Argentina knew how to raise its head. Swept out for its entry into play against England (27-12), the South American nation enforced its law against Samoa. Logical victory, not without difficulties (19-10). Brave, the men of the Pacific win without bonus.
The Argentines, under pressure after their initial defeat against the English, knew they had to win. And the Samoans made things easier for them from the start since full-back Duncan Paia’aua was sent off for 10 minutes for a poorly controlled tackle on Carreas, in the first minute of play. The Argentines took advantage of this to open the scoring with a great collective action by Boffelli, author of the only Argentinian try of the match. After having flattened into a corner on a good action from the Argentinian three-quarter line, he took it upon himself to convert the try. The scorers were also an important factor in this first half. The Pumas winger scored a 2/2 when Leali’ifano missed two penalties for Samoa. Result, at half-time the Argentinians were in the lead with ten points (13-3).
Not helped by heavy rain falling on Geoffroy-Guichard, the players in this match committed numerous hand errors. The spectators therefore did not have much to eat in the second half, apart from a new penalty from Boffelli (54′). The Argentinian striker finished the match with an honorable 3/ 4 to his credit. But the thrill came in the 75th minute. After a thorough pounding from the Samoan forwards, it was the hooker Malolo who scored the second try of the match, quickly transformed by Leuila. So we were buzzing 5 minutes before Nicolas Sanchez, who came on during the game, passed a final penalty for the Pumas in the 80th minute. Argentina therefore won 19-10 and, without convincing, achieved its first success.