Pumas beat Fiji in Test match

Argentina 49, Fiji 30

Argentina scored seven tries as they beat Fiji 49-30 in the second Test of the Islanders’ South American tour.

The Pumas, who included many second string players, took advantage of two defensive mistakes from the visitors to score two early tries.

Martin Scelzo crossed in the fourth minute and Rodrigo Roncero went over in the 13th minute but the strong wind caused Juan Fernandez Miranda to miss both conversion attempts.

Fiji hit back with two penalties from Nicky Little and took the lead with a try from Sisa Koyamaibole which Little converted.

The home team went ahead again after a great counter-attack that Bernardo Stortoni finished with a try, and a few minutes later a scrum close to the Fiji line ended with the fourth Argentinian try from Scelzo.

Both were converted by Fernandez Miranda to put the Pumas 24-13 ahead.

A defensive mistake allowed Aisea Tuilevu to score a try and the visitors shortened the difference to only one point after Little converted and then scored a penalty.

Just before the break, in the seventh minute of injury time, Fernandez Miranda widened the gap with a penalty and the first half ended with the score 27-23.

Argentina dominated the second half and soon drew clear after Roncero’s second try, which was converted, and a penalty by Fernandez Miranda.

Further tries by Fernandez Miranda and Martin Durand put the game out of Fiji’s reach.

Fiji took advantage of a mistake by Bernardo Stortoni in injury time to score their third try, through Leawere which was converted by Serevi.

In their first Test in South America, Fiji had beaten Uruguay 24-3 last Wednesday.