Argentina's Benjamin URDAPILLETA scores in the 37th minute of the first half
Photo: P. Da Costs/IRB
25 JUNE 2006
By Laurent Djian
Argentina overcame Wales 28-12 in Cournon d'Auvergne on the last day of the IRB Under 21 World Championship to finish the competition in seventh place.
Once they got into their stride the Pumas, creative and fast going forward, had too much on the day for a lacklustre Wales
The Welsh pack did start the match in the ascendancy. Hooker Shervington crossed early on for the first try of the piece but Argentina hit back through the boot of Fernandez and prop Gomez Kodela finally rewarded the industry of their impressive pack with a try.
Another Fernandez penalty put them ahead and Urdapilleta's effort just before the break took them in nine points to the good at 16-7.
Argentina began the second half as they had ended the first and when Macome scored the match was all but settled. Wing Meyrelles Torres piled on more agony for the Welsh.
Chris Davey's men never gave up though and, which Argentina down to 14 men with Cortese off, they scored the final try of the match through flanker Jones. No more than a late consolation, though, for the Welsh.
Quotes
Chris Davey, Wales coach: Unfortunately we saved our worst performance for last. We're very disappointed to finish with a match where we didn't show much.
Eduardo Viazzo, Pumas coach: Today the boys applied our plan to the letter; we were balanced and imposed our speed on the game. I think we were good enough to be in the semi finals but we were let down by crucial individual errors at bad times.
Santiago Fernandez, Argentina: It's always the same: we take 15 minutes to get into the match. It's a shame because we've given away too many easy points in this tournament. But overall we did well.
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