Argentina proved too powerful for Italy as they ran out 39-22 winners at the Marassi stadium this afternoon.
Italy were competitive in the opening period but the Latin Americans pulled away in the second to record the victory.
It is a measure of the strong state of Argentinian rugby that all of Italy's points were scored by players born in Argentina, Ramiro Pez and Gonzalo Canale.
Felipe Contepomi gave the Pumas a 10th-minute lead with the first try but Pez then replied with a penalty for Italy and two more penalties took the score to 11-3.
However, Italy hit the front after 26 minutes when Canale touched down with the extra points added by Pez.
Contepomi's penalty put Argentina back in front but Pez slotted another after 38 minutes to give the Italians a 16-14 advantage.
Francisco Leonelli's try at the end of the first half ensured the Pumas had a 19-16 lead at the interval.
Contepomi's penalty shortly after the break extended that lead to 22-16 but Pez slotted another for Italy.
The left-footed player brought the scores level after 52 minutes but then Argentina took control.
Bernardo Stortoni's 56th-minute try, converted by Contepomi, made the score 29-22 and then it was Martin Arambaru whose converted try effectively ended the match as a contest.
Contepomi's penalty took the final score to 39-22.
