Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Traditional rugby fans were given a match that ticked many boxes as Argentina edged Italy in a fierce battle in Genoa. The 19-14 victory gives Los Pumas their second win of the 2026 Nations Championship and opens up possibilities ahead of next Saturday’s clash against the red-hot French in Paris.
The early signs were positive for the Azzurri. With Argentina awarded a scrum deep inside Italian territory, the hosts won a penalty. From it they came away with territory and were able to attack. From their first entrance into the Argentine 22, Italy scored. Argentina halted a maul only for Leonardo Marin to run blindside and kick through for Monty Ioane. Tommaso Allan landed the sideline conversion.
The early Italian try was the only score of the opening quarter. Los Pumas had opportunities but could not convert entrances into the Azzurri 22. Manuel Zuliani was a weapon on defense winning two turn-over penalties to get Italy out of trouble.
Los Pumas were also forced to adjust after Tomás Albornoz was handed a yellow card on 28 minutes. With Santiago Carreras and Juan Cruz Mallía both injured it saw Bautista Delguy moving to fly half. The unusual set-up saw Simón Benítez Cruz ordering the forwards to play simple phased play. It was a battle that the forwards won as Bautista Bernasconi scored from a maul. Albornoz returned to converted for a 7-7 half-time scoreline.
Bernasconi had been selected for the Argentina XV rather than Los Pumas, however, injuries to Julián Montoya, Ignacio Ruiz and Leonel Oviedo resulted in him starting against Italy. It was a success with the Benetton hooker having a strong afternoon.
Argentina were the protagonists of the second-half though had to dig deep to hold-on for the win. It was a testament to depth given regular forwards Thomas Gallo, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer and Joaquin Oviedo, in addition to Montoya and Ruiz, are all injured.
Centers Santiago Chocobares and Justo Piccardo had strong performances while the wingers came away with the tries. Albornoz had the assist pass to put Rodrigo Isgró over on 54 minutes while Mateo Carreras scored after an inside ball from Chocobares on 59 minutes.
Los Pumas were now on top and in control; notwithstanding, the final quarter belonged to the home side. Argentina lost both Joel Sclavi and Efraín Elías to yellow cards three minutes apart. The extended period of playing with thirteen players asked big questions and came with a penalty try when Elías saw yellow.
Pablo Matera was able to keep his players relatively calm with Italy in each of a way to complete a comeback victory. Yet, it was the Azzurri who shot themselves in the foot as Paolo Garbisi kicked a penalty dead with time up.
The Italians now travel across the north of their country to prepare to face Fiji next weekend while Argentina travel to the French capital. Italy vs Fiji will be a wooden spoon battle as the teams are winless thus far in the respective Northern and Southern conferences. Argentina are, for the time being, third in the South above Australia, Japan and Fiji but behind New Zealand and South Africa.
| NOTES |
- Argentina remains unbeaten vs Italy at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris Genoa. Prior wins were in 2005 and 2014.
- Bautista Bernasconi and Juan Martín Scelzo had their first starts for Argentina.
- Bautista Delguy played fullback for Argentina for the first time.
- Los Pumas played in special jerseys to pay tribute, 40 years on, to the 1986 FIFA World Cup Champions.
- Argentina had 63% possession and 62% territory.
- Italy ran 318 meters compared to 290 by Argentina. This included two interceptions by Azzurri players.
- Italy completed 176 tackles and Argentina completed 91.
| SCORING |
ITALY (14)
TRY – M Ioane (4′), Penalty Try (64′)
CON – T Allan (5′), No Kick (64′)
YC – E Opoku Gyamfi (58′)
ARGENTINA (19)
TRY – B Bernasconi (38′), R Isgro (54′), M Carreras (59′)
CON – T Albornoz 2 (39′, 60′)
YC – T Albornoz (28′), J Sclavi (62′), E Elías (65′)
| LINE-UPS |
ITALY
1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera (capt.), 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Ross Vintcent, 7, Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 9 Stephen Varney, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 11 Monty Ioane, 12 Leonardo Marin, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 15 Tommaso Allan
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Muhamad Hasa, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, 20 Alessandro Ortombina, 21 Samuele Locatelli, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Federico Mori
ARGENTINA
1 Boris Wenger, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 3 Francisco Moreno, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Joaquín Moro, 8 Juan Martín Scelzo, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 10 Tomás Albornoz (vice-capt.), 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Justo Piccardo, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 15 Bautista Delguy
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Efraín Elías, 20 Juan Martín González (vice-capt.), 21 Facundo Isa, 22 Gonzalo García (vice-capt.), 23 Gerónimo Prisciantelli
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa), Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO): Ian Tempest (England)
