{"id":9826,"date":"2019-09-28T07:31:35","date_gmt":"2019-09-28T11:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9826"},"modified":"2019-09-28T11:02:57","modified_gmt":"2019-09-28T15:02:57","slug":"montoya-scores-hat-trick-as-argentina-pick-up-first-rwc-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9826","title":{"rendered":"Montoya Scores Hat-Trick As Argentina Pick Up First RWC Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Argentina bounced back from their opening-round defeat to France with a 28-12 victory over Tonga in Osaka.<\/p>\n

Two early tries from hooker Julian Montoya, both converted by Benjamin Urdapilleta, put the Pumas 14-0 in front after 18 minutes of the Pool C clash.<\/p>\n

Argentina were gifted a third try shortly afterwards as Tonga failed to pick up a loose ball and center Santiago Carreras raced clear for his first try for his country. Urdapilleta had a simple conversion underneath the posts.<\/p>\n

The TMO ruled Urdapilleta came up short of the line after 24 minutes, but Montoya plowed over to complete his hat-trick moments later, earning Argentina a bonus point as they made it 28-0.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

David Halaifonua was denied a second try by the TMO before the break as Tonga went in 28-7 down.<\/p>\n

The second half was a much tighter affair, with superb defense from Takulua preventing Tomas Cubelli from scrambling over a fifth try.<\/p>\n

Tonga scored the only try of the second half, with Veainu going over again after great strength from Cooper Vuna. Takulua\u2019s conversion made it 28-12, and that was how it stayed.<\/p>\n

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