Los Pumitas turn on the power to destroy USA

■By GEORGE LAWRENCE

Argentina ………78pts

Tries: Benavides 3, Coll 23, Cuneo Camargo 29, Dande 35, Serpa Laporte 38, Pfister 40, 44, 63; Ordiz Yujnovsky 42, Lescano 49, Fernandez Miranda 75, Preumayr 78 Conversions: Serpa Laporte 4, 24, 30, 36, 39, 43, 45; Giannantonio 63, 79

USA ………………….14pts

Tries: Ofa 65, Holder 70 Conversions: Cadden 66, 71

POOL C

SIMON Pfister scored a hat-trick as Los Pumitas completed their biggest ever win at the World Rugby U20 tournament.

Those in attendance at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi witnessed a team in total control; Argentina led 40-0 at half-time and fell two points short of doubling the total in the second-half with the USA grabbing two consolation tries.

It was an exhibition from the South Americans from start to finish, scoring in 12 tries in total after bossing the set-piece to lay down a huge marker.

Second row Bautista Benavides opened the scoring from a pick-and-go, with Federico Serpa Laporte converting. It was followed by a series of additional tries as Los Pumitas were able to open up space.

Super Rugby Americas players Pedro Coll (Tarucas), Manuel Cuneo Camargo (Capibaras) and Tomás Dande (Tarucas) each scored as did Serpa Laporte himself before Pfister grabbed his first.

Argentina wasted little time extending the lead after half-time when Benjamín Ordiz wen over early before Pfiste scored his second try o the contest. Next to scor was right winger Bautis ta Lescano.

The USA then ran in two tries while Los Pu mitas were a man down following Nicolás Cambi asso’s yellow card.

Back-three players Si aleafuhia Ofa and Gavin Holder both scored with Declan Cadden convert ing. Full-back Pfiste hit-back for Los Pumita to complete his hat-trick before outside centre Ramón Fernández Mi randa and replacemen Juan Preumayr also both added tries to complet the scoring for the im pressive Argentinians.

In charge: Simon Pfister breaks through to score