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Munster and the Argentina XV played out a thriller in Limerick, Ireland on Saturday. The southern Irish province were 31-28 winners of the Argentina XV at Thomond Park.
In a first opportunity for players from both teams, a United Rugby Championship (URC) team played host to a side made-up of players from Super Rugby Americas together with a sprinkling from Los Pumas 7’s. The Argentina XV was not a side loaded with fringe Pumas nor players deemed needing game-time ahead of Los Pumas’ tour this month.
Munster fly half Tony Butler had a strong performance with two tries. Munster also scored tries through second-rower Evan O’Connell, N8 Gavin Coomes and mid-fielder Sean O’Brien. In contrast, the Argentina XV ran in four tries. Center Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, hooker Leonel Oviedo, winger Santiago Pernas, and fullback Tobias Wade each touched down once inside the try zone.
The Argentina XV scored first. Fullbacks Tobias Wade and Mike Haley exchanged kicks with the Argentine passing to center Faustino Sánchez Valarolo who scored. Julián Hernández converted for a 7-0 lead.
Munster hit-back several minutes later. Their opening try came with raids from the forwards with both Gavin Coombes looking particularly sharp. The score came with Josh Wycherley combining with Evan O’Connell, the nephew of Irish legend, Paul O’Connell.
The Irish province failed to level the scorers as Tonyy Butler’s conversion attempt, struck the posts.He made up for it soon afterwards by successfully landing a penalty for a 10-7 lead. It was the final scoring moment of the first-half.
The home side extended their lead in the second-half. Following a pinout won by O’Connell, Gavin Coombes went forward. Phases followed with Coombes then scoring. Tony Butler converted for a ten point lead.
A lineout at the other end saw the Argentina XV scoring their second try. Hooker Leonel Oviedo was on the tail of an advancing maul and he touched down in the try zone for the South Americans. Hernández converted for a 17-14 deficit.
Butler responded for the Irish province. His second try came after Coombes had taken a kick inside his own half. Sharp play from Ben O’Connor and Jack O’Donoghue sent Butler into the clear for his second try.
The Argentina XV needed to score next and they did so. Los Dogos center Leonardo Gea Salim combined with Los Pampas winger Santiago Pernas, sending the winger over for his team’s third try of the evening. Hernández converted to make it a 24-21 scoreline.
Center Sean O’Brien punished ordinary defense from the Argentina XV. His try reestablished a ten point advantage for the home side. Munster were 31-21 ahead after 70 minutes. A late try from Tobias Wade for the Argentina XV saw the match concluding with a three point difference.
The Argentina XV now travel to England. Their second, and final, match of the tour will be against English Premiership side, the Bristol Bears on Friday, November 07.
| NOTES |
- The match began competition between Munster and the Argentina XV.
- 15,054 were in attendance at Thomond Park.
| SCORING |
MUNSTER (31)
TRY – T Butler (2). E O’Connell, G Coombes, S O’Brien
CON – T Butler (3)
ARGENTINA XV (28)
TRY – F Sanchez Valarolo, L Oviedo, S Pernas, T Wade
CON – J Hernández (3), B Farisé
| LINEUPS |
MUNSTER
1 Josh Wycherley, 2 Lee Barron, 3 Ronan Foxe, 4 Conor Ryan, 5 Evan O’Connell, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (capt.), 7 Ruadhán Quinn, 8 Gavin Coombes, 9 Paddy Patterson, 10 Tony Butler, 11 Shay McCarthy, 12 Seán O’Brien, 13 Fionn Gibbons, 14 Diarmund Kilgallen, 15 Mike Haley
Replacements: 16 Max Clein, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Kieran Ryan, 19 Fineen Wicherley, 20 Luke Murphy, 21 Jake O’Riordan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ben O’Connor
ARGENTINA XV
1 Matías Medrano, 2 Leonel Oviedo, 3 Francisco Moreno, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Federico Albrisi, 6 Nicolás D’Amorim, 7 Aitor Bildosola, 8 Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel (capt.), 9 Alejo Sugasti, 10 Julián Hernández, 11 Mateo Soler, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 13 Leonardo Gea Salim, 14 Santiago Pernas, 15 Tobias Wade
Replacements: 16 Juan Manuel Vivas, 17 Diego Correa, 18 Octavio Filippa, 19 Lorenzo Colidio, 20 Juan Pedro Bernasconi, 21 Estanislao Presto, 22 Bautista Farisé, 23 Agustín Fraga
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Peter Martin (Ireland); Jack MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)
