as defensive frailties were exposed throughout the 80 minutes.
Tomas Albornoz opened the scoring for Argentina with a third-minute penalty.
Italy then suffered a blow just minutes later when star fullback Ange Capuozzo left the field after a heavy blow to the head that left the Toulouse player floored.
Things turned worse when Juan Cruz Mallia pounced on a loose ball to run in from 80 metres, Albornoz converting.
Martin Page-Relo pushed a long-range penalty wide as Italy struggled to break Los Pumas' defensive grip.
Gonzalo Bertranou crossed for Argentina's second try after Rodrigo Isgro soared to claim an up-and-under, the ball worked back to Juan Martin Gonzalez whose pass was knocked back by Italy's Paolo Garbisi into the path of the scrumhalf.
Albornoz converted to make it 17-0 after 30 minutes, but Italy got themselves into the game when English referee Matthew Carley awarded a penalty try after Juan Martin Gonzalez pulled down an Italian maul with the tryline in sight.
Gonzalez also saw yellow for that act, but Italy could not fully capitalise on their numerical advantage despite a Federico Ruzza charge just before half-time.
Prop Mirco Spagnolo was harshly denied a try by Carley, but Tommaso Allan kicked a penalty to leave it 17-10 after the opening 40 minutes.
Argentina lock Franco Molina strayed offside early in the second half, Allan making no mistake with his gifted penalty shot to bring the hosts within four points.
Los Pumas, however, extended that lead when prop Joel Sclavi crashed over from an attacking line-out, Albornoz converting.
Albornoz and Santiago Cordero went over for further tries for Argentina as the game unravelled.
Italy hooker Giacomo Nicotera claimed one back at the Stadio Friuli, home to Udinese in Serie A.
But Argentina, fresh from beating three Rugby Championship opponents this year – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – for the first time, had the last word with tries through Matias Alemanno and Bautista Delguy, Albornoz finishing with a personal tally of 20 points.
Italy, the traditional minnows who enjoyed their best-ever Six Nations campaign last season with victories over Scotland and Wales and a thrilling draw with France, now regroup before matches against Georgia and New Zealand.
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Man of the match: For Italy Monty Ioane, Sebastian Negri, Tommaso Allan, Tommaso Menoncello, Mirco Spagnolo and Gianmarco Lucchesi all earned their salaries. The Los Pumas players that impressed included Joel Sclavi, Pedro Rubiolo, Bautista Delguy and Juan Cruz Mallia. However, the foundation for the win was laid by the forwards - with captain Julian Montoya, No.8 Joaquin Oviedo and centre Matias Orlando. Our award goes to Los Pumas lock Pedro Rubiolo for his workrate - including a match high 23 tackles.
Moment of the match: The Joel Sclavi try in the 48th minute halted the Azzurri comeback, but the Tomas Albornoz try in the 57th minute ended the game as a contest.
Villain: The game was played in good spirit, but Azzurri No.8 Lorenzo Cannone let his frustration get the better of him and in the 75th minute charged with a shoulder into the head of Los Pumas scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou and was justifiably carded. He was lucky it was a yellow and not a red variety.
The scorers
For Italy
Tries: Penalty try, Nicotera
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion,
Pens: Allan 2
For Argentina
Tries: Mallia, Bertranou, Sclavi, Albornoz, Cordero, Alemmano, Delguy
Cons: Albornoz 6
Pens: Albornoz
Yellow card: Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina, 33 - cynical foul, collapsing a maul near his tryline), Lorenzo Cannone (Italy, 75 - foul play, shoulder charge to the head)
Teams
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-relo, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Marco Zanon.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Matias Alemmano, 20 Bautista Pedemonte, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Adam Leal (England)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)