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Franco Molina scored for the Barbarians against South Africa on Saturday. Played in Port Elizabeth, the non-capped international match gave the Springboks preparation ahead of their three upcoming home test matches as part of the inaugural Nations Championship.
Molina scored from close range for the Barbarians, getting the ball into the try zone from inches out. He was one of two Argentines to score points against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth. The other was Tomás Albornoz who played fly half. Albornoz converted three tries for the Barbarians.
Molina and Albornoz were two of six Pumas involved in the match. Mayco Vivas and Guido Petti both started while fellow forwards, Leonel Oviedo and Pedro Delgado were replacements.
Guido Petti played the match at flanker rather than his usual position of second-row. With Felipe Contepomi involved the Barbarians’ coaching staff, Petti at flanker may well be insight into the intentions for the July Internationals. Regular starting flanker and line-out general, Juan Martín González is injured.
The involvement of Leonel Oviedo is also of note. The Western Force hooker is uncapped but has previously featured in Argentine rosters under Contepomi. 2025 rookie Bautista Bernasconi will not be involved in the July test matches; like González, he is injured.
The Barbarians scored some good tries but were overwhelmed by a well-prepared South African team. The Springboks were 80-31 winners.
