A Historic Victory for Los Pumas in Dublin
Los Pumas achieved a remarkable victory against the British & Irish Lions, triumphing with a score of 28-24. This match was not just another game; it was a significant event held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, coinciding with Argentina’s national holiday, the Day of the Flag, celebrated on June 20th.
The atmosphere at the stadium was electric as the teams took their positions. From the very start, Los Pumas applied pressure, forcing the Lions into their own defensive zone. A pivotal moment arose when Tomás Albornoz opened the scoring with a penalty, putting Argentina ahead with the initial three points of the match.
The response from the British & Irish Lions was swift and fierce. Although an early try by Luke Cowan-Dickie was ruled out by the TMO (Television Match Official), it didn’t take long for the Lions to equalize. At the 9-minute mark, Fin Smith leveled the score with a successful penalty kick after a foul was committed by Argentina.
Los Pumas responded with their finest attacking play of the first half. A well-coordinated team effort led to a stunning try, executed by Ignacio Mendy, who took advantage of a deft pass from Santiago Carreras. After a close encounter with the posts, Albornoz struggled with accuracy and failed to extend the lead.
As the match progressed to the 17-minute mark, Sione Tuipulotu made a powerful run towards the try line, but once again, the TMO ruled against the Lions, signaling a scrum for Los Pumas. Despite the setback, a collective effort saw Bundee Aki score the Lions’ first try, bringing the score to 10-8 in favor of the Irish side.
Things turned around for Argentina shortly thereafter. At the 25th minute, Albornoz made amends for his earlier miss by converting a penalty to reclaim the lead at 11-10.
The intensity of the match dropped momentarily, but not the tension. With the clock nearing 35 minutes, a brilliant tackle from Rodrigo Isgró led to another scrum opportunity, which the team capitalized upon, resulting in another penalty converted by Albornoz, pushing the score to 14-10.
Just before halftime, a remarkable recovery from Juan Martín González initiated a fast-paced attack. Isgró passed to Santi Carreras, who then set Albornoz on a clear run to the try line. Albornoz didn’t miss his chance, converting the try and sending the teams into the locker rooms with Argentina comfortably ahead at 21-10.
As the second half commenced, the Lions roared back with an aggressive strategy. A crucial mistake by Los Pumas arose when Mayco Vivas received a yellow card for an infringement, leaving Argentina a man down for ten crucial minutes. This window allowed the Lions to strike with a penalty try, narrowing the gap significantly (17-21).
With the advantage of an extra man, Tadhg Beirne scored a try, and Fin Smith successfully converted it to put the Lions ahead for the first time at 24-21 with 13 minutes remaining.
However, Los Pumas quickly rebounded thanks to a swift counterattack culminating in a try by Santiago Cordero. Although Matías Moroni was instrumental in this play, launching a perfectly timed kick that allowed Cordero to nab the ball just before it went into the try zone. Albornoz added the conversion to put Argentina back in front at 28-24.
The match was an exhilarating encounter filled with drama, skill, and tenacity. Each player showcased not only their individual strengths but also their capability to work as a team. This victory signifies a significant moment for Los Pumas and for Argentine rugby on the international stage, instilling a renewed sense of pride and determination.
Formations:
British & Irish Lions: 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. Maro Itoje (C), 6. Tom Curry, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Ben Earl, 9. Alex Mitchell, 10. Fin Smith, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Sione Tuipulotu, 14. Tommy Freeman, 15. Marcus Smith.
Substitutes: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Pierre Schoeman, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Scott Cummings, 20. Henry Pollock, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Elliot Daly, 23. Mack Hansen.
Los Pumas: 1. Mayco Vivas, 2. Julián Montoya (C), 3. Joel Sclavi, 4. Franco Molina, 5. Pedro Rubiolo, 6. Pablo Matera, 7. Juan Martín González, 8. Joaquín Oviedo, 9. Gonzalo García, 10. Tomás Albornoz, 11. Ignacio Mendy, 12. Justo Piccardo, 13. Lucio Cinti, 14. Rodrigo Isgró, 15. Santiago Carreras.
Substitutes: 16. Bautista Bernasconi, 17. Boris Wenger, 18. Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19. Santiago Grondona, 20. Joaquín Moro, 21. Simón Benítez Cruz, 22. Matías Moroni, 23. Santiago Cordero.