Strong Start Just Enough for Australia against Pumitas

In the final round of the 2026 u20 Rugby Championship, Australia overcame Los Pumitas 32-20 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Australia’s win came thanks to a strong start. Notwithstanding, the octets went the distance with Australia ultimately hanging on after a missed conversion one minute from full-time kept Los Pumitas two point behind.

Australia led 17-10 at half-time. It was on the back of scoring three tries while conceding just one. Then, after half-time, the Junior Wallabies went on a blitz with two quick-fire tries in the opening minutes of the second-half. They followed two late first half tries to put Australia in a dominant position.

Argentina was well behind but did not give up. In addition to Manuel Cúneo Camargo’s first-half try, Los Pumitas pieced together three second-half tries. Benjamín Ledesma Arocena scored twice and replacement prop Fabrizio Cebrón also scored.

Cebrón’s try brought the scores to 32-30. The change to draw level was missed as the conversion atte,ped was wide.

The result was Australia’s first win of the tournament. The Junior Wallabies were beaten by both New Zealand and South Africa in earlier matches. Argentina lost against South Africa but pulled-off an heroic triumph over New Zealand.

The u20 Rugby Championship serves all four competitors as on-field preparations ahead of the World Rugby u20 Championship. The 2026 edition of the annual event will be played in Georgia, starting on June 27.

 

SCORING

AUSTRALIA (32)
TRY – E Langi 2 (3′, 47′); L Jaques (33′); T Robinson (39′); E Kruger (44′);
CON – J Fowler (4′, 48′)
PEN – J Fowler (75′)

ARGENTINA (30)
TRY – M Cuneo Camargo (28′); B Ledesma Arocena 2 (64′, 78′); F Cebrón (70′)
CON – F Serpa (29′, 65′)
PEN – F Serpa (36′, 72′)
YC – B Benavides (32′)

 

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA
1 Jacob Job, 2 Ewald Kruger, 3 Edwin Langi, 4 Will Ross, 5 Kenneth Harris, 6 Luca Cleverley, 7 Tom Robinson (capt.), 8 Eli Langi, 9 Sam Blank, 10 Jonty Fowler, 11 Cooper Watters, 12 Josh Takai, 13 Leo Jaques, 14 Taione Taka, 15 Chayse Geros

Replacements: 16 Charlie Hollyman, 17 Nick Hill, 18 Jasper Asi, 19 Isaac Fonua, 20 Toby Brial, 21 Angus Grover, 22 Riley Whitfeld, 23 Louis Fenwicke

ARGENTINA
1 Benjamín Farías Cerioni, 2 Manuel Cuneo Camargo, 3 Bautista Salinas Mallea, 4 Joaquín Pascual Viale, 5 Bautista Benavides, 6 Tomás Dande (capt.), 7 Jerónimo Sorondo, 8 Federico Torre, 9 Juan Preumayr, 10 Federico Serpa, 11 Luciano Avaca, 12 Benjamín Ordiz, 13 Pedro Coll, 14 Benjamín Ledesma Arocena, 15 Simón Pfister

Replacements: 16 Nicolás Cambiasso, 17 Fabrizio Cebrón, 18 Federico Narvaéz, 19 Toribio Latorre, 20 Franco Marizza, 21 Ignacio Zabella, 22 Ramón Fernández, 23 Manuel Giannantonio

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS