Canada smash Chile in Santiago

Canada pulverised a hapless Chilean side in Santiago on Saturday to end their Americas Rugby Championship on a high. Nine tries from seven different players contributed to a 64-13 score, Canada’s third-highest score total and points differential in their history, and the most since their 69-3 effort over Barbados in 2006.

A first-minute penalty from Matías Nordenflycht gave Los Cóndores a fortunate lead, but it would vaporise almost immediately as Nick Blevins ran through a massive hole in the defensive line to score Canada’s first try. Nordenflycht missed one kick but made another to close the gap to one point, but three tries in quick succession to Brett Johnson, Gordon McRorie, and Kyle Baillie earned the bonus point with an hour still to play.

Johnson’s effort was a terrific individual score from the winger, rounding the corner before wrong-footing the cover defense for his first international tally. McRorie did his best imitation picking from a ruck to find open field, while Baillie blasted through the line with Canada going through the phases at will.

Phil Mackenzie went clean through Francisco de la Fuente to score the fifth try, and Patrick Parfrey was on hand for the sixth from a dubious looking offload that the officials adjudged to go backwards. Captain Benjamín Soto rescued a modicum of respect with a well-earned try after the hooter had sounded, but the 30-point difference at the break left no hope for a Chilean comeback.

The second half passed by as little more than a formality. Blevins added his second and Dan Moor struck for a single as the clock ticked lazily towards the final whistle. The benches emptied and the shape of the game disintegrated with poor handling and tedious scrum collapses defining the second stanza. A reckless pass by replacement prop Nicolás Venegas was picked off by Parfrey for the most casual of strolls under the posts in the final minutes to put a wrap on the tournament for the two sides.

Chile end their ARC with disappointment as they finish in last place behind Brazil, who they had beaten in week one for their only victory from five games. Canada meanwhile finish in 3rd place, tied with the USA on points but behind on differential and on the short end of their meeting back in round two. The commanding win should be enough to move them up to 18th on the World Rankings, one spot ahead of Russia, who they will meet head-on in June.

CHILE 13
Tries – B. Soto (40)
Cons – M. Nordenflycht (40)
Pens – M. Nordenflycht 2 (1, 9)

CANADA 64
Tries – N. Blevins 2 (3, 55), B. Johnson (14), G. McRorie (18), K. Baillie (20), P. Mackenzie (31), P. Parfrey 2 (35, 75), D. Moor (51)
Pens – G. McRorie (12)
Cons – G. McRorie 7 (4, 15, 21, 32, 36, 52, 56), A. Ferguson (76)

CHILE
1 R. Ayarza (N. Venegas 57) 2 M. Gurruchaga 3 J. Munita (L. Sepulveda HT) 4 I. Álvarez (C. Niedmann 45) 5 R. Piwonka 6 B. Soto (capt.) 7 J. Richard (I. Silva 67) 8 N. Bursic (F. Hurtado 59) 9 J. Perrotta (B. Vergara 57) 10 C. Onetto (P. Casas 47) 11 Í. Zunino 12 F. de la Fuente 13 M. Nordenflycht 14 J. Larenas 15 H. Chacaltana

Not used: R. Moya

CANADA
1 H. Buydens (capt.) (R. Brouwer 57) 2 R. Barkwill (E. Howard 53) 3 D. Sears-Duru (R. Kotlewski 57) 4 P. Ciulini 5 C. Pierce 6 K. Baillie 7 A. Clark (M. Hamson 57) 8 L. Rumball (C. Panga 53) 9 G. McRorie (A. Ferguson 57) 10 P. Parfrey 11 B. Johnson (D. Maguire 53) 12 N. Blevins 13 P. Mackenzie 14 D. Moor 15 B. Staller (G. Bowd 67)

Referee: K. Weaver (USAR)
Assistants: I. Calle (FERUCHI) & F. Saavedra (FERUCHI)