Argentina claim second win over South Africa in 2024 U20 Championship

Argentina beat South Africa 34-24 on Sunday, the Pumitas’ second win over the Junior Springboks at the 2024 U20 Rugby World Cup. The tournament’s format is far from ideal, with three groups of four creating an uneven progression of teams to the semi-finals.

Argentina’s win means Los Pumitas will face either Australia or Wales in the final for 5th place. Argentina’s path has included group wins against South Africa and Fiji and a group loss to England.

The victory was decided in the first half. Argentina led 24-10 at halftime. The early score resulted in an exchange of penalties by Santiago di Lucca and Tyloor Sefoor. South Africa had good ground early on and tested the Argentine defense.

Los Pumitas held firm in defence with Santos Fernández de Oliveira playing a great game and destroying the South African lineout. Santos Fernández de Oliveira won four line steals during the game.

The opening try went to Pumitas hooker Juan Greising Revol. It was a lineout to maul score; however, it was Fernández de Oliveira who stole the Junior Springboks throw-in. Fly half Santino di Lucca converted.

Captain Efraín Elías continued his excellent tournament with another try. Elías, leaving for Toulouse, gave Argentina a 17-3 lead. South Africa recovered to score their first try, Jurenzo Julius scoring in the 27th minute.

What followed was undoubtedly the best try of the tournament. Los Pumitas ran deep into their own area and used width and offloads to score in the left corner. The attack consisted of thirteen passes with Gregorio Pérez Pardo scoring.

South Africa started the second half well. Sibabalwe Mahashe scored his team’s second try. Twenty minutes earlier, they had not scored a point. Substitute Timoteo Silva ended the drought with a try in the 63rd minute. Silva gave fullback Michail Damon a huge hand-off.

Benjamín Elizalde converted the try and added a penalty. South Africa closed with a consolation try when Julius scored his second of the afternoon. Elizalde impressed at fullback. It remains to be seen whether his future lies at fullback or outside centre. Either way, Elizalde looks like a Puma in the making.

SOUTH AFRICA (24)
Try (3) – J Julius 2 (26′, 76′); S Mahashe (43′)
Con (3) – T Sefoor (27′, 44′); PA van Niekerk (77′)
Pen (1) – T Sefoor (17′)

ARGENTINA (34)
Try (4) – J Greising Revol (18′); E Elias (23′); G Perez Pardo (37′); T Silva (63′)
With (4) – S of Lucca (19′, 24′, 38′); B Elizalde (64′)
Pen (2) – S of Lucca (6′); B Elizalde (72′)

SOUTH AFRICA
1 Ruan Swart, 2 Ethan Bester, 3 Zachary Porthen (capt.), 4 Thomas Dyer, 5 Jaco Grobbelaar, 6 Sibabalwe Mahashe, 7 JF van Heerden, 8 Tiaan Jacobs, 9 Asad Moos, 10 Tyloor Sefoor, 11 Litelihle Bester, 12 Phillip-Albert van Niekerk, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 14 Joel Leotlela, 15 Michail Damon

ARGENTINA
1 Diego Correa, 2 Juan Greising Revol, 3 Gael Galván, 4 Efraín Elías (capt.), 5 Álvaro García Iandolino, 6 Juan Penoucos, 7 Santos Fernández de Oliveira, 8 Juan Pedro Bernasconi, 9 Jerónimo Llorens, 10 Santino di Lucca, 11 Gregorio Pérez Pardo, 12 Felipe Ledesma, 13 Tomás Bocco, 14 Timoteo Silva, 15 Benjamín Elizalde