Chile taste sweet victory over Canada

Chile celebrated their first victory of the World Rugby u20 Trophy with a crushing 45-28 win over Canada in Punta del Este on Wednesday. Five tries in the second half propelled the Cóndores past a Canadian team that struggled with discipline and could not take advantage of a huge supply of territory and possession in the first half.

Disaster struck early for Canada. Tomás Salas pulled his first shot at goal but the chasers somehow kept the ball infield and Diego Salas was first to pounce for an opportunistic try. Salas made good on the conversion and added a penalty some minutes later after Matt Beukeboom was binned for team infringements to give Chile a 10-point advantage.

A riposte finally came from Canada with George Barton took the ball to the line, opening space for midfield partner Niko Clironomos. The UBC Thunderbirds standout blasted through the gap, racing more than 50 metres untouched to score a cracking try.

Despite being a man down the Canadians controlled possession for virtually the entirety of Beukeboom’s detention but could not convert pressure into points. It was Barton who finally took matters into his own hands, the captain barreling straight ahead on a hard line from close range to smash his way over. Will Kelly’s second successful conversion made it 14-10 to Canada heading into the break.

The second half was not a good one for the men in red. A turnover in midfield gave Martín De Oto an opportunity to rip through the line and clean away from the cover defense for a long-range solo effort. Next it was Lucca Avelli who struck pay-dirt from a similar range, though the replay suggested that an obstruction may have had a significant contribution.

Avelli got his second just moments later and this time there was no controversy. Lovely stepping from Salas saw the fullback weave past multiple defenders and then swift hands from Santiago Videla and Vicente Huete set Avelli free. Aidan McMullan would have a say next, however, diving over after a wide ball from Brennig Prevost opened the door.

Disaster turned to complete nightmare for Canada in the 65th minute when Fraser Hurst saw red, figuratively and literally. Huete took out the scrumhalf off the ball and Hurst responded with a swinging arm to the head and then another shot when the Chilean flanker turtled. The assistant referee’s flag went up and there was no option but a send-off.

Within a minute Piero Zunino was piling over from close range and Rodrigo Manzano ended any semblance of hope when he was one hand to gather José Escobedo’s chip kick into space. McMullan had one last dance, sliding through and stepping inside the cover defense for a fine effort, but reactions were muted in the knowledge that the game was gone.

The result is a hammer blow to the Canadians, who entered the tournament with high hopes and will instead be playing to avoid the Wooden Spoon on Sunday. Chile meanwhile will be over the moon with the effort and can look forward to a chance at 5th place overall.

 

SCORING

CANADA 28
Tries – N. Clironomos (19’), G. Barton (32’), A. McMullan 2 (60’, 78’)
Cons – W. Kelly 2/2 (20’, 33’), B. Prevost 2/2 (61’, 79’)
Drop goals – W. Kelly 0/1
Yellow cards – M. Beukeboom (17’)
Red cards – F. Hurst (65’)

CHILE 45
Tries – D. Salas (4’), M. De Oto (43’), L. Avelli 2 (47’, 51’), P. Zunino (66’), R. Manzano (76’)
Cons – T. Salas 6/6 (5’, 44’, 48’, 52’, 67’, 77’)
Pens – T. Salas 1/2 (18’)

 

TEAMS

CANADA
1 Connor Sampson, 2 Steven Ng, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Liam Doll, 5 Matt Beukeboom, 6 Lachlan Currie, 7 Jamie McNaughton, 8 Jake Thiel, 9 Fraser Hurst, 10 Will Kelly, 11 Cole Davis, 12 Niko Clironomos, 13 George Barton (capt.), 14 Anton Ngongo, 15 Aidan McMullan

Replacements: 16 Dewald Kotze, 17 Liam Murray, 18 Nick Frost, 19 Jack McRogers, 20 William McDougall-Percillier, 21 Brennig Prevost, 22 Josh Thiel

CHILE
1 Piero Zunino, 2 Benjamín Jeria, 3 Javier Carrasco, 4 Carlos Oyarzún, 5 Nicolás Garafulic, 6 Benjamín Soto Besamat, 7 Vicente Huete, 8 Alfonso Escobar (capt.), 9 José Escobedo, 10 Martín De Oto, 11 Rodrigo Manzano, 12 Santiago Videla, 13 Lucca Avelli, 14 Diego Salas, 15 Tomás Salas

Replacements: 16 Marcelo Huerta, 17 Augusto Böhme, 18 Javier Meneses, 19 Clemente Saavedra, 20 Domingo Saavedra, 21 Pedro Sotomayor, 22 Javier Valle

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistants: Stephen Copeman (HKRFU) & Caua Ricardo Santos (CBRu)