Pumitas roar back as Wales miss out on fifth
WALES U-20S ...................... 15 ARGENTINA U-20S ........... 39
WALES’ bid to finish fifth at the Under-20 World Championship came unstuck during a second-half onslaught from Argentina at Narbonne’s Stade D’Honneur Du Parc Des Sports Et De L’Amitie.
Coach Geraint Lewis’ charges were just three points behind at the end of the opening 40 minutes after the lead had changed hands four times.
But Los Pumitas had too much pace, power, skill and vision for them as they won the second half 24-3.
It means Wales are condemned to a play-off in Beziers against Italy on Sunday to take seventh place.
About the only bright spot against Argentina was the performance of winger Ryan Conbeer.
Conbeer beat five would-be tacklers for a dazzling individual try, while his Scarlets teammate Corey Baldwin touched down after being on the end of a cross-kick from outside-half Cai Evans.
Wales had major problems at the line-out, their scrum deteriorated, some of their defending left much to be desired while they couldn’t turn a glut of possession and territory in the second half into tries.
Argentina gave them a lesson in how to lift the tempo and straighten to create space on the outside before passing as their confidence grew.
Mendia had given them a threepoint lead in the 14th minute after Wales flanker Dan Davis was penalised for offside.
Wales hit back with Conbeer turning up at first receiver to cut inside the Argentine midfield before beating right-wing Pablo Avellaneda and full-back Santiago Carreras to score between the sticks.
Evans converted to make it 7-3 in Wales’ favour, but eight minutes later their opponents were back in front after moving the ball along their back-line to Mateo Carreras.
The left-wing side-stepped Wales full-back Dewi Cross before kicking infield for impressive scrum-half Manuel Nogues to catch and score.
Mendia, incredibly, missed the simple conversion and Argentine centre Agustin Segura seemed to be extremely unfortunate to be yellowcarded for an alleged offence at a breakdown.
Wales made use of their extra man by pulling in Los Pumitas’ defence for Evans to spot unguarded space out wide and find Baldwin with a pinpoint kick.
Argentina powered forward at a scrum to be awarded a penalty try, which is worth seven points nowadays, on the stroke of half-time to lead 15-12.
And the South Americans started the second half with a bang with a grubber from Mendia being passed ‘Lionel Messi’ style with a foot by full-back Santiago Carreras to Juan Ignacio Molina.
The flanker threw the ball infield to set up a ruck before Nogues sent Santiago Carreras crashing over for Mendia to convert.
Evans responded with a penalty from just inside the Argentine 22 to put Wales within a converted score of drawing level.
However, Argentina went through the gears during a sweeping attack with Santiago Carreras putting Molina, who was again lurking out on the wing, over with a beautifully-timed pass.
Wales infringed at a scrum after Los Pumitas replacement prop Gonzalo Hughes, who is of Welsh extraction, turned on the power.
Mendia nailed the penalty give them a 17-point buffer before hitting the same upright with back-to-back penalty shots.
Los Pumitas then capitalised on some poor defending with left-wing Mateo Carreras putting right-wing Pablo Avellaneda over on the outside with the timing of his pass summing up the difference in quality between the countries.
Wales U20: D Cross (Ospreys); C Baldwin, I Nicholas (both Scarlets), T Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys), R Conbeer (Scarlets); C Evans (Ospreys), D Blacker; R Carre, I Harris (all Cardiff Blues), C Coleman (Dragons), R Davies (Bath), M Williams (Dragons), T Reffell (capt, Leicester), D Davis (Scarlets), B Fry (Dragons). Subs: R Davies (Scarlets), D Lake (Ospreys), W Davies-King (Blues), L Ellis-Jones (Scarlets), T Basham (Dragons), H Morgan (Ospreys), B Thomas, M Llewellyn (Blues).
Tries: Conbeer, Baldwin; con: Evans; pen: Evans.
Tries: Nogues, pen try, Carreras, Molina, Avellaneda; cons: Mendia (3); pens: Mendia (2).
Scorers: Argentina U-20s: