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Colombia eliminated Mexico from Rugby World Cup qualifying today. A 29-11 win in Medellín sees Mexico’s Japan 2019 dream ending. In contrast Los Tucanes now advance to face Paraguay in the following round in November.
Colombia’s win was hard fought. Having conceded an early penalty Los Tucanes were forced to fight back. The opening points were kicked by Mexican fullback Agustín Sánchez. Colombia responded the the game’s first try though José Manuel Diosa but Mexico responded quickly with a try of their own to scrumhalf Andrés Rodriguez to hold an 8-7 lead after the first quarter.
Slowly but surely Colombia’s skill-set appeared to overpower Las Serpientes. Hard work from the pack led by Sebastián Mejía enabled Colombia to score again. This time prop Andrés Arango went over from close in. With the score the home side went into half-time leading 14-8.
With one penalty each the early second half was split in even terms. Mexico’s three-pointer would be their only score of the half. The Colombians, in contrast, added a second penalty from the boot of Diosa and also crossed for two late tries to finish off a convincing win.
Colombia entered the match ranked 8th in the Americas, one place ahead of Mexico. This added to the dynamics of the clash which also brought together teams from Sudamérica Rugby and Rugby Americas North. The expanding orientation of the Americas is very much focused on integration. Work from the Americas’ two regional governing bodies brings benefits for both North and South America. Indeed Colombia will go on from facing the Rugby Americas North champions to South American A Championship competitors Paraguay in the next round.
The Paraguayans are to have home advantage against Colombia. The one-off winner-takes-all fixture will be in Asunción on Saturday November 19.
SCORING
COLOMBIA 29
Tries – J. Diosa (10), A. Arango (36), Se. Mejía (71), Penalty try (80)
Cons – J. Diosa 2 (11, 37), E. Bedoya (80)
Pens – J. Diosa (46)
Yellow cards – J. Diosa (76)
MEXICO 11
Tries – A. Rodriguez (17)
Pens – A. Sánchez 2 (2, 62)
TEAMS
COLOMBIA
1 Jaider Pemberty, 2 Manuel Correa, 3 Andrés Arango, 4 Andrés Quintero, 5 John Alvarez, 6 Gerson Ortiz, 7 Santiago Mejía, 8 Sebastián Mejía (capt.), 9 Julian Navarro, 10 Emmanuel Bedoya, 11 Brayan Campiño, 12 José Manuel Diosa, 13 Camilo Cadavid, 14 Arley Urrutia, 15 Andrés Alvarez
Replacements: 16 Jorge Alvarez, 17 Mauricio Espinal, 18 Jhoan Larrota, 19 Danny Giraldo, 20 Hectór Navarro, 21 Oscar Forero, 22 Maicol Machado, 23 Pablo Lemoine
MEXICO
1 Marcos Flegmann, 2 Mizeal Loredo, 3 Max Douek (capt.), 4 Santiago Prieto, 5 Roberto Calderón, 6 José Raúl Reyes, 7 Gonzalo Pons, 8 Simon Pierre, 9 Andrés Rodriguez, 10 Miguel Carner, 11 Alejandro Chavez, 12 Pascal Nadaud, 13 Christian Henning, 14 Fharid Samano, 15 Agustín Sánchez
Replacements: 16 Jesús Rico, 17 Erik Castillo, 18 Esteban Viñas, 19 Alberto Ruiz, 20 Franco Guerrero, 21 Rodrigo Ripoll, 22 Yeudiel Suro, 23 Luis Arredondo
