ROSARIO, Argentina - Argentina XV scored 34 unanswered points to beat Canada 54-21 on Sunday at the Americas Rugby Championship.
Canada held a 21-20 lead in the 39th minute, but Argentina XV's Franco Cuaranta ran in a try in the 40th to take the lead. Argentina XV then ran in four second-half tries to blow the match open.
Canada got two tries from scrum-half Andrew Ferguson while winger Dan Moor went over for his third try of the ARC.
"Their sets, pace and ability to keep the ball alive was the difference," said interim head coach Francois Ratier. "We wanted to keep the ball in hand as they had a strong counter attack but at the beginning of the second half we didn't stick with the plan.
"It was then hard for us to stay in the game after that."
Canada trailed 12-0 after two early tries through captain Santiago Iglesias and Juan Pablo Estelles. The Canadians got into the game when Moor received the ball out wide after some quick ball movement before beating a defender and going over. Ferguson converted to cut the lead to 12-7 after just 13 minutes.
Mercerat extended Argentina XV's lead to 15-7 with a penalty in the 20th minute while flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon crashed over in the 28th after Canada's Kyle Baillie was penalized for a high tackle moments earlier.
Trailing by 13, Canada came back as Ferguson grabbed his first try of the day after Baillie had created a 2-on-1 before offloading to Ferguson. Canada went right back on the offensive off of the kickoff and after a number of phases, Ferguson dove over from the back of the ruck.
His conversion on both tries gave Canada a 21-20 lead.
"Andrew was ready for the challenge," said Ratier. "He is learning every game and is always improving as today showed."
Canada returns to action next Saturday when it plays Chile in its final game of the ARC.
