USA get a hammering from Argentina's B-team

REPORT: Santiago Carreras scored two tries as host Argentina routed two-time defending champion United States 45-14 on Saturday to seize the lead after two rounds of the Americas Rugby Championship.

The second-tier Argentina squad improved to 2-0 and overtook Uruguay (2-0) atop the table thanks to two bonus points for four tries in a match.

The USA Eagles fell to 1-1 and slid to third in the table entering a week off for the North and South America version of the Six Nations tournament before they close with three matches on home soil.

Carreras scored a try in the opening minute off the game's first attack and Lucas Favre added another in the eighth minute off a line out as Argentina seized a quick 14-0 edge.

Gaspar Baldunciel added a try in the 28th minute and the Argentine hosts grabbed a 21-0 half-time advantage.

The Americans, whose comeback bid was hindered by Paul Lasike's 31st-minute red card, surrendered another try to Carreras in the 46th minute.

Felipe Ezcurra added another try in the 54th minute and Julian Dominguez struck again two minutes later for a 40-0 Argentina lead.

Argentine captain Lautaro Bavaro scored in the 72nd minute before the Americans were awarded a penalty try in the 76th minute and Dylan Fawsitt added another for the Eagles in the 77th.

New Zealand-born Brazilian Joshua Reeves kicked six penalties to power the Tupis over visiting Canada 18-10 in Saturday's other match.

Canada's Ciaran Hearn had a penalty kick, try and conversion in the first eight minutes for a 10-0 lead but were outplayed from there as Brazil (1-1) rose to fourth in the table.

AFP