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

USA
It has taken decades but at long last the USA is to having voting power on the World Rugby Council. The USA, together with Georgia and Romania, will now be able to vote. The three Tier Two unions join Japan and Canada in having the power while Fiji, Samoa and Tonga miss out due to failing to meet criteria. Both Argentina and Italy are to now carry equal power to the founding members making their future Rugby World Cup hosting credentials all the more powerful.

Guatemala
The Central American republic of Guatemala became a member of World Rugby this past week. The World Rugby Council approved the membership applications of Guatemala and Slovakia. The two countries applied through their respective national governing bodies of the Asociacion Deportiva de Rugby de Guatemala and Slovenská Rugbyová Únia and are now associate member unions. Next on the agenda for Guatemala will be facing Ecuador in South American B Championship repechage in August.

Brazil Rugby and Charity
Last month’s South American A Championship match between Brazil and Chile at São Paulo’s Pacaembu Stadium saw organizers gathering some 7.4 tons of donated food. The collected items were used to provide much needed aid to the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Associate Cruz Verde. The efforts are central to rugby’s mission to improve the lives of the less fortunate.

Agustín Pichot
And just like that, in a flash the number two position at World Rugby is held by a South American. Pichot will be the Vice-Chairman in a new regime which begins on July 1. The former Pumas captain will join forces with England’s Bill Beaumont in a changed direction which ought to benefit developing countries significantly more than has been the norm historically.

Wyles, Bosch, and Figallo
Saracens success in the European Rugby Champions Cup Final on Saturday included three players from the Americas. Long-serving USA Eagles back Chris Wyles was joined by Pumas Marcelo Bosch and Juan Figallo. On the opposing side were Juan Imhoff and Manuel Carizza. Wyles ended the drought of no Eagle having been a European champion since Dan Lyle won with Bath in 1999.

Axel Müller
Los Pumas 7s strongman Müller was named to the official HSBC Dream Team for this past weekend’s Paris 7s. The powerfully-built forward scored four tries in the tournament and was a big part of several others with his ability to offload out of the tackle a key feature of the Pumas attack. His team finished fourth and are genuine medal contenders for Rio 2016.

UNDER

RWC 2019 Draw in 2017
The fiasco that unfolded of the Pool of Death in Rugby World Cup 2015 was predicted well in advance. With hosts England and Wales also facing Australia one of the three would miss out on a Quarter Final and this, of course, turned out to be England. The draw was made in December 2012 while for Japan 2019 it will be delayed by six months to May 2017. This means additional time for test matches for the Europeans but not so for the four Semi Finalists. May 2017 is still too early.

Los Jaguares
Los Jaguares were the better team on Saturday but were, nonetheless, beaten by the Sharks in Buenos Aires. The Argentine side scored three tries, two more than that of the South Africans who won thanks to the goal kicking of flyhalf Pat Lambie. Goal-kicking woes cost Los Jaguares as did unfavorable refereeing decisions including no penalty try and an unusually long knock-on advantage which led to the final points.

Senatore and Creevy
Los Jaguares forwards Leonardo Senatore and captain Agustín Creevy were both named for Los Jaguares flight to Johannesburg on Sunday only to then be cited for alleged illegal play against the Sharks. Creevy was banned for one week for contravening Law 10.4 (e) Dangerous tackling. Senatore is alleged to have contravened Law 10.4 (m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. Senatore’s citing is very serious with him being alleged to have bit the arm of Keegan Daniel, during a ruck in the 69th minute. If found guilty he will be banned for a lengthy period.

Jerónimo de la Fuente
The Rosario midfielder missed out on facing the Sharks on Saturday and was not on the plan to Johannesburg for the next two matches. His injury will complicate Daniel Hourcade’s preparations for facing Italy and France in home internationals in June. For Super Rugby the immediate picture is further complicated due to Matías Moroni’s involvement with Los Pumas 7s.

Canada, USA 7s teams
The Eagles had a substandard showing in Paris, floundering in the pool stages and eventually dropping out in the Bowl semi final. They are headed in the wrong direction form-wise and need to rebound in London. Canada have it even worse, suffering a whitewash in two consecutive tournaments. They have now lost 11 matches on the trot and look in desperate straits with only one tournament remaining before the final Olympic qualifier in Monaco. With Samoa winning the Cup final in Paris, recent evidence suggests it would take a minor miracle for Canada’s men to join their women in Rio.