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

Colombia
Los Tucanes are a team going places. Colombia’s desire to win promotion out of the South American B Championship was on show on Sunday. Los Tucanes had a fine opening round performance, downing Ecuador 75-5. It set up a second round match against Peru on Wednesday. The Colombians will enter the fixture as favorites as will will in the final round match. Performances on the opening day suggest that a clean-sweep is expected.

Mexico
Las Serpientes are looking forward to their next assignment. The North Americans came out 32-3 winners over Guyana on Saturday. The result sees Guyana eliminated from Rugby World Cup qualification. For Mexico the dream is alive. Next up will be the winner of the South American B Championship. A win for Mexico would see them through to face Paraguay in the final round below the South American A Championship.

Venezuela
Showing significant improvement from a year ago, Venezuela were too strong for Peru on Sunday. An opening round win sends a message to Colombia that they are in for a tough match on Wednesday. The 33-8 result sees Venezuela setting up a round two match against Ecuador. In what is expected to be Venezuela’s easiest match of the tournament they will be looking for a second win to set up a likely final against Colombia on Saturday. Results mean Venezuela and Mexico both enjoy rises in the Americas Rankings.

Brazil and Mexico to host Pacific Island nation
Brazil and Mexico will play host to the Cook Islands in June 2017. The tour will see history being made as never before has the nation played in the Americas. Further encouraging news is the confirmation that the Pacific Islanders will also have two home test matches in November 2017. 2017 will be the first time since 1980 that the Cook Islands have played against a country not from Oceania. The only prior intercontinental test match was against Italy in 1980.

Facundo Isa
Is there a better ball-carrier in world rugby today than Isa? The Pumas no8 continued his outstanding form in the Rugby Championship. Powerful runs, tackled and pure determination were features of his game on Saturday. He also scored the first of Argentina’s two tries. He is a clear candidate for ARN Player of the Year and a nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year is entirely plausible.

Old Christians Club
Old Christians were crowned Uruguayan national champions on Saturday. The Montevideo club won the national title by defeating Old Boys 14-11. For Old Christians it was a day for the history books. The Blues won the three titles: first division, intermediate, and pre-intermediate. Many athletes from both clubs are expected to feature in the upcoming Americas Pacific Challenge which will also be played in Montevideo.

UNDER

Shocking Three minutes from Argentina
The better team in Buenos Aires was Los Pumas. Certainly for the second half and the opening quarter this was true. But for the a three minute period in the second half the result may have been different. Argentina leaked three tries in as many minutes. It was followed by a try to open the second half. It meant New Zealand held a 36-3 lead. Los Pumas won the remainder of the match 14-0. Had they not had the three minutes of madness perhaps they could have won. It is also worth noting that Agustín Creevy was denied a certain try incorrectly. In the clear, unmarked the referee called play back from a non-existent knock-on.

New Zealand Foul Play
Speaking about the physicality of the game Ramiro Herrera described it as being more like facing South Africa than New Zealand. Argentina’s control of possession and territory saw the All Blacks defending raids. At times this led to foul play as it did to ten consecutive penalties against New Zealand. On one occasion Joe Moody punched Nicolás Sánchez on the ground. In another Patrick Tuipulotu tackled Sánchez around the neck while Juan Manuel Leguizamón was taken out in a no-arms clear-out from Elliot Dixon. Jaco Peyper yellow carded Moody and also Liam Squire, the latter for repeated offside infringements.

No Debutant Host for Rugby World Cup 2023
Rugby World Cup 2023 will be another one hosted by the Old Boys club. Italy has cancelled its bid to stage the tournament. This leaves France, Ireland and South Africa as the bidders. All three have hosted in the past. France hosted 42 of the 48 matches in 2007, South Africa hosted all matches in 1995 and Ireland hosted 5 and 7 games in 1991 and 1999 respectively. All three have high points to offer as to why they merit the opportunity. But with all being prior hosts and founding members it goes against the message World Rugby has been trying to portray in recent times.

David Tameilau
Unfortunate news confirms that Tameilau will not be playing in the Aviva Premiership. Having signed for the English club his contract has been cancelled. The PRO Rugby back-rower failed to turn up to the club which resulted in the contract being terminated. It occurs at the same time in which Langi Haupeakui has sealed a two year contract to play for the Glasgow Warriors.

Racing 92
After seven rounds of the Top 14 season the reigning champions, Racing 92 are in 11th position. With three wins and four losses thus far the Parisian club is far from being at its best. This weekend ought to have been a win but it was not to be. Playing away to Brive the club was out played, losing 25-16. Pumas wing Juan Imhoff scored a good try but Racing 92 were unable to score any others.