Up and Under

The Up and Under is a weekly feature on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week.

UP

Uruguay U19s
Los Teritos completed a flawless campaign in the Sudámerica Under 19 tournament in Paraguay this past week, winning all three games and doing so by noteworthy margins. With the senior team, Los Teros, also recently defeating the Argentina XV it is a very exciting time for Uruguayan rugby.

Velez Sarsfeld
A crowd of 50,000 were in attendance for Argentina’s home international against South Africa on Saturday. The occasion marked the final home appearances for Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe who is to retire for international duty following the World Cup. Also bowing out will be Marcos Ayerza and Marcelo Bosch who were just as emotional as Corcho Fernández Lobbe. The result was not desired but with Argentina having experimented greatly and having won the week before the spectators were content.

Facundo Isa, Pablo Matera and Javier Ortega Desio
The three young back-rower join the veterans Fernández Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamón and Leonardo Senatore in Argentina’s World Cup squad. Isa, Matera and Ortega Desio are to be in company of three noteworthy Pumas but the extent of their performances under Daniel Hourcade means that two of them stand a strong chance of starting against New Zealand in London. Indeed Isa started in the win in Paris, Matera in Durban and Ortega Desio featured for the majority of the win in Mendoza last year. Their inclusion saw the impressive 21 year old Tomás Lezana missing out.

Joseph Taufete’e
Joseph Taufete’e was a popular google search this past week following his naming in the USA Eagles training squad ahead of the pre-World Cup matches against Canada, the Harlequins and Australia. The Belmont Shore front-rower joins Chris Baumann, Eric Fry, Ollie Kilifi, Titi Lamositele and Mate Moeakiola as the prop options. Five of the six are certainties to go to the World Cup.

Canadian Wheel Chair Rugby
Canada’s Wheelchair rugby team won Gold at Parapan American Games in Toronto on Friday, defeating the USA in the final. Zak Madell scored 34 goals in the thrilling 57-54 gold-medal victory. The sell-out crowd at the Hershey Centre rose to its feet following the victory. The outcome sees the Canadians clinching a spot in next summer’s Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.

UNDER

Camacho, Carizza and Macome
Pumas Gonzalo Camacho, Manuel Carizza and Manuel Macome were omitted from Argentina’s Rugby World Cup squad despite them all having been cemented in the team under previous coach Santiago Phelan. Camacho was left out due to injury uncertainty while a decision was made against Carizza and Macome to select PladAR players instead. Both Carizza and Macome have professional experience abroad unlike Matías Alemanno, Guido Petti and Javier Ortega Desio who have taken their places.

Benjamín Urdapilleta
The non-selection of Benjamín Urdapilleta in 2014 and 2015 had received widespread criticism. His performances for Oyonnax in France saw the club win the Pro d2, then survive relegation before qualifying for the play-offs last season. He has since moved on to Castres but remains unwanted by Daniel Hourcade. His non-selection is due to the existing options and Urdapilleta lacking the utility of Juan Pablo Socino and Santiago González Iglesias. Upon Argentina’s squad being announced Urdapilleta tweeted ”never playing in the French Top 14 or being elected best 10 in the Dream team of the year gives one more chances of playing in the World Cup”.

Brazil Shirts
With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner traveling fans are wanting to purchase their team shirts to wear in England and Wales. Bars will be crammed with shirts from many more than just the twenty competing countries at the World Cup. Brazil is a country which is to have no shortage of rugby supporters at the event but obtaining a Brazilian jersey is mission impossible. Kit producers Topper have removed the shirt from their website and supporters are having huge problems in acquiring one at all.

Todd Clever
The impact of Clevergate appears conclusive following the exclusion of former captain Todd Clever from the USA Eagles training squad. It sees the veteran of three Rugby World Cups missing out on the chance to play in a fourth and is a sad ending to what was a highly successful career both on and off the field.