Argentina have got their international campaign to a winning start with a narrow 30-24 victory over Italy in Saturday's Test in Santa Fe.

The Pumas were first to get points on the board as they won a penalty 12 minutes in following an Azzurri attempt to play from the scrum, and Nicolas Sanchez duly kicked the ball between the posts.

Carlo Canna replied with a penalty of his own three minutes later, which set the tone for a very evenly-matched first half which ended 17-16, courtesy of a try apiece by Manuel Montero and Leonardo Sarto.

Conor O'Shea's charges ended up taking the lead shortly after the restart when Canna kicked another penalty over for Italy, but Argentina surged back through a successfully converted Matias Moroni try and two more Sanchez penalties.

Simone Favaro's try for the Azzurri gave the hosts a nervy finish, but Daniel Hourcade's side were able to see the game out and clinch the win.