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

Brazil
The magic of the Estádio do Pacaembu continues! Brazil erased a 21-6 deficit by scoring three tries in the final seven minutes to secure a stunning 25-21 victory over Portugal in São Paulo on Saturday. It marked an incredible turn in fortunes for the Tupis whose performance was riddled with mistakes for the best part of an hour that saw them commit numerous penalties and handling errors. What looked like a certain Portugal victory instead turned into celebration for Brazil. Portugal joins Canada, Chile, and the USA in losing to Brazil in São Paulo.

Guyana
Guyana defeated Trinidad & Tobago 24-17 on Saturday. The physical contest saw the Green Machine defending their Rugby Americas North – South Zone title at the St. Stanislaus College ground on Carifesta Avenue. Played in less than ideal running-rugby conditions, the game was quite the war of attrition. Avery Corbin (2), Ahmad Isaacs, and Richard Staglon scored tries for Guyana. The result has also seen Guyana rise in the Americas Rankings to 10th.

Uruguay
Uruguay completed a 30-21 win over Emerging Italy on Saturday. No World Rankings points were up for grabs due to it being Italy’s ‘A’ side rather than test team. Los Teros enjoyed a strong performance. Tries were scored by Santiago Arata, Juan Manuel Cat, and Guillermo Lijtenstein. Also contributing points was fly half Germán Albanell. Uruguay’s next match will be a test match with World Rankings on the line. On Wednesday Los Teros will take on Russia.

Argentina vs England
Was this the game of the year? We will not know until December but it is likely to be talked about for quite some time. Los Pumas and England put on an absolute classic in San Juan. Both teams scored four tries in a thrilling encounter which was not decided until the final play of the match. The deciding try came with mastery from England with forwards passing like backs. This led to New Zealand import Denny Solomona being the last man and having three Pumas defenders on him. He bumped off Joaquín Tuculet before being too quick for Matías Moroni to crush Argentina. Earlier tries from both teams had been mastery.

Emiliano Boffelli
Post match Argentine fans were extremely disappointed. It was the latest narrow defeat. Having lost similarly against Scotland and Wales last November Saturday’s loss means Argentina is on a four-match losing streak. The result, though, did not come without positive points. Arguably the biggest was debutant Emiliano Boffelli. He scored Argentina’s opening try and was always present in the right place at the right time. His decision making was noteworthy. Many caps are certain to follow. Oddly he was substituted early bu Daniel Hourcade. The same happened to Agustín Creevy, Tomás Lavanini and Juan Manuel Leguziamón.

UNDER

Lost Pumas
Argentina blew it on Saturday. With three minutes remaining and a penalty advantage veteran Juan Martín Hernández opted to go for a drop goal. This put Argentina 34-31 ahead over England. On reflection this decision ultimately was poor. Hernández needed not go for goal. He would have had a simple penalty attempt near the posts and would have been guaranteed to have kicked it. This would have taken at least one minute out of the game. But with Argentina’s scrum causing havoc the real option would have been to take a 5 meter scrum and push for a try. Failing that a penalty would have likely resulted. The Pumas had Lost decision making when it mattered.

Canada
In what can only be described as a calamitous affair Georgia defeated Canada by 13-0 at Calgary Rugby Park on Saturday. Dreadful weather resulted in the inevitable, an equally dire manifestation that could be called rugby in name only. Heavy winds and driving rain did not allow for an expansive game and both sides looked happiest at the final whistle. The result means Canada has a 1-25 result against Top 17 countries since November 2013. It was also the first time Canada has been held pointless since November 2008 and the first time ever against a Tier 2 nation.

USA
The Eagles fell to Ireland in New Jersey on Saturday. The 55-19 final score was reflective of the performances of the two sides. Ireland played the better rugby throughout to underline the Tier 1 vs Tier 2 status. Nick Civetta, John Quill and Ryan Matyas scored tries for the USA but it was insufficient to seriously compete. The same fixture in 2013 was very different. On that occasion Ireland won 15-12. Both countries are to play again next weekend. Ireland will travel to Asia to face Rugby World Cup 2019 hosts, Japan. The USA will play host to Eastern Europeans Georgia at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw.

Argentina XV
The Argentina XV fell short against Russia on Saturday, losing 39-38. This was the case despite a very strong start. Tries to flanker Francisco Gorrissen and Juan Cappiello had the Argentina XV looking dominant. Yet Russia would regroup and take the lead and never give up. The Argentina XV were clearly not mentally prepared for the match. Complacency was evident regularly. So much so that every time after reclaiming the lead the South Americans relaxed and let in easy points. The Argentina XV had the chance to seal the win though fullback Martín Elías. His miss resulted in Russian celebrations.

Pumitas
The Argentina XV were bad but Los Pumitas were utterly humiliated. Having suffered a final second defeat by France the Argentine u20 side went on to lose 72-14 to South Africa. The results mean Los Pumitas’ dream of returning to the Semi Finals has been obliterated. The South Americans will instead turn their attention to finishing as high as possible. Tries from Félix Luna and Tomás Malanos were insufficient to match the Baby Boks. South Africa turned a 31-14 half time lead into an unthinkable scoreline.

Germán Albanell
Uruguay have lose Germán Albanell to injury. Playing for Los Teros on Saturday, the fly half went off injured against Emerging Italy. Prior to doing so, Albanell had kicked two penalties and two conversions. The Old Boys club fly half suffered a fractured jaw. He will play no further part in the Nations Cup. This will add pressure on the French-based Felipe Berchesi to start in both matches.