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The Argentina XV has been crowned 2017 South American Champions. Argentina’s official ‘A’ side defeated Uruguay in a thriller this evening, winning 38-33.
The victory came by virtue of a last-gasp try from winger Franco Cuaranta. His score broke Uruguayan hearts, though captain Juan Manuel Gaminara made it known that they mean business:
“We are on the right track, we need to keep at it. If we work like this we will get there. Now we have the APC (Americas Pacific Challenge), we’ll have a rematch.”
The Americas Pacific Challenge will be followed by a two match tour of Namibia. Both are of extreme importance to Uruguay but the ultimate prize is to open 2018. Uruguay’s home-and-away series against Canada will see the winner qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2019.
Canada fell to Uruguay earlier this year. If the defeat was not a strong enough warning of the danger that Uruguay poses matches since then have underlined the task at hand. Uruguay’s performance this evening against the Argentina XV was that of a team to have progressed tremendously since Rugby World Cup 2015.
Uruguay played some sublime rugby in Colonia del Sacramento. Los Teros conceded an early try but recovered well to hold a 21-14 lead at half time. Manuel Diana and Santiago Arata scored for Uruguay while Germán Schulz, Santiago Montagner and Gaspar Baldunciel crossed for the visitors.
The Argentina XV’ advantage was cut to four points in the 45th minute. The goal kicking mid-fielder Juan Manuel Cat landed the first of what would be four second half penalties. He also converted Andrés Vilaseca’s try which put Uruguay ahead.
Not only was Uruguay scoring points but the Argentina XV was being held back through ferocious defense. It took until the final quarter for Felipe Contepomi’s team to opened their second half account. Jaguar Felipe Ezcurra darted over for a try which Martín Elías converted to make it 30-28 to Los Teros.
A Cat penalty with ten minutes remaining put Uruguay five points clear. Needing magic at the death, the Argentina XV scored tries in the 76th and 80th minutes to snatch victory. Replacement Santiago Portillo and Cuaranta were the scorers.
Both teams now travel east to Montevideo where they will take part in the Americas Pacific Challenge.
SCORING
URUGUAY 33
Tries – M. Diana, S. Arata, A. Vilaseca
Cons – J. Cat 3
Pens – J. Cat 4
ARGENTINA XV 38
Tries – G. Schulz, S. Montagner, G. Baldunciel, F. Ezcurra, S. Portillo, F. Cuaranta
Cons – M. Elías 3, B. Delguy
TEAMS
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Mario Sagario, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Ayala, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Manuel Diana, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Santiago Arata, 10 Rodrigo Silva, 11 Gastón Gibernau, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Gastón Mieres
Replacements (all used): 16 Carlos Pombo, 17 Matías Benítez, 18 Juan Echeverría, 19 Diego Magno, 20 Rodolfo Garese, 21 Guillermo Lijtenstein, 22 Agustín Della Corte, 23 Rodrigo Bocking
ARGENTINA XV
1 Francisco Ferronato, 2 Gaspar Baldunciel, 3 Benjamín Espinal, 4 Jerónimo Ureta, 5 Diego Galetto, 6 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Santiago Montagner, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Germán Schulz, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Bautista Delguy
Replacements (all used): 16 Axel Zapata, 17 Franco Brarda, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 20 Santiago Portillo, 21 Nicolás Catarutti, 22 Juan Cruz Mallía, 23 Franco Cuaranta
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Henrique Platais (CBRu)
