Historic Series win by Uruguay over Namibia in Africa

Uruguay made history today in Africa. Los Teros completed an historic series win over Namibia, a country to have played in the past five Rugby World Cups. Today’s 39-34 victory followed a 52-36 win in the first test last Saturday.

As was the case in game one the scoring opened through a Teros prop. In the 9th minute Juan Echeverría went over from close range. Federico Favaro continued where he left off in game one by landing the conversion.

Six minutes later and Uruguay scored their second. Touching down was scrum-half Agustín Ormaechea. Favaro added the extras as a concerned Namibia looked on.

The Africans hit-back at the end of the opening quarter. Fly half Cliven Loubster opened Namibia’s account with a well-struck penalty. What followed by pressure being pilled on the South Americans. Second-rower Ignacio Dotti compiled the problem by being yellow carded.

The 25th minute offense from Dotti saw Namibia crossing for two tries to take the lead. Firstly Rohan Kitshoff went over in the 26th minute and Darryl de la Harpe went over two minutes later. In between the scored Favaro was off-target with an attempted penalty. Loubster had no problems in converting both tries.

With four minutes remaining in the opening half Uruguay found the equalizer. Favaro’s penalty loved the teams 17-17 and it remained as such until half time.

Seven minutes into the second half and Uruguay regianed the lead. They did so through hooker Germán Kessler. Favaro’s conversion attempt sailed wide.

Nine minutes later and Namibia brought the game back to even terms. A second try from de la Harpe made it 22-22 and it remained as such due to the conversion attempt missing the mark.

The injection of Santiago Arata from the bench followed. The impressive scrum-half crossed for tries in the 57th and 68th minutes. Favaro landed both conversions to give Uruguay a 14 point lead.

Unfortunately for Uruguay the lead put them in the comfort zone and Namibia mounted a late fight back. Late tries to Orbert Nortjé and JC Greyling set-up an enthralling finish as Uruguay was two points ahead with six minutes remaining.

Favaro landed a late penalty to get them out of the danger zone. It finished the scoring with Uruguay completing a 39-34 victory. Los Teros are to now return home. Their next assignment are the all-important Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Canada in January and February 2018.

 

SCORING

NAMIBIA 34
Tries – R. Kisthoff (26′), D. de la Harpe 2 (31′, 55′), O. Nortjé (70′), J. Greyling (74′)
Cons – C. Loubser 2/3 (27′, 32′), T. Kotzé 1/2 (75′)
Pens – C. Loubser 1/1 (20′)

URUGUAY 39
Tries – J. Echeverría (9′), A. Ormaechea (15′), G. Kessler (48′), S. Arata 2 (57′, 66′)
Cons – F. Favaro 4/5 (10′, 16′, 58′, 67′)
Pens – F. Favaro 2/3 (38′, 80′)
Yellow cards – I. Dotti (25′)

 

TEAMS

NAMIBIA
1 Casper Viviers (17 Collen Smith 71′), 2 Niel van Vuuren (16 Obert Nortje 62′), 3 Nelius Theron (18 AJ de Klerk HT), 4 Tjiuee Uanivi, 5 Ruan Ludick, 6 Rohan Kitshoff (capt.), 7 Johan Retief, 8 Adriaan Booysen (20 Christo van der Merwe 54′), 9 Damian Stevens (21 Eugene Jantjies 71′), 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 Gino Wilson, 12 Darryl de la Harpe, 13 JC Greyling, 14 Lesley Klim, 15 Chrysander Botha (22 Theuns Kotzé 58′)

Not used: 19 Prince Gaoseb, 23 Justin Newman

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (18 Matías Benítez 71′), 2 Germán Kessler (16 Carlos Pombo 64′), 3 Juan Echeverría (17 Carlos Arboleya 62′), 4 Ignacio Dotti (21 Diego Magno 64′), 5 Diego Ayala (19 Rodolfo Garese 51′), 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Gonzalo Soto (20 Franco Lamanna 51′), 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Agustín Ormaechea (22 Santiago Arata 51′), 10 Rodrigo Silva, 11 Gastón Gibernau (23 Agustín Della Corte 64′), 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Nicolás Freitas, 14 Federico Favaro, 15 Gastón Mieres

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (SARU)
Assistants: Egon Seconds (SARU) & Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU)