Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
It’s hard to believe we’re already into Round 4 of the Americas Rugby Championship. The weeks seem to have flown by. Round 3 went well for our pundits, in fact very well. Most got all three winners correct and while nobody made a spot-on score prediction the only spread that caught everyone off-guard was the USA’s thumping win over Canada. We all anticipated a much closer scoreline. This week we’re absent the Rugby Rain Man but Ted Hardy has put down the haggis and picked up the chalkboard, so we’re still at an even 10 on the roster.
The leaderboard as it stands:
Bryan Ray (9-0), Canada, Americas Rugby News
Dan Mason (9-0), USA, Rugby United
Jake Frechette (9-0), USA, Rugby Today
Curtis Reed (8-1), USA, This Is American Rugby
Junoir Blaber (8-1), USA, Rugby Wrap Up
Paul Tait (8-1), Brazil, Americas Rugby News
Doug Coil (7-2), USA, DJ Coil Rugby
Ignacio Chans (7-2), Uruguay, El Observador
Victor Ramalho (6-3), Brazil, Portal do Rugby
Derek Sagehorn (5-1), USA, This Is American Rugby
Ted Hardy (3-0), USA, Americas Rugby News
Round 4, the turning of the tide!
| February 25, 2017 |
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| Bryan Ray Americas Rugby News |
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| Curtis Reed This Is American Rugby |
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| Dan Mason Rugby United |
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| Derek Sagehorn This Is American Rugby |
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| Doug Coil DJ Coil Rugby |
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| Ignacio Chans El Observador |
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| Jake Frechette Rugby Today |
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| Paul Tait Americas Rugby News |
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| Ted Hardy Americas Rugby News |
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| Victor Ramalho Portal do Rugby |
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CHILE (30) vs USA (17) – Match Preview
Saturday, February 25, 15:30 Chile, Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
The Eagles are the obvious favorites here. Can Chile put up any kind of meaningful resistance?
BR: The Eagles are the superior side but there is reason to think that Chile will be improved over last week. Despite problems in continuity there is more potency on the offensive side. It will be a comfortable win for the USA but not the 64-0 landslide of a year ago.
DM: Both the USA and Argentina have to be looking forward a bit. We all are. That won’t help Chile though.
DS: The young Eagles score early and often against Chile. Siaosi Mahoni bags his first try.
IC: Last week Chile showed a better defensive effort which took the Argentina XV by surprise. The USA has made changes that have left them without a number of their best players involved in the tournament. They ought to also feel the wear-and-tear of a long and demanding trip to Chile. Regardless, the Eagles have a much better team which ought to be the difference in the end.
PT: Too much talent for Chile to contend with. The Eagles have played very well thus far while Chile have been erratic.
TH: The USA’s offense is starting to click, but this match could be a trap. The Eagles will have to look no further than Brazil last year for a reminder.
VR: The Eagles are finding their best offensive game and Chile won’t have the quality to stop them.
ARGENTINA XV (9) vs BRAZIL (33) – Match Preview
Saturday, February 25, 17:30 Argentina, Estadio Agustín Pichot, Ushuaia
The first ever test in Ushuaia will be a party for the Argentina XV. By how much depends on the winds.
BR: The only thing that saves Brazil from an absolute hammering is the weather. And maybe Moisés Duque.
DM: Brazil needs an 80 minute performance in the worst way. Tough day for that, certainly.
DS: The Argentina XV clean it up against Brazil, scoring less points overall but playing with the precision required.
IC: This Brazilian side has serious problems on attack. And there is nothing worse than defending against a team like the Argentina XV for 80 minutes. Despite extensive player rotation, which makes it a weaker side than in recent weeks, the Argentina XV should have no problems in winning cleanly.
PT: The Guinness Book of Records will need updating based on the location of the venue. The scoreline will not be record-breaking but will see the Argentina XV carving holes in the Brazilian defense.
TH: Brazil will be hard-pressed to stifle the Argentina XV attack.
VR: The Tupis are fitter than last year, but Argentina won’t have problems to achieve an easy win. Attention must be given to Ushuaia’s cruel wind, punishing kickers no matter the nationality.
URUGUAY (23) vs CANADA (20) – Match Preview
Saturday, February 25, 20:00 Uruguay, Estadio Domingo Burgueño, Maldonado
It’s a 6-4 split between the pundits, and all predict a very close game that could go either way.
BR: I’ve gone back and forth on this one. This is not an easy game. Uruguay weren’t great against Brazil but their set piece was high quality. The same can’t be said about Canada’s lineout at the moment. I’m going to put my faith in the coaches and Brett Beukeboom to sort that out during the week, and give the edge to the superior horses in the Canadian backline.
DM: Both sides have a lot to prove. A win for Los Teros would be massive but Canada has too much firepower, even without Taylor Paris.
DS: The Maple Leafs put it together to grind out a win against Los Teros.
IC: The match of the round. Canada knows that they are not doing well in the tournament, and that a defeat against Uruguay could be highly costly in the rankings. Canada could fall to 20th in the world. For this reason Anscombe has named his strongest lineup of the tournament. Uruguay, meanwhile, know that it is the most important match of the tournament, the chance to go above Canada in rankings – or come very close – and the desire to gain momentum ahead of the hypothetical RWC qualifiers between the countries. The team displayed good signs against Brazil, but now it must ratify them.
PT: Home advantage and no travel favor Los Teros. The change in climate will too. Performance-wise Uruguay has displayed enough to justify the prediction of a narrow win over Canada.
TH: Uruguay are tough at home but Canada are desperate for a win. They are a better side than what we saw against the USA. The question is will it be enough to win on the road?
VR: A close call. Canada would be normally the favorite, bu Uruguay plays at home and the Canucks are still to convince. The Canadians will prevail in the need to maintain their Top 20 ranking.
