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Argentina beats Italy 37-16 to end winless run in style
From left, Argentina's Facundo Isa, Marco Kremer, Santiago Carreras and Thomas Gallo celebrate a try during a rugby union international match between Italy and Argentina at the Monigo stadium in Treviso, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini)

Argentina beats Italy 37-16 to end winless run in style

TREVISO, Italy (AP) — Argentina beat Italy 37-16 to end its winless run in emphatic style on Saturday as the Azzurri’s losing streak continued.

Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Matías Moroni, Santiago Cordero and Facundo Bosch scored tries to help Argentina end a run of seven consecutive defeats, including a winless Rugby Championship.

Paolo Garbisi kept Italy in the game with some solid kicking and Stephen Varney claimed his first international try but the Azzurri’s miserable streak stretched to 16 with an error-strewn performance.

Both teams were desperate for an overdue taste of victory. Argentina had come close last weekend as it gave France a scare in Paris before succumbing 29-20.

The Pumas opened the scoring in the ninth minute, seconds after Emiliano Boffelli had sent a penalty wide of the posts. Boffelli atoned for his miss by serving Kremer, who raced forward and dived over the line near the posts.

Boffelli had the easiest of conversions.

Italy was struggling and showed little of the composure it showed against New Zealand last weekend, when the Azzurri managed to keep the scoreline down to 21-9 before the All Blacks ran away in the last quarter to win 47-9.

The hosts gave away another penalty, for offside, and this time Boffelli didn’t miss from a central position.

Argentina was better in every area of the pitch and Italy struggled to piece together any offensive action as they were beaten at every tackle.

Italy gifted Argentina its second try in the 28th minute as Gonzalez kicked past the Azzurri defense and ran onto the ball to dive over. Boffelli again converted and the Pumas led 17-0.

Italy finally got points on the board eight minutes from halftime thanks to a Garbisi penalty.

Garbisi managed to score another penalty — which went in off the post — with the last kick of the half to help Italy cut the gap to 11 points.

But Italy’s good work was undone right at the start of the second half as some woeful defending saw the ball arrive at an unmarked Moroni who went over in the corner. Boffelli added the extras.

Italy finally managed to close in on the Argentina line and got its first try of the Autumn internationals when Varney got the ball off the back of a scrum practically on the line and feinted to pass before forcing it over.

Garbisi converted and then added another penalty after Azzurri prop Marco Riccioni had to be carried off on a stretcher off.

However, in Italy’s best period in the game, it gave away another try as more poor defending allowed the ball to arrive to Cordero, who raced down the right and turned over. This time Boffelli missed.

Nicolas Sanchez also added a penalty for Argentina and fellow replacement Bosch scored the Pumas’ fifth try, seconds after having one ruled out after losing control of the ball.

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