Argentina 28-12 Tonga: Julian Montoya hat-trick downs Tonga
Last Updated: 28/09/19 6:07pm
Hooker Julian Montoya scored a hat-trick in the first 26 minutes as Argentina got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 28-12 victory over Tonga on Saturday that snapped a 10-match losing streak.
The Pumas failed to turn up in the first half of their opening loss to France last week but there was to be no repeat at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium with four tries quickly wrapping up the bonus-point.
That they failed to add to their score in the second half will be of some concern, however, as the twice World Cup semi-finalists head into their clash with pool leaders England in Tokyo next weekend.
Tonga, who lost their first match to England, got their first two tries of the tournament through fullback Telusa Veainu either side of half-time and put in a great defensive effort to keep the Pumas out in the second half.
Two early tries from Montoya, both converted by Benjamin Urdapilleta, put the Pumas 14-0 in front after 18 minutes of the Pool C clash.
Argentina were gifted a third try shortly afterwards as Tonga failed to pick up a loose ball and centre Carreras raced clear for his first try for his country. Urdapilleta had a simple conversion underneath the posts.
The TMO ruled Urdapilleta came up short of the line after 24 minutes, but Montoya ploughed over to complete his hat-trick moments later, earning Argentina a bonus-point as they made it 28-0.
Tonga got on the board before the break as Leicester Tigers winger Telusa Veainu broke through following some patient build-up play and Sonatane Takulua converted.
David Halaifonua was denied a second try by the TMO before the break as Tonga went in 28-7 down.
The second half was a much tighter affair, with superb defence from Takulua preventing Tomas Cubelli from scrambling over a fifth try.
Tonga scored the only try of the second half, with Veainu going over again after great strength from Cooper Vuna. Takulua's conversion made it 28-12, and that was how it stayed.
