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

Pro Rugby Player Potential
Last Monday’s announcement that professional rugby is coming to the USA in April 2016 was music to the ears of the rugby community throughout North America and it was also celebrated far and wide. The constant classification of the USA as being a Sleeping Giant can be frustrating but now there is set to be a base for the team to genuinely move towards the world’s top 10. It will start by giving domestic players opportunities which players have only dreamt of in the past. Many will benefit, including Canadians.

Colombia
Los Tucanes went undefeated through their South American B Championship matches to win a third consecutive title on Saturday. In doing so Colombia will face Brazil in a repechage fixture in which the winner will play in the 2016 South American A Championship. Win, lose or draw Colombia is already assured of a promotion fixture against an Americas Rugby Cup member – something Georgia can only dream of in Europe.

Luque RC
Paraguayan club Luque RC were crowned national champions on Saturday. Their 41-10 victory over Curda in the Top 9 final saw the Asunción club completing a perfect season. It is exciting times for rugby in Paraguay as Tigo Sports is getting behind the game by broadcasting live matches. Earlier in the year Martín Landau captained Argentina in a fully capped test match against Paraguay at the Héroes de Curupayty.

Taylor Paris
Canadian winger Taylor Paris was shortlisted for Pro d2 Player of the Season this past week. As one of three finalists he has a strong chance of winning the award. Paris was vital to Agen winning their way to promotion from the Pro d2 to the Top 14. His brilliant full-field try against Perpignan arguably being the defining moment of the season by any player in the French second division. Also nominated from the Americas was Italian captain Sergio Parisse who is highly likely to win Top 14 players of the year.

AJ MacGinty
A first start for Irish province Connacht and a note worthy performance as his team braved sub zero temperatures in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia in a first ever European Challenge Cup match played in Russia. Connacht’s 33-14 win over Enisei-STM included nine point from the boot of the USA Eagles fly half.

UNDER

RWC Qualification Irregularities
There was plenty of reason for praising World Rugby’s announcement of the qualification system for Rugby World Cup 2019, announced this past week. The improvement to the repechage format is truly a terrific move. It will see a round-robin format in which four countries will dispute the 20th and final spot at the World Cup.Looking at one continent at a time, though, can produce head-scratching as Africa 1 will again earn direct qualification while the winner of Asia and South America will not. Georgia will play in the European qualification despite already having qualified. If only there were promotion to the Six Nations.

Injuries to Key Pumas
Captain Agustín Creevy was ruled out of next Saturday’s end of year match between Argentina and the Barbarians in London. The hooker is not yet fit and nor are fullback Joaquín Tuculet and utility back Juan Martín Hernández. The trio will not play in the match due to injury while Tomás Cubelli is missing due to him visiting Canberra, the home of new new team the Brumbies. Gabriel Ascárate and Santiago Iglesias Valdez have been called up as cover and are with the team in London.

Argentine Super Rugby Stadium
The historic CASI had been confirmed as the home venue for Argentina’s Super Rugby franchise but the club pulled out, leaving the team without a base. It was the second blow after the Parque Sarmiento had earlier been marked to host matches. There is, nonetheless, no reason to panic as Buenos Aires has many other potential venues. The UAR had chosen CASI due to it being Argentine rugby’s Cathedral.

Tier 1 Power Continues in World Rugby Reform
The Americas are set to be big winners from World Rugby’s overhaul which will see more countries getting voting power than ever before. Argentina is guaranteed of going from one to two votes with a third vote looking very likely. Italy, like Argentina, is the other major benefactor giving both equal power to the remaining 8 members of Tier 1. Nobody else will get three, suggesting the hegemony is, in reality, set to continue. The USA and Canada appear set to get 2 votes each as should Japan. Not all are so lucky with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga appearing hard-pressed to meet the criteria for 2 votes. Getting 1 is also not assured.

Toulouse Match
European club rugby authorities were praised for calling-off all matches in France this weekend. The terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday saw the country being locked-down. Playing rugby, though, was far from being in the interests of the players, clubs or fans. Toulouse, though, was in England and went ahead with facing Saracens on Saturday. The players were clearly in no condition to be playing the match. The game undeniably should have been postponed.