Pumas too strong for Saints

International class told at Franklin's Gardens as Argentina beat Northampton 40-17.

International class eventually told at Franklin Gardens as Argentina ran in four second-half tries to overpower Northampton 40-17 in their Travis Perkins Challenge match.

The game was delayed due to the freezing conditions sweeping Britain with a late pitch-inspection eventually passing the hard pitch.

The uncertainty and difficult conditions seemed to affect both sets of players in the first half with little in the way of running rugby, but The Pumas eventually found their rhythm after the break to see off an under-strength Saints outfit.

Winger Rafeal Carballo finished with two tries while Juan Martin Hernandez kicked 14 points after coming off the bench in the 32nd minute.

Argentina should have drawn first blood, but Federico Serra missed with a couple of presentable penalty opportunities allowing Under-21 international Matthieu Bourret to open the scoring for the hosts with a well-struck penalty of his own.

Argentina responded with a drop-goal from Juan de la Cruz Fernandez Miranda, moved ahead when Serra finally found his range and stretched into a 12-3 half time as replacement Hernandez slotted a couple ofg long-range penalties of his own in first half injury time.

The same player then struck twice more with the boot early in the second half following Northampton infringements, the second of which saw Mark Hopley sent to the bin.

Saints battled on bravely and were first to cross the try-line when a powerful drive from the forwards ended with Damien Browne rumbling over - Bourret's successful kick made the score 18-10.

That was as good as things got for Northampton, though, as Argentina stepped up a gear to pull away from their hosts in the final half hour.

First Martin Gaitan produced an excellent run and pass to send Serra over in the corner and soon afterwards Carballo grabbed his first of the night, finishing superbly as he was tackled following a rampaging break from number eight Genaro Fessia.

Northampton responded as Hopley made amends for his earlier indiscretion by touching down, but Carballo then scored after the home defence had been unable to deal with Serra's steepling kick and Horacio Agulla put a real gloss on the scoreline with his side's fourth try in the final minute.