Argentina 34-27 Wales U20s: Late try hands Los Pumitas win in thrilling opener

Wales began their U20s World Championship campaign with a disappointing defeat at the hands of Argentina in a thrilling opener in Verona.

An early penalty try, as well as touchdowns from Steffan Emanuel and Evan Minto appeared to put Wales in control during a superb opening half an hour that twice saw Argentina reduced to 14 men, although they did respond with an early converted score from Tadeo Ledesma Arocena.

However, a quickfire double from Los Pumitas shortened the deficit to just five points heading into half-time, with Tomas Rapetti and Timoteo Silva both going over, and that momentum continued after the break.

Rapetti crashed over for his second try of the game, before Harri Ford and Rafael Benedit exchanged penalties.

A draw began to look increasingly likely heading into the final ten minutes, although Welsh replacement Harri Wilde could have handed his side the lead again from the tee, but could only put his late penalty wide.

And it was Argentina, whose predicted front line power shone through for most of the evening, that would have the final say as Agustín Garcia campos Fiszman went over three minutes from time to hand his side the win, and a bonus point.

The result leaves Richard Whiffin's men with plenty of work to do in the Pool B, with France lying in wait this Friday.

Indeed, while there were some really pleasing passages from Wales, particularly in how they held off a ferocious Argentine pack for so much of the second half, their inability to capitalise on such a strong first-half position will surely be a disappointment.

An early penalty try appeared to set Wales on their way, with Pascal Senillosa sent to the bin for a deliberate knock on after just three minutes.

But despite that early setback Argentina made a point of continuing to try and play, with skipper Felipe Ledesma at the heart of their brightest moments with some eye-catching early plays.

He was also one of the architects for his side's opening try on 15 minutes, rising two tackles before laying off for Felix Corletto, and he fed Arocena, who then powered over

Argentina's indiscipline, however, seemed something of a problem. Matchwinner Fiszman penalised for entering a the wrong way, with Ford then slotting over the resulting penalty.

Wales took further control just a few minutes later, with Emanuel darting over in the corner following a superb flowing move, and looked to be nearly out of sight when Minto's superb finish added another converted score.

However, Fiszman's return from the bin would signal a rapid revival from Los Pumitas.

Rapetti crashed over following a typically powerful rolling maul just after half an hour, as Argentina's front line once again flexed its muscle.

But if their second was inspired by brute force, their third was delivered through a moment of real sloppiness from Wales, who were caught cold more or less straight from the restart.

Ford's undercooked kick sparked a quick line out, and Silva was on hand to gallop away down the right, clear of a stunned Welsh defence, and across the whitewash.

Even the half-time whistle seemingly did little to halt Argentina's newfound momentum, with Rapetti going over for his second try of the night three minutes into the second half.

Emanuel then had an effort ruled out just short of the line a few minutes later after being penalised for a knock-on, before Ford and Benedit exchanged penalties in a contest that continued to ebb and flow.

Argentina's pack continued to ask serious questions of the Welsh defence, whose resilience in the face of such an onslaught will likely be a key positive of a performance that will have left Whiffin with plenty to digest.

Wilde spurned an opportunity for Wales ten minutes from time by putting a penalty wide, before replacement Louie Trevett then had a try chalked off late on.

Argentina survived, and snatched victory at the death. Another relentless drive allowing Fiszman the opportunity to go over and touch down for a converted score.

Disappointment for Wales, who will have to pick themselves up quickly if they are to overtake last year's disappointing eighth-place finish in this competition. But Whiffin will certainly feel there are some positives to build on ahead of the contest with France in Rovigo.

Argentina u20s: P Senillosa, T Silva, P Coll, F Ledesma (c), B Lescano, R Benedit, F Corletto; J Rodriguez, TL Arocena, T Rapetti, T Duclos AG Iandolino, T Dande, S Neyra, AGc Fiszman

Reps: J Otano, D Correa, G Galva, V Freiria, P Storey, FG Zaradnik, RF Miranda, A Vieyra

Try: T L Arocena, Rapetti 2, Silva, Fiszman

Con: Benedit 3

Pen: Benedit

Wales u20s: J Woods, E Evans, O Roberts, S Emanuel, A Boshoff, H Ford, S Davies; I Emanuel, H Thomas, S Scott, K Jenkins, N Thomas D Gwynne, H Beddall (c), E Minto

Reps: S Hurley, L Trevett, O James, D Gemine, C James, E Lewis, H Wilde, T Bowen

Tries: Penalty try, Emanuel, Minto

Cons: Ford 2

Pen: Ford 2

Kick-off is at 7.30pm BST