Argentina XV complete the ARC Grand Slam
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The Argentina XV entered the history books on Saturday afternoon as they pulverised Chile by a record score of 85-10 to claim their first ever Americas Rugby Championship Grand Slam. New ARC single game marks were set in points scored, winning margin, and tries scored, while overall tournament marks eclipsed were points for and against. While they are the second team to claim a Grand Slam following the USA in 2018, the Argentina XV are the first to capture a perfect 25 points from their five matches.
Chile had little to celebrate as the Argentines put them to the sword from start to finish. Diego Fortuny opened the scoring and the hooker grabbed a second before halftime, with singles coming from Lucas Santa Cruz, Julián Domínguez, Lucas Mensa, and Santiago Carreras. The attack was relentless and came from all angles with Argentina breaking the Chilean line almost at will.
Santiago Videla was a late replacement for Francisco González Moller before kickoff and his penalty goal was the only points Chile could muster in the opening 40 minutes. Luca Strabucchi was the man called up to the bench, and he would make his Condores debut just 25 minutes in as José Ignacio Larenas was forced off injured.
Los Condores would squeeze in one try in the second half. After penalties pushed them close to the line, the lineout drive was stopped but the forwards went to work until Mauricio Gómez piled over for his first international rugby. Videla converted as the crowd voiced their approval.
Otherwise it was one-way traffic. Mensa scored twice more to get his hat trick in the 47th minute. His midfield partner Agustín Segura followed with one of his own, and then replacement halfbacks Gregorio del Prete and Domingo Miotti scored two tries each. Miotti had replaced Martín Elías, who himself collected 16 points from eight conversions.
While it’s a perfect tournament for the Argentina XV, the Chileans are again left with the Wooden Spoon after collecting only a single competition point through five games. With the ARC set to move later in the year in 2020 it’s hoped that they will be able to call upon their numerous overseas professionals, all but one missing the tournament in its entirety.
SCORING
CHILE 10
Tries – M. Gómez (58’)
Cons – S. Videla 1/1 (59’)
Pens – S. Videla 1/1 (28’)
ARGENTINA 85
Tries – D. Fortuny 2 (8’, 29’), L. Santa Cruz (12’), J. Domínguez (23’), L. Mensa 3 (37’, 45’, 47’), S. Carreras (40’), A. Segura (51’), D. Miotti 2 (67’, 69’), G. del Prete 2 (72’, 79’)
Cons – M. Elias 8/9 (9’, 13’, 24’, 38’, 40’, 46’, 48’, 52’), D. Miotti 2/4 (71’, 73’)
TEAMS
CHILE
1 Santiago Garrido (18 Mauricio Gómez 46’), 2 Augusto Böhme (20 Jaden Laing 61’), 3 Matías Dittus (17 Nicolás Ovalle HT), 4 Francisco Garrido (19 Augusto Sarmiento 46’), 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Eduardo Orpis (21 Javier Richard HT {16 Claudio Zamorano 52 (1 Santiago Garrido 64’)}), 7 Thomas Orchard, 8 Martín Sigren (capt.), 9 Domingo Saavedra, 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Gonzalo Lara (22 Juan Pablo Perrotta 75’), 12 Vicente Ayarza, 13 José Ignacio Larenas (23 Luca Strabucchi 25’), 14 Beltrán Vergara, 15 Christian Huerta
ARGENTINA XV
1 Nicolás Solveyra (17 Javier Corvalán 52’), 2 Diego Fortuny (16 José Luis González 52’), 3 Martín Fernández Segurotti (18 Lucas Favre HT), 4 Carlos Repetto, 5 Lucas Santa Cruz, 6 Francisco Gorrissen (20 Nicolás Sbrocco 52’), 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.) (19 Santiago Portillo 52’), 8 Benito Ortíz de Rosas, 9 Felipe Ezcurra (21 Gregorio del Prete 52’), 10 Martín Elías (22 Domingo Miotti 52’), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Lucas Mensa, 13 Agustín Segura (23 Tomás Cubilla 52’), 14 Matías Osadczuk, 15 Santiago Carreras
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Henrique Platais (CBRu)
Assistants: Frank Méndez (FERUCHI) & Juan Ignacio Calle (FERUCHI)
TMO: Gabriel Pinter (FERUCHI)
