Pumas stumble against BaaBaas
Argentina's World Cup preparations hit a speed-bump when they lost 22-28 to a French Barbarians side in Rosario on Saturday.
In a first half dominated by poor ball handling, the Pumas controlled field position.
However, they trailed (10-19) on the scoreboard at the break.
The Argentinians created many opportunities, but failed to turn all of them into points.
The BaaBaas, true to their tradition, played an expansive game and were more clinical than their opponents.
Two well-executed plays in the second half allowed the Pumas to take a 22-19 lead – Lucas Noguera scoring a try after a great team move and Santiago Cordero after an electric individual run.
However, once both teams rung the changes, the game lost its structure and allowed the BaaBaas to claim the win through three Benjamín Urdapilleta penalties.
Scorers:
For Argentina:
Tries: Cubelli, Noguera, Cordero
Cons: Socino 2
Pen: Socino
For the French Barbarians:
Tries: Tastet, Penalty try, Orioli
Cons: Urdapilleta 2
Pens: Urdapilleta 3
Yellow card: Matías Diaz (Argentina, 31)
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Roman Miralles, 14 Joaquin Tuculet, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Juan Pablo Socino, 9 Tomas Cubelli (captain), 8 Benjamin Macome, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Matías Cortese, 1 Lucas Noguera.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Matías Díaz, 18 Julián Montoya, 19 Bruno Postiglioni, 20 Lisandro Ahualli De Chazal, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Belisario Agulla.
French Barbarians: 15 Gaëtan Germain, 14 Julien Jane, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Benjamin Lapeyre, 10 Benjamín Urdapilleta, 9 Heini Adams (captain), 8 Virgile Bruni, 7 Karim Gheza, 6 Julien Tastet 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Thibault Lassalle, 3 Walter Desmaison, 2 JeanCharles Orioli, 1 Lucas Pointud.
Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Antoine Tichit, 18 Jean Baptiste Poux, 19 Arnaud Mela, 20 Benoit Guyot, 21 Pierre Rabadan, 22 Jerome Fillol, 23 Gilles Bosch.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (Australia), Joaquín Montes (Argentina)
