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

Aaron Carpenter
The former Canadian captain has worn the skipper’s armband for the past two weeks for Cornish Pirates, and led them to two cracking wins. His form has been outstanding since reverting to his preferred no8 position, leading one to wonder whether the attempted conversion to hooker was worth it at all?

Guatemala
Two wins in as many weeks sees Los Jaguares well placed for the upcoming South American C Championship coming up in December in El Salvador. Guatemala enters the competition as the number two seeds behind World Rugby member Costa Rica. The battle for second had been expected to be fought over between Guatemala and El Salvador while Panama enters as the bottom seed. The wins over El Salvador and Honduras, though, may giver Guatemala confidence to go all the way.

Kevin Swiryn
Quite the come back for the Eagles’ Rugby World Cup 2011 roster member Kevin Swiryn. The soon-to-be 31 year old has been named by Mike Friday on the USA’s roster for the upcoming World Series Rugby Sevens tournament in Dubai. His inclusion comes five years after his most recent involvement after he went from the Eagles Sevens to play for Agen in France. He had retired following injury complications in the 2011-2012 season yet could now play in Rio 2016.

Fernández Lobbe, Manoa and Toulon
Toulon made history this weekend for winning for the first time ever against Clermont in the central-French city. The impressive 35-9 victory featured both Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Samu Manoa in the starting lineup and both performed very well. Despite the loss Jamie Cudmore’s team remains on top with 29 points one more than Racing 92. The surprise thus far has been Brive whose fullback, Germain Gaitan, could well be starting for France in the Six Nations.

Saracens
The London based Saracens lead the Aviva Premiership with a record of five wins from as many matches. On 22 competition points the club is well positioned and looking very dangerous for all rivals in England and Europe. Marcelo Bosch, Juan Figallo, Titi Lamositele, and Chris Wyles were all involved this weekend as the team smashed the Worcester Warriors 48-18.

MacGinty and Connacht
The unthinkable is the reality as western Irish province Connacht lead the Guinness Pro 12. The traditional weak Irish province won 18-12 against Munster away this weekend to sit two points clear of the Scarlets at the top of the Celtic-Italian league. USA Eagles fly half AJ MacGinty called the plays from fly half for the table-topping Connacht.

Berchesi and Ormaechea
Uruguay’s Rugby World Cup 2015 fly half, Felipe Berchesi, was in fine form this weekend for French second division side Carcassonne. Berchesi kicked 11 points in the team’s 21-17 win over Montauban. His Los Teros halved partner, Agustín Ormaechea also played well, scoring a try for Mont de Marsan who lost away to Bourgoin. Uruguay hopes to have both players released for the Americas Rugby Cup while Rodrigo Capó Ortega of Castres could yet maker a return.

Tucumán Under 21s
Northern Argentine province Tucumán was crowned the national under 21 champions of Argentina on Saturday. The team’s 21-20 win over Córdoba sealed the National Provincial Championship at junior level. With the province having produced Super Rugby players Gabriel Ascárate, Lucas Noguera Paz, Ramiro Moyano and Nicolás Sánchez the future appears bright.

UNDER

Brazil
A 29-12 home loss against Germany sees Brazil suffering a significant fall in the World Rankings. More importantly it places doubt over the ability of the Tupis to be competitive in the Americas Rugby Cup. Better judgement will be able to be made following the second test match coming up this coming Friday from São Paulo. A better putting is required as Brazil failed to score a try in Blumenau.

Socino joining the exodus
Puma Juan Pablo Socino confirmed that he will be seeing out his contract with the Newcastle Falcons until 2018, thereby ruling him out of international duty until he plays his final match for the club. Argentina in 2016 and 2017 will therefore be without the Rugby World Cup 2015 squad member. His exclusion is the latest which also includes all of Marcos Ayerza, Gonzalo Camacho, Juan Figallo, Mariano Galarza, and Juan Imhoff.  Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Horacio Agulla, and Marcelo Bosch are also missing though they have retired from Los Pumas.

London Irish
The woes of London Irish continued this weekend as club club lost again, remaining winless after five rounds of the Aviva Premiership season. The Newcastle Falcons are also yet to win but having competed to a draw this weekend the club is one place above London Irish in the standings. Jebb Sinclair was involved in London Irish’s 33-15 loss in London this weekend.

Treviso
Also yet to deliver is Italian side Benetton Treviso who are yet to win a match this season. The club does have five bonus points though and did push the Glasgow Warriors this weekend. The Scottish side, nonetheless, did enough to win 13-6. At the rate the season is unfolding Treviso’s place in Europe next season will be taken by Zebre.

Oyonnax and Agen
With Brive doing well a number of clubs should pay close attention as the club has been very clever in building a team around rather unity than star players. Brive’s dominance away to Oyonnax only adds to the troubles of the club which has already sacked one coach this season. Oyonnax and Agen are in the Top 14 relegation zone and appear strong candidates to drop. The three clubs above them – Pau, La Rochelle and Paris have all been playing much better rugby.