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

Mexico
World Rugby has singled out Mexico as being of strategic interest. With a huge population of well over 100 million and being the southern neighbor of the USA it is hoped that rugby can enjoy a vibrant future in the country. This past weekend’s 39-3 hammering of the Bahamas gets Mexico’s Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification campaign off to a rocketing start. Mexico will, unquestionably, be treated with great respect in upcoming qualifying matches.

Uruguay
Significant investment from the URU has paid dividends. Not only did Uruguay win the South American A Championship but Los Teros did so in convincing fashion, powering to comprehensive wins against Brazil, Paraguay and Chile. With Uruguay’s High Performance Program advancing there is a means to an end of making Los Teros a sustainable project. The dream of consecutive Rugby World Cup appearances is very much realistic.

Brazil
Having come close to defeating Chile a week ago, Brazil regathered to demonstrate their development in completing a clean victory over Paraguay in Asunción on Saturday. Brazil overcame two years of back-to-back loses against Paraguay by completing a 32-21 away victory this past weekend. The result secured Brazil’s place in the 2017 South American A Championship while, for Paraguay, it means Los Yakarés will need to see-off the South American B Championship winner in repechage to avoid relegation.

Tomás Cubelli
Belgrano Athletic’s scrumhalf Cubelli scored a try in the Brumbies’ 23-6 home win over the Bulls in Canberra on Friday. Cube’s form has seen him receive numerous accolades including being the best scrum half in the Australian Super Rugby conference. He is all but assured of being the starting Los Pumas no9 in June when Argentina play host to Italy and France.

Cam Dolan
Also getting on the try-scoring list this weekend was Dolan. The utility forward scored for the Cardiff Blues who defeated Edinburgh 21-17 in a Guinness Pro 12 fixture in Scotland on Saturday. The match brought to an end the season for both teams and did so in an unfavorable manner as neither side qualified for the 2016-2017 European Champions Cup. Dolan is set to be a key individual for John Mitchell’s Eagles who are searching for a big scalp against Italy at home next month.

Ohio Back Row
It wasn’t the prettiest game, but Ohio got the job done against Sacramento with a dominant second half at Bonney Field. Central to their victory was an excellent loose forward trio of Filippo Ferrarini, Matt Hughston, and Sebastián Kalm. All three put immense pressure on the breakdown and are never far from the ball on offense. The form back row unit of the league thus far.

Americas Falcons
Newcastle are quickly becoming the Americas team to follow in the Aviva Premiership. With favorites Jebb Sinclair and Ciaran Hearn resigned to spending next season in the Greene King IPA Championship with London Irish, Canadian fans will now support the Falcons who have signed abrasive second row Evan Olmstead. While Eagles players Eric Fry and Todd Clever are leaving, two others are arriving in David Tameilau and Nick Civetta. With Juan Pablo Socino also on the books Newcastle should have plenty of eyes from this side of the pond next season.

UNDER

Ecuador
The tragic earthquake that struck north-western Ecuador in April has resulted in June’s South American B Championship repechage fixture being postponed. Ecuador is now to play host to Guatemala, just two months before Peru hosts the 2016 South American B Championship. The new date is to complicate Ecuador’s potential preparation.

Paraguay
The 2016 South American A Championship will not be fondly remembered by Paraguay. Los Yakarés lost all three matches to be the only winless team in the four nations competition. The development of Brazil clearly saw Os Tupis surpassing Paraguay as did the team having the advantage of playing in the Americas Rugby Championship. Paraguay’s non-involvement combined with only playing two warm-up matches against lowly Argentine clubs and erratic selection haunted Paraguay’s campaign. Improvement will be needed to see off the winner of Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and either Ecuador or Guatemala.

Andrew Durutalo and the Sunwolves
At home against Australia’s worst performing side, the Western Force came out 40-22 winners over the Sunwolves in Japan on Saturday. The California-born but uncapped Marcel Brache was the hero in scoring a hat-trick against Durutalo’s team.

Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi
Both Agulla and Tiesi have played their final matches for their respective clubs of Bath and Newcastle. Their time has come to a conclusion not due to both clubs having been eliminated from the Premiership prior to the semi-finals but, rather, because neither have been offered extended contracts. Both may join rivals clubs or continue playing in either France or the Pro 12.