Argentina - 29 Italy - 30: Italy scored three first half tries then put up a blanket defence to beat Argentina 30-29 in the second Test in Cordoba and square the series.
South African-born fullback Gert Peens contributed 15 points with three conversions and three penalties to Italy's first win in Argentina, a significant result for their French coach Pierre Berbizier. Argentina won the first Test 35-21.
The visiting team's tries, all scored by Argentine-born players - outhalf Ramiro Pez, back row forward Sergio Parisse and centre Gonzalo Canale - helped Italy run up a 27-13 lead at half-time.
The Pumas fought back with tries by lock Pablo Bouza and fullback Bernardo Stortoni and 19 points from the boot of outhalf Federico Todeschini.
There were some outbreaks of fighting among forwards in the match and Italy captain Marco Bortolami was sent off in the dying minutes for a second yellow card offence.
Bortolami had been sin-binned in the first half along with Pumas lock Patricio Albacete. In the second half Argentina's Juan Leguizamon and Italy's Santiago Dellape were sin-binned.
"This was my match," an elated Pez told reporters. The former Rotherham flyhalf, who was born in Cordoba, had been dropped by Italy but was recalled by Berbizier.
