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

Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic defeated Curaçao on Saturday. The 32-17 win sees the Dominican Republic retaining the Copa de Rugby Dominico-Curazaleña, the international trophy established for matches between the two countries. The result sees the Dominican Republic rising three places in the Americas Rankings. Both the Dominican Republic and Curaçao are developing unions in the region. Curaçao have Rugby Americas North membership while the Dominican Republic has affiliate status.

Costa Rica
Costa Rica is approaching World Rugby membership status. The Sudamérica Rugby member and Central American republic hosted a visit this week from Sudamérica Rugby authorities. As a part of the visit Costa Rica Rugby was introduced to the Leading Rugby course in the World Rugby Level 1 and Level 2 varieties. It is to be extended to other Central American unions. A focal point of the visit is also the current and future status of the unions.

Ghislaine Landry, Julia Greenshields, Naya Tapper
Canadian duo Ghislaine Landry and Julia Greenshields were named in the official HSBC Dream Team for the Kitakyushu 7s, some individual consolation after dropping a nail-biting Cup Final to New Zealand on the final play. Landry finished as the tournament’s top points scorer while Greenshields enjoyed a breakthrough tournament and tied the USA’s Tapper for the most tries with eight in all.

Gonzalo Quesada
Going out on a high is maligned coach Quesada. The 1999 and 2003 World Cup star is to end his time at Stade Français with the possibility of taking the team to Challenge Cup glory. The Parisian club defeated Bath 28-25 on Sunday afternoon at Stade Jean Bouin. The result sets up a Challenge Cup Final against Gloucester on May 12 at Murrayfield and the opportunity is now for the former Puma to make it a French-European double. Quesada coached Stade Français to the Top 14 title in 2015. Earlier this season he announced his departure at the end of the season. His future remains undetermined.

Americas Players in Champions Cup Challenge Cup
It is now a certainty that there will be a European Champion from the Americas this season. The Champions Cup Final will see Saracens and Clermont battling it out in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the same city hosting Gloucester and Stade Français in the Challenge Cup Final. This weekend’s matches saw Argentine players Marcelo Bosch, Patricio Fernández, Mariano Galarza, and Sergio Parisse all playing for winning sides. Americans Titi Lamositele and Chris Wyles also played for winning teams. All are expected back for the finals, ensuring Americas representation in both finals.

Matt Beukeboom
It’s been a very good start to the year for Matt Beukeboom, who earned his first international caps for Canada during the Americas Rugby Championship and then shared the field with brother Brett in the matches against Uruguay and Brazil. While Brett’s own contract renewal was formally announced last week, 20-year-old Matt’s extension flew under the radar. In this midst of the ARC a three-year contract extension with Pau was confirmed that will see him stay in France until at least June 2020. Argentine veteran Javier Lagioiosa also extended his stay in France this past week.

Martín Elías, Benito Paolucci, Jerónimo Ureta
Three new names have been named by Felipe Contepomi for the Argentina XV. Newman second row Jerónimo Ureta earns his first national selection and is joined in the forwards by CASI flanker Benito Paolucci, the latter of whom captained the Pumitas to a best-ever 3rd place finish at the 2016 World Rugby u20 Championship. The only new name in the backs is another standout from the 2016 Pumitas side, Martín Elías. Highly rated as a flyhalf, the Atlético del Rosario prospect has been named as a fullback in the training group.

UNDER

Jaguares
Placing Los Jaguares in the under list this week is arguably not fair. The Argentine side played well and would have won had kicks at goal been on target. In losing 24-21, Los Jaguares played far better than had been the case against both the Bulls and Lions. Regardless, the fact is Los Jaguares are now on a three-match losing streak. All hope is not lost of a place in the playoffs. In fact Los Jaguares have more competition points than do all five Australian sides. With a run of home matches coming up a place in the playoffs remains realistic.

Santiago González Iglesias
Jagaures utility back Santiago González Iglesias was named by Americas Rugby News’ own Paul Tait as unlikely to make the test side in June. Argentina’s three home tests against England and Georgia are to see a squad of roughly 30 players involved. González Iglesias is not expected to be among the top three options for flyhalf. Others are also considered more likely to factor in at both inside and outside center. This leaves Santiago González Iglesias as joining Gabriel Ascárate as providing cover rather than featuring in the initial roster.

Matías Beer
The World Cup flanker remains injured for Uruguay. He was the most notable absentee from the roster named this past week for the upcoming South American ‘A’ Championship. The competition is to double as Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification. Others not participating include Franco Lamanna, Agustín Ormaechea, and Felipe Berchesi who are all overseas. First choice midfielder Joaquín Prada remains unavailable due to his medical studies.

Racing 92
What a horror show that was. Utterly embarrassing, pathetic, or painful? Chose what you wish. All are explanatory of how awful Racing 92 performed against Montpellier. The fixture was this weekend’s one and only Top 14 match, a postponed fixture as a result of the merger sideshow. With Racing failing to repeat their 2015-2016 season form the Parisian club lost by 48 points to Montpellier. To add insult to injury, Montpellier are regularly slammed as being a South African expat side. The lineup against Racing 92 had eight Frenchmen in the starting XV, more so than Racing 92. Involved in the humiliation were Pumas Manuel Carizza and Juan Imhoff.

Pumas Hooker Options
Agustín Creevy cannot do it all alone. The Argentine and Jaguares captain has been starting all games for both country and in Super Rugby. He needs to be managed. It is hard to do so though with Julían Montoya injured and Facundo Bosch having departed for Agen to play in France. Roberto Tejerizo was Creevy’s deputy in all three games in South Africa this month. Converted from loosehead prop to hooker in January, Tejerizo is merely an emergency hooker. For the sake of Los Pumas it is essential that candidates for the test side play for Los Jaguares.