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

Argentina
Possibly the best half of rugby of any team in the tournament thus far was that produced in the second 40 minutes by Argentina against Georgia in Gloucester on Friday. Los Pumas played superb rugby and scored some memorable tries with Santiago Cordero firmly underlining himself as a future star. Shane Williams eat your heart out. The manner in which Los Pumas played and scored sent warnings to title contenders – Argentina mean business.

Canada
So close, yet so far. Canada’s opening defeat against Ireland did not do justice to the quality of Canada. 43 points was too much of a difference. Against Italy next up, though, the North Americans were extremely close to completing what would have been Canada’s most significant result since Rugby World Cup 1991. The North Americans may well have a win up their sleeves in this tournament.

Pool B
All the pre-World Cup talk was about the Pool of Death, that being Pool A and with good reason – Australia, England, Fiji, Uruguay and Wales are the participants. Only two will advance to the play-offs. The group came alive on Saturday with Wales beating England but it has been Pool B that has had most people talking due to Japan defeating South Africa and Scotland now toppling the group at the midway point. Could there be another twist – Scotland over South Africa, Eagles over Japan or Samoa over Scotland? None can be discredited at all.

Todd Clever
Having been left out of the Eagles Clever is yet to come out and give his version of what exactly it was that went down. Credit is due to the former captain for being a gentlemen while his back was against the wall. He has now come through Clevergate clean and with nothing but respect. He played his first match in England this weekend scoring a try on debut for the Newcastle Falcons.

Florin Surugiu
Romanian scrumhalf Florin Surugiu played against Ireland in London on Sunday and followed up by proposing to his girlfriend Alexandria whom he brought out onto the field at Wembley Stadium. His teammates applauded him as did those still in attendance. Surugiu lost the battle against Ireland but he won the war.

UNDER

Tier 2 Schedules
With only three days rest was it really a surprise that Japan could not perform to the required level against Scotland? How could Romania be expected to compete well against France and Ireland with just three days rest? Questions like these will continue to be asked, such is the unfair match schedule handed to Tier 2 nations. World Rugby can do better and must act for 2019. Teams such as Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa can play a Tier 2 and a Tier 1 opponent on a short turn-around but Tier 2 sides cannot.

Pool D
Pool D is unique in being the only one to have gone to script. That is to say all results have been predictable thus far. In Pool A, by way of comparison, England has lost a match while Fiji kept both England and Australia honest. Japan turned Pool B on its head while Georgia got a win first up over Tonga. That leaves Pool D. Can Italy pull a rabbit out of the hat against Ireland or how about Canada somehow upsetting France?

Eagles Second Half
Midway through the match in Leeds on Sunday the USA Eagles were well placed and, in fact, held the lead over Scotland. The Northern Europeans were backing-up from facing Japan on Wednesday yet came out on top in both matches with fatigue not being a factor at all against the fresh USA Eagles. Mike Tolkin’s team, though, was blown apart by Scotland and had no response.

Teros Maul
Uruguay came close to scoring a try against Australia from an attacking lineout on multiple occasions but the Wallabies were able to nullify the maul which proved ineffective. Los Teros will need to have a Plan B to score from the set-piece when deep in Fijian or English territory.

Mariano Galarza
The Gloucester second-rower’s World Cup has ended and Daniel Hourcade cannot replace him due to it being a suspension and not an injury. His appeal was declined with World Rugby making it clear eye-contact is not tolerated including when accidental which was the case with Galarza. Argentina have thus been left with just three specialist players in the position. Guido Petti is yet to fully recover from the head injury he suffered when Dan Carter’s knee collided with his head upon scoring on the opening weekend. He should, nonetheless, be fit to face Tonga.