Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Argentina pushed hard by European minnows ahead of Wales series

(Photo by Amilcar Orfali/Getty Images)

Far from the highs of an undefeated series with the Wallabies and a historic win over the All Blacks, Argentina have plodded their way to a win over one of the minnows of world rugby in Bucharest on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Argentina held on for a narrow 24-17 win over hosts Romania despite outscoring their hosts by four tries to one.

Romania, who have claimed just a single victory over a tier-one team in the past 25 years, were once a common sight at the Rugby World Cup, featuring in every competition from 1987 through to 2015 – recording five wins over that period. They were a somewhat controversial omission from the 2019 tournament in Japan after fielding ineligible players in their qualification matches, however.

Video Spacer

Warren Gatland on the Springboks’ first performance since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Video Spacer

Warren Gatland on the Springboks’ first performance since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Argentina, who now travel to Cardiff to take on Wales in two tests over the next fortnight, were 19-7 ahead but were pulled back by the boot of Romania fullback Ionel Melinte, who put over four penalties.

Hooker Eugen Capatana scored the only try for Romania after Argentina had gone over three times in the first half with Rodrigo Bruni and Santiago Cordero crossing the chalk, as well as earning a penalty try just before halftime.

Melinte brought the scores level before debutant Pumas flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez scored the winner after coming on as second half substitute.

Romania were due to host Scotland next week but that match has been cancelled because of positive COVID-19 cases in the Scottish ranks.

ADVERTISEMENT

While Argentina haven’t played a match together since last year and understandably entered the game with a bit of rust, Los Pumas were still expected to comfortably account for their tier-two opposition.

In their opening game of 2020, Argentina recorded a historic 25-15 win over New Zealand – despite many of their players having not played a competitve professoinal match since the prevoius year’s World Cup.

While Wales won’t have any of their British and Irish Lions contingent available for the coming matches, they’ll still put up a considerably tougher fight than Romania and scored an easy 68-12 victory over Canada over the weekend.

Romania 17 (Marian Eugen Capatana try; Ionel Melinte 4 penalties)
Argentina 24 (Rodrigo Bruni, Santiago Cordero, penalty try, Juan Martin Gonzales tries; Domingo Miotti conversion)

ADVERTISEMENT

– with AAP

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 4 hours ago
Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

I feel like he'd be too happy to select people from overseas and tank the ABs as a result. I mean you gotta do it to find out, but nah, I certainly don't have enough confidence in him to give him that sort of freedom.

smith 100% plays 9 and mounga 100% plays 10

Haha yep you sound like a Razor clone, run his players into the ground without developing the next gen and tanking 2027 WC as a result.


Yes, AJ Lam was that player this year.


That's when DMac is also the biggest liability. Forced to be the playmaker is the best way he can contribute being such a tiny bloke.


That was actually one of the reasons I liked the older age bracket, it attracts the youth and also gives them somewhere to go after hs, something to capitilize on, as currently it all just dies out without an immediate or obvious step. It helps to remove a bit of the seriousness as well, which can be misplaced at that age. Sure it might be older kids that look upto it but I wouldn't change hs footy at all. Agreed though, its about the only place left with that sort of tribalism so you wouldn't want to destroy it. As there wouldn't be more than a dozen university teams hs should definitely still have cause to retain it's high following.


Haha it would certainly be cool being in that particular environment with some influence. I had a mate who worked there and said it wasn't great, but that was under the guy that got kicked out. University rugby is that stepping stone you're after 😉 thank me once you're able to pay for my time and expertise!

90 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Danny Care: 'He reminds me a lot of Anthony Watson... big shoes to fill' Care: 'He reminds me a lot of Anthony Watson... big shoes to fill'
Search