Impressive Argentina power past Barbarians
Last Updated: 21/11/15 11:08pm
Argentina scored seven tries to five in a high octane affair at Twickenham as they backed up their World Cup efforts with another fantastic display of running rugby.
Argentina were superb on the counter-attack as winger Santiago Cordero scored a brace with Ramiro Moyano, Jerónimo De la Fuente, Martín Landajo, Facundo Isa and Nicolás Sánchez also going over. Sanchez added six conversions while replacement fly-half Emiliano Boffelli also added a conversion.
The Barbarians, coached by Australia coach Michael Cheika was jam-packed full of stars including New Zealand world cup winner Nehe Milner-Skudder as well as Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo and Victor Matfield who all scored for the Baa-Baas, as both sides looked to run the ball as much as possible.
Matfield was joined for the last 15 minutes by his long-term South Africa second row partner Bakkies Botha - playing his last game of rugby - and was good value in the scrums and lineouts as well as his comedy attempt at the final conversion - scored by Matfield.
The Barbarians started strongly as Tevita Kuridrani gathered Lima Sopoaga's grubber and touched down but the Pumas soon settled.
A series of drives, the most notable of which was a bulldozing line from prop Ramiro Herrera, had the Barbarians in full retreat until number eight Facundo Isa arrived to crash over for their first try.
The Barbarians' bright start was becoming a distant memory as Cordero side-stepped his way across the line, capitalising on some reluctant defending.
Argentina's third was pure class, with Cordero turning creator in a move that began inside the 22, darting forward and flicking a superb pass to Ramiro Moyano for the full-back to score.
Lacking in urgency and showing little intensity at the breakdown, the Barbarians were coming apart at the seams, but they still had the skill to conjure a try in a heartbeat, as seen when Sopoago chipped ahead for All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo to score.
But the first half belonged to Argentina and they plundered a fourth when breaking from deep yet again; scrum-half Martin Landajo kicking into space for Cordero to claim his second score.
Replacement back Emiliano Boffelli had been on the pitch for only a few seconds when he skippered through some weak tackles before sending Landajo over.
Play swept from end to end, Sanchez executing a try-saving tackle on giant Fijian Nemani Nadolo to launch a dashing counter-attack that ended with centre Jeronimo de la Fuente touching down.
Joe Tomane scooped up scrappy ball and raced over as the Barbarians hit back before Nadolo cantered over in the right corner, slipping two tackles as he ran. Sanchez crossed, but the final word belonged to old friends Matfield and Botha.
