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

Chile
Having been on the under side of Up and Under in the past this week Chile’s governing body deserve a huge congratulations. FERUCHI have worked together with World Rugby and South Korea’s governing body to secure a two-match home series in November. It will see South Korea playing a tour outside of Asia for the first time. Viña del Mar and Santiago will each host one test match. The series will serve Chile as vital preparation for the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship.

Uruguay
Also having had a solid week is the Uruguayan Rugby Union (URU). The governing body has unveiled new uniforms and a new major sponsor, Renault. It sees the continued advancement of Los Teros as a viable product and the future of rugby in the country is very much in reliable hands. Compared to the Pacific Islands unions Uruguay really is well positioned for the present and future.

Uruguay u19s
Los Teritos will play in the 2017 Junior World Trophy. The Uruguayans earned their place in World Rugby’s Tier 2 under 20 competition by winning the Junior South American Championship. Their impressive rugby is a case in point of the progress made following strong investments. Indeed, the future for rugby is very bright for the eastern South American republic.

Juan Imhoff
A spectacular performance from Juan Imhoff saw the Rosario flier scoring a hat-trick on Sunday. Racing 92 defeated Toulon 41-30 in a repeat of last season’s Top 14 Final. Unlike in the final in Barcelona, Imhoff played the duration of Sunday’s match on the wing. His makeshift performance at scrumhalf at Camp Nou will live on as being legendary in what was a remarkable win by a 14-man Racing 92.

Santiago Cordero
While Argentina were far from playing at their best Saturday saw Santiago Cordero playing well. The winger opened the second half with a superb try. It was his third try in four matches making him just the fourth Puma to score tries against each of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. His place in the starting lineup is not in doubt though he could do with a second world-class winger with him like, perhaps, Imhoff.

Gastón Cortes
Also scoring this weekend at the elite level in Europe was Gastón Cortes. The Argentine prop scored his first try of the season, scoring for Bristol on Sunday. Unfortunately for his team they were ran off the field by the Wasps who were far too good. The Wasps’ 70-22 win underlines the severity of the rise from England’s second division to the Aviva Premiership. USA center Thretton Palamo was also involved in the loss.

Jeff Hassler
In the Guinness Pro 12 Jeff Hassler had a fine performance for the Ospreys. Backing up from scoring against Connacht the Canadian winger crossed again this weekend to score his second try of the season. Having had injury concerns it is welcome news for Canada. Fellow Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe remains sidelined through injury for the Scarlets. Canada will want both players fit and firing for international duty in November.

UNDER

Argentina
A shocking defensive start from Argentina gifted Australia a 21-0 lead. So poor were Los Pumas that Australia had three tries after just 12 minutes of play in Perth. The performance was not Argentina’s worst of the year – that honor goes to test two vs France in June. It was, nonetheless, an unacceptable showing. Santiago González Iglesias was guilty of drifting twice enabling Australia to break and score. Head scratching stuff given how experienced he is. The bench looks like being his best bet.

USA Rugby
Chile getting a two-match home series means Los Cóndores will play as many test matches as the USA in November. That is unless something changes quickly and an additional international for the Eagles is miraculously confirmed. As it stands Uruguay will play three tests in November but the USA just two. It is a far from ideal scenario and USA Rugby really has questions to answer. Even the likes of Spain and Germany will play more.

Paraguay u19s
Winless in the Junior South American Championship this year means Paraguay now faces relegation. Los Yákares were badly beaten by both Chile and Uruguay before facing Brazil in the final round match. In losing Paraguay finish the competition in fourth spot and will now need to defeat Colombia to avoid relegation. Colombia is coming off an impressive showing in the B division. A clean-sweep of wins over Peru, Mexico and Venezuela ought to have Paraguay concerned.

Sean Duke
Another Canadian veteran announced his retirement this past week. Aged just 28 Sean Duke has ended his rugby career to pursue a medical degree. He is the latest in a line of Canadian players to retire recently. Phil Mack and Sean White both recently retired. All three players were long-time servants of Canada’s Rugby 7s team.

Pumas Injuries
The Rugby Championship is said to be the toughest annual rugby competition on the planet. From an Argentine perspective it certainly is the case. In the ongoing tournament the South Americans are being pushed to the edge with injuries. Juan Martín Hernández and Guido Petti missed out on facing the Wallabies on Saturday. The former will also miss the next match while Petti is expected to return. Manuel Montero and Jerónimo de la Fuente are expected back though Tomás Lavanini and Emiliano Boffelli are both out for the season. Agustín Creevy, Facundo Isa, Martín Landajo and Juan Manuel Leguizamón were all injured on Saturday and are being monitored.