MALDONADO, Uruguay (AP) — Winger Ignacio Mendy had a double inside 12 minutes and finished with three tries as Argentina overwhelmed Uruguay 79-5 on Saturday in the first official test between them in 18 years.
Mendy was a constant attacking threat on the right wing, weaving through tackles or coming into the line as the extra man. Play ran his way constantly at the start of the match but left winger Mateo Carreras also got in the action, scoring two tries and creating another for fullback Santiago Cordero.
Los Pumas, who have never lost to Los Teros, eclipsed their previous biggest win, 72-5 in 1998.
After tying the home series with France, new Pumas coach Filipe Contepomi used the match to try several new or returning players, including the Benetton winger Mendy, who was playing his first test since 2021.
Among the newcomers, back-rower Joaquin Moro debuted in place of Pablo Matera on the blindside flank and marked the occasion with two tries.
“From the first (France) game to the second we improved, and the big challenge for us was to keep improving and I think we did it,” said Matera, who came off the bench.
Argentina had almost constant possession and Uruguay was worn down by the need to make tackles. Uruguay tended to commit too many players to the breakdown, defending narrowly which left space out wide for wingers Mendy and Carreras.
Uruguay was playing only its second match under new coach Rodolfo Ambrosio, an Argentine who played flyhalf for Italy. Los Teros lost to a France Development XV 43-28 in the first match of Ambrosio’s tenure last week in Montevideo.
There was some optimism around the team this season after it beat Namibia at last year’s Rugby World Cup and was competitive against France and Italy. But on Saturday, its challenge of Argentina’s rugby supremacy in South America faded quickly.
Mendy had his first try in the fifth minute and added his second in the 11th after Moro broke out, carrying the ball in one hand. Uruguay often found itself defending laterally, rushing across to make tackles and Mendy was able to fend off the tackle of scrumhalf Santiago Alvarez.
Mendy’s incision into the backline on the left in the 27th contributed to a try to center Jeronimo de la Fuente.
Mateo Carreras got his hands on the ball for the first time in the 30th, beat thin defense down the left touch and handed the ball infield for Cordero to score.
De la Fuente provided the last pass for Moro’s first try, and fellow back-rower Joaquin Oviedo scored in the 38th in a move in which Mendy handled twice. Mateo Carreras’ try ended a dominant first half after which Argentina led 44-0.
Mendy needed only three minutes in the second half to complete his hat trick.
Uruguay then showed might have been had it been able to win more possession, when Juan Bautista Hontou came off the bench to score their first try from slick backline play in the 46th.
Replacement prop Francisco Coria Marchetti also scored on debut when the ball fell to him unexpectedly at a lineout and he found no one between him and the tryline.
Uruguay’s defense improved and Argentina went 13 minutes before Mateo Carreras scored his second try. Moro scored his second in the 71st.
Gloucester winger Santiago Carreras came off the bench to score Argentina’s final try in the 77th. Flyhalf Tomas Albornoz finished with nine goals from 13 attempts.
Mendy was over the line again in the final minute but a potential fourth try was ruled out because of obstruction.
“We didn’t expect this result and for sure it’s a disappointment,” Uruguay captain Andres Vilaseca said.
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