Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
What a difference a week makes! Last time we were lamenting the lack of South American options, and here we are with only two North Americans in our weekly selection. What a terrific competition this Americas Rugby Championship is proving to be.
1 – Lucas Abud (Brazil) Os Tupis started an entirely under-23 front row against the USA, and they showed that the future is in good hands. Abud dismantled his opposite Olive Kilifi, torturing the Eagles scrum for more than an hour before watching the grand finale from the sideline. His less conspicuous work in the tight-loose was secondary to his main objective. Job well done.
2 – Santiago Iglesias Valdez (Argentina XV) The former national u20 skipper has fallen behind Julián Montoya in the Pumas pecking order, and feeling the heat from ARC understudy Axel Zapata, not to mention injured Facundo Bosch. Based on Saturday’s evidence we can safely say he is in the picture for more test honours after a fine performance leading the Argentina XV to a dominant win over Canada. Scored a try from a rolling maul within minutes and did his best Sean Fitzpatrick imitation as he prowled on the with to great affect on multiple occasions.
3 – Juan Echeverría (Uruguay) Up against a determined Chile team in Santiago, Los Teros needed some help from their scrum to get back in the game and the stocky tighthead obliged. Echverría faced three different men over the match and bested them all, spitting out poor Roberto Oyarzún like a sunflower seed at a baseball game. Also got through a fair amount of work around the fringes.
4 – Kyle Baillie (Canada) While the end result wasn’t too flash, Sunday’s match in Rosario was a coming-out party of sorts for the PEI native. Having shown promise as a dynamic athlete in previous renditions of the ARC, Baillie stormed out of the gates and through the defensive line on several occasions in his first start, and put Andrew Ferguson in for a try with a perfectly executed 2-on-1. Thought the lineout timing proved problematic, his catch and delivery was of a high standard.
5 – Luiz Vieira (Brazil) The heart of so much destruction in the middle of a dominant pack, ‘Monstro’ lived up to his nickname with a massive performance. Smashed into ball carriers and the breakdown, and provided a steady stream of possession at the lineout. Another youngster set for a long test career.
6 – Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Argentina XV) It was almost unfair to see the Pumas star on the team list, but then again we all dream of a time when the best of the Americas can go head-to-head. The 65-cap veteran lived up to his billing with a bruising performance, scoring two tries and generally looking like a man amongst boys. Sadly it seems that will be his only ARC outing as he returns to the Jaguares.
7 – Javier Richard (Chile) The unassuming flanker has quietly put together an impressive body of work for Los Cóndores, and Saturday’s match against Uruguay was no exception. Relentless in his hunt for the ball both as a support player and a tackler. Also a steady target at the lineout. Canada’s Alistair Clark impressed before his team wilted in the heat.
8 – David Tameilau (USA) The Eagles lost fair and square on Saturday, and were frankly lucky to nearly escape with the win. Very few of the men in white came away with positive credit in their account, and the big no8 was definitely the best of the lot. Put in a few shuddering tackles and carried the ball with purpose, always looking for the offload even when no teammates were there to take them.
9 – Lucas Duque (Brazil) In any other week Ferguson’s excellent 16-point performance for Canada would have earned him the nod, but alas history has intervened. ‘Tanque’ was in sensational form in São Paulo, terrorising the Eagles with darting runs past a lazy defense and using his boot to control territory. Savagely outplayed Niku Kruger, stepping inside his opposite to score a vital try in the first half.
10 – Moisés Duque (Brazil) The younger brother wasn’t quite as magical with ball in hand, but he was positively magnetic from the tee. While it wasn’t the most challenging kick in terms of technical difficulty, how many would have succumbed to the suffocating pressure with history on the line? His distribution and defense were also up to par in Brazil’s greatest ever moment in test rugby.
11 – Federico Favaro (Uruguay) Scored a lovely try with a scything run on an inside pass from a lineout. One of the smaller players in the competition but with electric footwork that makes it near impossible to get a clean hit on him. Competent defensively and effective at the kicking game, catching and chasing.
12 – Matías Nordenflycht (Chile) Another impressive outing from the sturdy midfielder, who wore 13 but again steps inside for us to accommodate his Argentine equivalent. Scored all 20 points for Los Cóndores with one try and five penalty goals, and got them moving forward with numerous bustling runs over the advantage line. Currently the tournament’s leading point scorer with 45 from four games.
13 – Juan Cappiello (Argentina XV) Continues to look a class apart, causing real problems for the Canadian defense and tackling with menace. Didn’t score himself but played a part in several tries.
14 – Juan Pablo Estellés (Argentina XV) Two tries, one early one late, marked an excellent performance from the versatile attacker. Had his opposite in fits, stepping in side and out to break the line almost at will. Another who would not look out of place in a Jaguares jersey.
15 – Daniel Sancery (Brazil) Continued a superlative run of form with this fourth try from four games in the ARC. Looked dangerous every time he touched the ball, he finished a brilliant counterattack to score the try that rocked the Eagles in the early going. With one round left, can he make it five from five?
