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

Cayman Islands
The RHSW Cayman National XV’s rugby team has scaled new heights by beating a powerful USA South Panthers team in Florida by 28-21. This was the Cayman team’s eight consecutive win this season and they remain unbeaten. The loss was the first defeat this season for USA South. Next up for the RHSW Cayman team is the old foe, Bermuda in the Security Centre Big Game 7 on June 18  at 7 pm.

Brazil Sevens
With the Olympics just around the corner Brazil’s men’s team are performing well. Os Tupis finished runners-up this past weekend, losing to South Africa in the final of the Rome Sevens. En route to the final Brazil defeated Chile and Brazil and also had a strong opening day which included wins over Tunisia and two composite sides.

Argentina – Pumas, Argentina XV and Los Pumitas
It was a perfect set of results from Argentina’s representive teams this past week. In the World Rugby Junior World Championship Los Pumitas came out on top against both France and South Africa to be the only undefeated team in their pool. Meanwhile in the Nations Cup the Argentina XV completed a strong win over Spain to open their campaign. Most importantly, Los Pumas ran out 30-24 winners over Italy to open their international season and remain fifth in the World Rankings.

Juan Imhoff and Manuel Carizza
French-based Argentine stars Imhoff and Carizza were also winners this past weekend. Their French club, Racing 92 downed Toulouse in a barrage play-off to qualify for the Top 14 Semi Finals against Clermont. Set to be played in Rennes on Friday Racing 92 will not enter as underdogs despite having to have qualified for the Semi Final by facing Toulouse. Imhoff and Carizza have both played in previous European Champions Cup Finals and are now 80 minutes away from appearing in the first ever Top 14 Final in Spain.

Federico Anselmi
Leading Americas official ‘Boli’ Anselmi delivered a strong performance as he refereed Canada vs Japan in Vancouver on Saturday. The Argentine referee oversaw a free-flowing contest and had control of the match. His red carding of Yoshiya Hosoda has been deemed as the correct call. Anselmi is garnering himself an increasingly positive reputation as being one of the leading referees for the future. Rugby World Cup 2019 would appear to be an entirely realistic tournament for him to officiate in. Before then is Rio 2016 with Anselmi confirmed as being on the Olympic Panel.

Ohio Aviators
On form this weekend were the Ohio Aviators. A 55-29 trampling of the San Diego Breakers on Sunday means Denver are five points clear at the top of the PRO Rugby standings. The star of the afternoon was Dominic Waldouck. The former London Irish centre scored a hat-trick for the newly named Aviators with his first try coming from his first touch of the ball in Ohio colors.

UNDER

Canadian Goal kicking
Any time a team outscored the opposition by four tries to two yet loses there is something fundamentally wrong. In Canada’s case against Japan on Saturday it was the goal kicking. Scrum half Gordon McRorie missed four kicks at goals in what was a 26-22 loss against the 10th best country in the world. The 18th ranked Canadian Maple Leafs will face the 19th ranked Russia next weekend and will be pushing for a vastly different outcome.

Uruguay vs Namibia Missed by World Rugby
With their opposition being Emerging Italy Los Teros fielded their replacements in the World Rugby Nations Cup opening round match on Thursday. It saw Uruguay’s leading lineup watching on from the sidelines as a developmental lineup instead took to the field. Later today, though, a full strength Uruguay will take on Romania in an official test match. The moral to this story is that World Rugby ought really to have put together the Nations Cup tournament differently. It is an abomination to have Uruguay and Namibia in the tournament yet no match between them.

Benjamín Urdapilleta
Sunday did not see Urdapilleta putting in his best performance. Playing fly half for Castres the Buenos Aires pivot received diabolical service from South African come French international scrum half Rory Kockott. The sloppy service significantly impacted on Urdapilleta’s play and resulted in the players arguing on numerous occasions. In the end Urdapilleta was replaced, though without him Castres conceded far more points.

Rodrigo Capó Ortega
Veteran Uruguayan second-rower Rodrigo Capó Ortega captained Castres in the match in question. He did not, however, have the opportunity to play much rugby. Firstly he was taken off as a blood substitution and then, when back, was knocked-out and forced off the field on a stretcher. With him now at the twilight of his career thankfully the Castres captain already has the 2013 Top 14 title to his name.

Pumas second row Crisis
Argentina’s second-row stocks are being pushed to the limit. Tomás Lavanini is serving a suspension and will miss this coming Sunday’s match against France. His Jaguares colleagues Juan Cruz Guillemaín and Matías Alemanno will not play due to injury which leaves Guido Petti as the only Jaguares second row who can face the French. As such the 20-year-old uncapped Ignacio Larrague has joined Los Pumas from the Argentina XV in the Nations Cup. Either or both of Mariano Galarza and Manuel Carizza ought to be in the mix for the Rugby Championship. Firstly, though, Daniel Hourcade’s team will face France without a second-rower among the reserves.