Up and Under

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

Brazil
No prizes for guessing who gets named first in this week’s edition of Up and Under. Brazil completed the biggest upset in the history of rugby in the Americas by downing the USA 24-23 on Saturday evening in São Paulo. The historic win was the first ever outing between the two countries and a wake-up call to traditionalists who argue that rugby lacks competitiveness outside of the founding nations.

Uruguay
At the midway stage of the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship Uruguay would have liked to have won two matches and be in a position to target a third at home in round five. Thanks to a narrow away win over Chile, Los Teros have a realistic shot at winning three of their five matches. On a global scale Uruguay returned home ranked 20th in the world, overtaking Namibia.

Americas Rugby Championship
The biggest winner of the weekend was not Brazil nor was it Uruguay. It was the sport of rugby with the ARC nothing short of an extraordinary on-field success. All six competitors have won a match and with one round remaining the final positions remain unknown. Multiple possibilities exist and the Argentina XV have the best chance of winning the inaugural title. Their win over Canada yesterday puts them three points clear at the top of the standings.

Vancouver Sevens
The Vancouver event it coming at a great time for rugby in the Americas. The addition of the Canadian city as a host venue will see great exposure as it joins Las Vegas to give North America back-to-back legs. The US event has been hugely successful in recent years and it showing no signs of changing. News that the the inaugural Vancouver event has already sold out is highly positive for rugby in the region.

Los Jaguares
After 20 minutes of their debut Super Rugby appearance the signs were not good. So much so that there were comparisons to Argentina’s erratic performance in the first half of the Rugby World Cup semi-final against Australia. Behind 24-3 in Bloemfontein and with two players yellow carded, Los Jaguares regrouped to level the scores before ultimately going on to win. The quality of the roster has been noted by others who believe the Argentine franchise will only get better.

Tomás Cubelli
Friday was a historic day for Argentine rugby. Not only did Los Jaguares win but Cubelli did also. Playing for Australian franchise the Brumbies, the scrumhalf went over for a first half try in what was an impressive win over the Hurricanes in Canberra. Unlike those playing in Europe, Cubelli remains eligible for Los Pumas.

UNDER

USA and Chile
Round four losses in the ARC sees falls for both the USA and Chile in the World Rankings. The USA fall one place, below Romania to 17th in the world. Chile fall from 24th to 27th behind Germany, South Korea, and Belgium. Both the USA and Chile retain their respective rankings in the Americas of 2nd and 5th but have fallen behind those ahead of them.

John Mitchell
Many USA rugby pundits have slammed their country’s performance in São Paulo for being substandard. While there is no doubt the Eagles failed to play anywhere near the level demonstrated one week earlier against Chile, it is not the players but the coaching staff who ought to be scrutinized. Mitchell’s selections were of note with wholesale changes from Fort Lauderdale and far too many untried players given a start. Taking Brazil lightly has proved to be the first major setback in Mitchell’s tenure.

Stade Français
The general rule for success in the Top 14 is to win all home games and collect bonus points wherever possible on the road. Reigning champions Stade Français failed to win at home this weekend to further complicate the team’s chances of competing in the playoffs. Gonzalo Quesada’s side was weakened through a host of players featuring in the Six Nations this weekend. Grenoble, though, was easily the better team, winning comfortably.

Six Nations
Traditionalists continue to support the flagship European competition religiously, but who could argue that the ARC has not been the superior tournament this year? The dour rugby played by the sport’s powerhouse nations has been completely overshadowed by the promise and enthusiasm of the new frontier that is the Americas. How long until the sponsors turn their eyes towards the new kid on the block, the marvel that has emerged in the form of the ARC? On the field, at least, there is no contest. How long will the Six Nations show disdain for bonus points? Meanwhile Brazil have been handed an opportunity to play and have taken it with both hands, yet Georgia continue to be left in the cold despite proving their mettle time and time again. How long can they deny change?