Italy grabbed a late try and conversion to squeeze past Argentina 13-12 on Saturday, handing the Pumas a second successive home defeat.
Italy replacement hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini was judged to have scored in the 80th minute after a maul crossed the line, a decision hotly contested by Argentina who were playing their third and final home game of the year.
Andrea Marcato then converted to give Italy their second win in 15 meetings with the Pumas.
Despite the dramatic finale, it was a generally disappointing, scrappy encounter.
Argentina had at one stage led 12-0 after Juan Hernandez booted two penalties in the opening six minutes, followed by another two from Marcelo Bosch.
A lot was expected from Juan Martin Hernandez for Argentina and when he went off after 20 minutes with an injured wrist it was a major blow, as they had lost their recognized kicker.
Marcato reduced the arrears with a penalty for Italy before halftime and another eight minutes after the break.
Italian captain Sergio Parisse said: “It was a very tough, hard game, but there was great work from the Italian forwards and we fought right to the end in a real battle. We can come away from this very happy.”
Bosch said: “We made a lot of errors which can really cost you at this level of the game and losing Hernandez was also a major blow.”
It was only the third match for Argentina since they finished third at last year’s World Cup.
Their previous two games were at home to Scotland this month, when they won the first 21-15 and lost the second 26-14.
PACIFIC NATIONS CUP
AFP, BRISBANE, Australia
Australia A and New Zealand Maori will put their unbeaten records on the line and contest the Pacific Nations Cup title when they clash in next weekend’s deciding game.
Australia A and the Maori set up their showdown with consummate victories in this weekend’s fourth round of games.
The second-string Australian combination went on another try-scoring spree with seven in their 50-13 romp over Fiji in Ballymore yesterday.
New Zealand Maori hold down second spot, trailing Australia A by two bonus points, after they overran Japan 65-22 in Napier on Saturday.
The tournament will be decided next Sunday when Australia A host New Zealand Maori in Sydney.
“In the back of our minds we always wanted to go into the last game against the Maori playing for the title and now that has arisen,” Australia A coach Phil Mooney said. “But we’ve now got to take it just like any other game and prepare well this week.”
New South Wales Waratahs winger Lachlan Turner scored a brace of tries and fly-half Daniel Halangahu kicked seven from eight attempts for a personal tally of 15 points as Australia A did it easy after leading 31-3 at halftime.
Queensland Reds blindside flanker Hugh McMeniman, who moved into the second row in the second half, was voted man of the match.
Australia A dominated from the opening whistle, with winger Digby Ioane scoring after just 75 seconds and had the game won by halftime after crossing for four tries.
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