Argentina proved too strong for Paraguay on day two of the South American Under 19 Championship at the Jockey Club de Córdoba on Wednesday, running in 17 tries to record an 111-0 victory after Chile had edged a tight affair with Uruguay 13-10.

Joaquín Tuculet scored a hat-trick of tries in the first half in what turned out to be a 27-point haul for the young full back, a feat matched by number 8 Santiago Rocchia with his three tries in an 11 minute spell in the final quarter of the game.

Argentina, who had beaten Chile 34-9 on day one, scored eight tries in the first half through fly half Valentín Cruz, wing Gonzalo Mosso, centre Eduardo Gómez Naar, flanker Rodrigo Baez (2) and Tuculet to lead Paraguay 52-0 at the interval.

Four tries followed in the opening 10 minutes of the second half through wing Facundo Panceyra Garrido, replacements Manuel Cáceres and Alessandro Torres Suar and captain Santiago Guzmán, before Rocchia’s hat-trick, a second for Cáceres and César Baraldo completed the scoring.

With Argentina and Uruguay already confirmed as participants in the IRB Junior World Championship in Japan next year, the winner of the Chile v Paraguay match on Saturday will represent the region at the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2009.

Chile warmed up for that must-win game with a morale-boosting 13-10 defeat of Uruguay, the side who had beaten them 20-8 in the final of the inaugural IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in April to win promotion to the Junior World Championship. 

Chile fight back to beat Uruguay

This match was always going to be a closer affair than Argentina-Paraguay and so it proved with Chile leading 3-0 at half time thanks to a penalty from full back Santiago Fuenzalida, one player who had experienced that loss in April.

Uruguay responded quickly after the break, though, with fly half Juan de Freites kicking a penalty and then converting flanker Sebastián Sagario's try to edge them into a 10-3 lead.

However Chile were not to be denied their victory with Fuenzalida reducing the deficit with a penalty just after the hour mark, before Claudio Zamorano crossed in the 73rd minute for a try which the full back converted to give them a 13-10 win.

While Chile coach Rodrigo Boye felt his side got their reward with the victory over Uruguay, he knows it will count for nothing if they don't beat Paraguay on Saturday to qualify for the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2009 in Kenya.

"We battled until the final minute knowing that the result was in the balance, but in the end we were rewarded for playing very good rugby and being mentally strong," explained Boye.

"The boys are very happy right now, but we are well aware that there is still on more important match to play if we want to ensure qualification for the Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2009."

Fixtures and results

Sunday 9 November
Uruguay 41-5 Paraguay
Argentina 34-9 Chile

Wednesday 12 November
Argentina 111-0 Paraguay
Uruguay 10-13 Chile

Saturday 15 November
15.30 - Chile v Paraguay
17.00 - Argentina v Uruguay