Host nation Argentina and Uruguay kicked off their South American Under 19 Championship campaigns with comfortable victories over Chile and Paraguay respectively in Córdoba on Sunday.
Argentina raced out of the blocks against Chile, scoring three tries in the opening 12 minutes through Pedro Vallega, Santiago Guzmán and Francisco Poodts. Vallega scored again before two penalties from Santiago Fuenzalida made it 22-6 at half time.
Fuenzalida, one of six players in the Chile starting XV who played in the inaugural IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy on home soil in April, kicked another penalty in the second half, but sandwiched between tries by Poodts and Lucas García Larsen tries for Argentina.
Next up for Chile is Uruguay, the side who beat them 20-8 in the final of the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2008 to secure promotion to the IRB Junior World Championship in Japan next year.
Uruguay warmed up for this rematch with an impressive 41-5 defeat of Paraguay - the only side standing between Chile and the South American place at next year's IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Kenya.
Led by captain Juan Diego Ormaechea, the son of former Uruguay player and coach Diego Ormaechea, who opened the scoring with a fourth minute try, los Teritos proved too strong for Paraguay.
Vázquez Varela, Mauro Daverio and Rodrigo De Pasos also touched down in the first half which ended with Uruguay leading 22-5. Ormaechea scored his second within minutes of the restart with Gaston Mieres scoring their other two tries.
Paraguay must now regroup to face Argentina on Wednesday before their encounter with Chile on Saturday determines who joins hosts Kenya, USA and regional qualifiers Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Cayman Islands, Romania and the Asian representative at the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2008.
Fixtures and results
Sunday 9 November
Uruguay 41-5 Paraguay
Argentina 34-9 Chile
Wednesday 12 November
15.30 - Argentina v Paraguay
17.00 - Uruguay v Chile
Saturday 15 November
15.30 - Chile v Paraguay
17.00 - Argentina v Uruguay
