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. Unlike previous editions this week sees Up, Under, and a third category – Buried. The reason for this are the circumstances that transpired in two shocking test matches this past weekend.

 

UP

Paraguay
Anybody doubting the healthy state of rugby in the Americas ought to watch Saturday’s Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifier between Paraguay and Colombia. The match was highly competitive and entertaining, with the skill-set on offer far superior to that of matches between the two in the past. Both teams scored some excellent tries and were well drilled in the set piece. The lead was held by both sides but there could only be one winner. Paraguay came out on top with a 12 point win. It sees them seal the final spot in the 2017 South American ‘A’ Championship. The competition will double as World Cup qualification.

Canada Women
Continuing right where they left off in the Super Series, Canada’s world class women’s side routed Ireland in Dublin on Saturday to the tune of 48-7. With a handful of players back in the picture after spells away with 7s and personal commitments, the team didn’t skip a beat and if anything looks like it can get better. Now ranked no2 in the world, a mouth-watering match with the no1 ranked New Zealand Black Ferns awaits on Wednesday, followed by a stop at Twickenham on Saturday against England. While the men are still finding their feet, Canada’s women continue to fly the flag for the nation on the rugby pitch.

Heather Moyse
One of Canada’s greatest players was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame last week. In doing so Moyse became the first Canadian female to achieve the honor and second from her country all-time following in the footsteps of former national men’s captain Gareth Rees. A multi-sport athlete who excelled both in the 7s and XVs game for Canada, the Summerside, PEI, native was included in a prestigious list of 12 former players with the likes of Shane Williams, Brian O’Driscoll, and Jonny Wilkinson also entered into the pantheon of greatness.

Pablo Huete
Bayonne enjoyed a home win over Toulouse with Huete playing a significant role. The Chilean lock has been in good form this season and continues to find a regular spot in the starting lineup. While the result lifts the Basque club off bottom spot in the Top 14, it was not yet enough to get out of the relegation zone with the club still five points behind Pau. Nonetheless, considering who the opposition was it was a very noteworthy victory.

England-Based Pumas
Unavailable for Los Pumas, Marcelo Bosch gave Daniel Hourcade a lot to think about. While Argentina was only able to score once against Scotland and twice against Wales, Bosch scored a sensational try for Saracens. Both he and Juan Figallo performed well in Saracens’ win on Sunday over Sale. Leicester also won on Sunday, doing so with Marcos Ayerza involved. Earlier Mariano Galarza had a fine performance for Gloucester. Manuel Carizza and Juan Imhoff won in France. None of these names have played for Argentina for over a year. Without them Los Pumas have not been the same force.

Uruguay XV
Uruguay’s official ‘A’ side won again. Four rounds into the Campeonato Argentino and the Uruguay XV remains undefeated. On Saturday they ran out 40-17 winners over Chubut. The win further boosts the team’s chances of earning promotion to the second division of Argentine provincial rugby.

Sergio Parisse
He may be in the twilight of his career but Parisse showed yet again just how good he is. The Italo-Argentine no8 led the Azzurri to a first-ever victory over the Springboks on Saturday. Having left Argentina in his late teens, Parisse is regarded as one of the biggest losses of all time to Argentine rugby. Having previously conquered big names such as Argentina, France, Ireland, and Scotland, the list is now very impressive.

Canadian Scrum
Heading into the match against Romania it was clear the path to victory was to avoid the scrum at all costs, an area of traditional strength for the Oaks and relative weakness in recent time for Canada. Glimpses of promise against Ireland turned into a stunning performance in Bucharest as the Canadian tight five didn’t give an inch to the mighty Romanians, even getting the better of them at key moments. While the set piece exceeded expectations, elsewhere left a lot to be desired.

 

UNDER

Canadian Defense
Like the USA a week earlier, Canada paid the price for a slow start against Romania. Poor defense was at the heart of the defeat, with a shaky midfield and kick coverage that was caught asleep at the wheel for a critical Romanian score. With poor handling also a culprit, the result was a disappointing performance that failed to build on the positive reviews from Dublin a week earlier. A tough match against Samoa on Friday is the last chance to salvage some rankings points before the Americas Rugby Championship.

USA
What is it with the Eagles against Tonga? Why can they not find a way to win? How can they be equal or better for much of a match yet once again start so poorly? The loss means the Eagles are winless in their November Internationals. Losses against the Māori and Romania saw the Eagles failing to perform at their peak, and against Tonga the same is true. The lack of consistency for 80 minutes will be at the top of John Mitchell’s list for the ARC, though he may also look to himself to find consistency in selection. The scrum certainly cannot escape his attention either.

Brazil
A 10 point loss may not appear like much, but Os Tupis were unable to threaten Germany in Heidelberg. The hosts managed the only two tries of the match. Brazil was outclassed and could easily have lost by many more points had the Germans been more clinical. Game two this coming weekend will offer Os Tupis a second opportunity for a win. Of the three tests between the two Tier 3 nations thus far Germany has claimed all of them.

Uruguay
A heavy defeat at the hands of Spain sees Los Teros fall again the rankings. Now ranked 21st in the world, Uruguay’s is too low for it to be comfortable. World Rugby has previously told Uruguay that it needs to win more games to merit the funding it has been receiving since qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2015. Losses against the lower ranked Germany and Spain could cause far more damage in the long term.

Eligibility Laws
World Rugby’s eligibility laws were again a hot topic of discussion this past week. Being questioned are both the 3-year residency and the grandparent laws. So common is it for players to qualify via the 3-year ruling that all four starting wingers in Saturday’s France vs Australia match were Fijian-born with a fifth Fijian winger on the Australian bench. They were not players who left the Pacific Islands with their families as children. Rather they all moved to France or Australia as adults. England’s Fijian no8 Nathan Hughes is no different. While Canada and the USA have also taken advantage of the regulations, surely the trend of ‘mercenary’ internationals is one that needs further regulatory dissuasion.

 

BURIED

Chile
The ultimate capitulation. Los Cóndores led 36-7 after 56 minutes yet somehow found a way to lose. South Korea completed a miracle comeback to give Chile a wake-up call. The South Americans enjoyed a great opening half and remained strong until the hour mark. They then collapsed to leak a hat-trick to Hang-Yul Park. The South Korean ran in tries in the 69th, 73rd, and 78th  minutes to complete the most stunning of comebacks imaginable.

Argentina
Two weeks ago Los Pumas hammered Japan. This saw them ranked 6th in the world. Today they are 9th. With the draw for Rugby World Cup 2019 to be based on World Rankings in May 2017, Argentina is now in deep trouble. Daniel Hourcade needs either for his team to win against England this coming weekend or for France, Scotland, and Wales to struggle in the 2017 Six Nations. Whatever the result the reality is that the Pumas are not the force today which took it to the World Cup Semi Finals in October 2015. The unwillingness to select European-based stars has limited options for the coaches. The bottom line is that the team has simply lost too many matches.