The USA Selects got a nice lesson in test match rugby Tuesday evening in Salta, Argentina, as they were beaten by the Argentina 54-6 in the first of two matches between the teams.

Photos courtesy Argentina Rugby Union.

This was a non-rankings international, with the USA team missing all of their overseas pros plus a few experienced domestic players. The Argentina team started five of the players that started  for the Pumas in their last full test match, a Nov. 22 18-15 defeat of France.

And the rest were also tough, experienced players. Two tries from wing Manuel Montero and two more from No. 8 Facundo Isa paced the Argentines, with tries also from Tomás Cubelli, Jerónimo De la Fuente, Matías Orlandom and a penalty try. 

The USA for two first-half penalty goals from flyhalf AJ MacGinty, but that was it.

Argentina: 1- Bruno Postiglioni, 2- Julián Montoya, 3- Matías Díaz; 4- Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 5- Matías Alemanno; 6- Pablo Matera, 7- Javier Ortega Desio, 8- Facundo Isa; 9- Tomás Cubelli (c), 10- Santiago González Iglesias; 11- Manuel Montero, 12- Jerónimo De la Fuente, 13- Matías Moroni, 14- Ramiro Moyano; 15- Santiago Cordero.
Substitutions: Matías Orlando for Santiago Cordero at 36 mins. Matías Cortese for Julián Montoya at 44; Gerónimo Albertario for Matías Alemanno at 50; Lucas Noguera Paz for Matías Díaz at 58, Martín Landajo for Tomás Cubelli at 58; Bautista Ezcurra for Santiago González Iglesias at 58; Roberto Tejerizo for Bruno Postiglioni at 64; Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal for Facundo Isa at 64.
 

USA: 1- Angus MacLellan, 2- Phillip Thiel (c), 3- Chris Baumann; 4- Nicholas Barrett, 5- Ben Landry; 6- Ekapatelisio Veamatahau, 7- Kyle Sumsion, 8- Alastair McFarland; 9- Shalom Suniula, 10- Alan MacGinty; 11- Tim Stanfill, 12- Lemoto Filikitonga, 13- Chad London, 14- Ronnie McLean; 15- Troy Hall.
Substitutions: Nicholas Wallace for Angus MacLellan at 41 mins; Matt Trouville for Ekapatelisio Veamatahau at 47; Zachary Fenoglio for Chris Baumann at 61l Zachary Pangelinan for AJ MacGinty at 62; John Cullen for Ben Landry at 70; Niku Kruger for Shalom Suniula at 70; Mike Shepherd for Kyle Sumsion at 70; Colton Cariaga for Chad London at 76.