U20 Championship Preview – Argentina vs Fiji

The U20 Championship resumes on Saturday with six matches taking place in Argentina. The home side fell short against Wales first up and now faces Fiji in a do-or-die fixture in Santa Fé.

Fiji were also beaten in their opening round fixture. They were up against the 2019 hosts, and winners, France. The French impressed in running-out 36-20 winners, stamping their name down as a team to look out for again this year.

Argentina’s 30-25 defeat against Wales saw Los Pumitas failing to play at their best. Plagued with discipline issues, the hosts were outplayed by an organized side who won via shots at goal.

Fiji are a vastly different proposition than are Wales though this has not seen a response from the coaching staff. Instead a very similar line-up will start at CRAI, Santa Fé against Fiji.

Head Coach José Pellicena has gone for two changes with Jerónimo González Vara replacing Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel at flanker, and Joaquín De la Vega Mendía coming in for Gerónimo Prisciantelli at fly half.

The junior Flying Fijians have also gone for two changes. They are a split between the forwards, and backs. In the pack Taniela Ramasibana has been replaced by Vilive Miramara while at scrum-half Josh Vuta loses his spot to Simioni Kuruvoli.

Saturday’s match is to be just the third fixture between Argentina, and Fiji at u20 level. The first was in 2009 with Los Pumitas winning 27-10. In 2014 Argentina was notable better than the Pacific Islanders, winning 38-12 in New Zealand.

Prior to the U20 Championship Argentina toured South Africa and won. This firmly suggests that their underwhelming performance against Wales was a one-off. Los Pumitas thereby go into Saturday’s fixture as favorites to beat Fiji by 13 points.

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
1 Francisco Minervino, 2 Pablo Dimcheff, 3 Francisco Coria, 4 Manuel Bernstein, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Jerónimo González Vara, 7 Juan Martín González, 8 Bautista Pedemonte, 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Joaquín De la Vega Mendía, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 15 Ignacio Mendy

Replacements: 16 Thomas Gallo, 17 Ramiro Gurovich, 18 Francisco Calandra, 19 Estanislao Carullo, 20 Agustín Toth, 21 Ramiro Tallone, 22 Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel, 23 Federico Parnas, 24 Joaquín Pellandini, 25 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 26 Nicolás Roger, 27 Tomás Acosta Pimentel, 28 Marcos Moneta

FIJI
1 Livai Rasala Natave, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (capt.), 3 Joseva Nasaroa, 4 Etonia Waqa, 5 Christopher Minimbi, 6 Vilive Miramira, 7 Alivereti Loaloa, 8 Aminasi Shaw, 9 Simioni Kuruvoli, 10 Caleb Muntz, 11 Epeli Momo, 12 Issac Ratumaitavuki, 13 Varesa Tuqovu, 14 Ilaisa Droasese, 15 Ratu Waqaninavatu

Replacements: 16 Lino Mairara, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Elijah Kuilamu, 19 Taniela Ramasibana, 20 Anasa Qaranivalu, 21 Eparama Sailo, 22 Josh Vuta, 23 Mesake Kurisaru

Date:
Kick-Off:
Venue: Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada (CRAI), Santa Fé
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Simón Larrubia (Argentina)
TMOl: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assessor: Gary Welsh (England)