Germany Overcome Brazil in Opening Test Match

The first ever international rugby match between Brazil and Germany was won well by the Europeans today in Blumenau, Santa Catarina. The 29-12 result places the Europeans in a strong position to win the series.

Germany was the stronger of the two sides but Brazil did, nonetheless, compete well. It was the Brazilian scrum which impressed today as dominance saw Germany giving away penalties. Overall, however, Germany crossed for four tries – four more than that of Brazil.

Rob May crossed for the opening try in just the 5th minute.  He did so by regathering a Sean Armstrong cross-kick. 5-0 became 5-3 three minutes later with David Harvey landing a penalty before it became a 12-3 game in the 16th minute with hooker Dale Garner scoring. Brazil’s inability to finish chances saw the Tupis staying behind and it was not until the final minutes of the opening half in which Brazil scored again with a Harvey penalty ending the scoring at 12-9.

An early miss to open the second half from Harvey enabled Germany to regather and attack. Using speed and width the Europeans scored a third try with fullback Raynor Parkinson crossing but with Brazil still in the game a fourth Harvey penalty from a scrum infringement in the 56th minute as the home side in check, trailing 19-12.

Well on top in the final quarter Germany added a penalty and also crossed for a try to complete a 29-12 win. The teams will meet again on Friday at Pacaembu Stadium in São Paulo.

Scorers
Brazil
Penalties: Harvey (4)

Germany
Tries: May, Garner, Parkinson e Fischer
Conversions: Parkinson (3)
Penalties: Parkinson

Brazil
15 Lucas Tranquez (SPAC), 14 Lucas Muller (Desterro), 13 Mateus Estrela (Niterói), 12 Martin Schaefer (SPAC), 11 Lucas Drudi (Jacareí), 10 David Harvey (NSW Country Eagles, Australia), 9 Beukes Cremer (Pasteur), 8 Nick Smith (SPAC), 7 João Luiz da Ros (Desterro), 6 Arthur Bergo (SPAC), 5 Matheus Wolf (Joaca), 4 Lucas Piero (Desterro), 3 Jardel Vettorato (San Diego), 2 Yan Rosetti (CUBA, Argentina), 1 Wilton Rebolo (São José)

16 Benê Rodriguez (São José), 17 Caique Silva (CUQ, Argentina), 18 Lucas Abud (SPAC), 19 Lucas Correa (Farrapos), 20 Mark Jackson (Desterro), 21 Stefano Giantorno (San Luis, Argentina), 22 Robert Tenorio (Pasteur), 23 Felipe Claro (SPAC)

Germany
15 Raynor Parkinson (Heidelberger), 14 Mark Sztyndera (1880 Frankfurt), 13 Carlos Soteras-Merz (Pforzheim), 12 Paul Bosch (Heidelberger), 11 Hendrik van der Merwe (Heidelberger), 10 Jeremy Te Huia (Pforzheim), 9 Sean Armstrong (Heidelberger), 8 Rob May (Heidelberger), 7 Jarrid Els (Heidelberger), 6 Jaco Otto (Heidelberger), 5 Michael Poppmeier (Heidelberger), 4 Benjamin Danso (Heidelberger), 3 Samy Füchsel (Heidelberger), 2 Dale Garner (Luctonians, England), 1 Arthur Zeiler (Heidelberger)

16 Rupert Cowan (Richmond, England), 17 Jörn Schröder (Pforzheim), 18 Eric Marks (Aachen), 19 Marcus Bender (Handschuhsheim), 20 Robert Lehmann (Rottweil), 21 Pascal Fischer (Hannover 78), 22 Thomas van Gelderen (Neuenheim), 23 Oliver Paine (Pforzheim)