Los Pumitas Suffer Heavy Defeat to Scotland at Junior Rugby World Championship

Argentina's U20 rugby team, known as Los Pumitas, delivered one of their poorest performances of 2026, succumbing to a 44-26 defeat against Scotland in the fifth-place semifinal of the Junior World Championship held in Georgia. The team appeared listless and lacked the intensity needed to compete effectively against a pragmatic Scottish side that dominated with its forward pack.

The loss seemed to weigh heavily on the squad, following their defeat to England just five days prior. Los Pumitas struggled across multiple facets of the game, exhibiting slow movements, insecure ball handling, and a weak scrum, especially in the first half. Scotland capitalized on these weaknesses, employing their maul effectively to score four tries and assert control over the match, showcasing individual brilliance led by their captain, Joe Roberts.

Tomás Dande, the team captain, expressed frustration post-match, stating, "What frustrates me most is not being able to do what we've been practicing. This is not us. We failed in discipline, they defended well, and we didn't know how to adapt. What hurts me most is not being able to show who we are: this is not the team we want to be."

Argentina committed 21 handling errors, a high number at this level, which proved costly. Moments of continuity were rare, though Bautista Lescano scored after a precise kick in the second half, and Pedro Coll, identified as the team's standout player despite a late yellow card, also crossed the line. Coll demonstrated maturity, skill, and physicality, breaking 11 tackles against Scotland.

Despite a second-half surge that brought them within five points (24-19), Los Pumitas faltered after the hydration break, losing momentum and struggling defensively. This marked only their second loss to Scotland in the U20 category in seven encounters, the previous one being in 2015. Injuries to Federico Torre and the suspension of Benjamín Ordiz were felt in the physical battle, highlighting the importance of squad depth in a demanding tournament.

“

What frustrates me most is not being able to do what we've been practicing. This is not us. We failed in discipline, they defended well, and we didn't know how to adapt. What hurts me most is not being able to show who we are: this is not the team we want to be.