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

Uruguay
Uruguay’s preparation to play two tests in Namibia in November is heading in the right direction. Los Teros warmed-up for the tour to Africa by defeating Rosario in an away match on Saturday. Played at GER, the home club of Leonardo Senatore, Uruguay ran-out 42-29 winners. Senatore handed  Juan Manuel Gaminara the trophy post match in a friendly gesture.

Colombia
Colombia’s Men’s Sevens team has been busy preparing in France. With the Juegos Bolivarianos quickly approaching Los Tucanes have spent a week in Marcoussis. They are eyeing winning medals on their home turf in Santa Marta. The camp ends today, October 30. Involved are Jhojan Alexander Ortiz, Andrés Felipe Álvarez, Camilo Cadavid, Jhon Arley Urrutia, Daniel López, José Manuel Diosa, Sebastián Mejía, Neider García, Emmanuel Bedoya, Brayan Campiño, Maicol Machado and Oscar Forero.

Felipe Contepomi, Al Charron, and Phaidra Knight
Three Americas players are to be inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Argentina’s Felipe Contepomi, Canadian Al Charron, and Phaidra Knight of the USA will become the 133rd, 134th, and 137th inductees respectively in a ceremony to be held on November 10 in Rugby, England. Also joining the Hall will be England’s Rob Andrew and Fabien Pelous of France. Contepomi becomes the third Argentine player to achieve the honor, following in the footsteps of the great Hugo Porta (2008) and former teammate Agustín Pichot (2011). Charron was preceded by his good friend Gareth Rees (2011) and Heather Moyse (2016) in becoming the third Canadian. Knight is just the second USA player to join the exclusive club, following former teammate Patty Jervey (2014), though the country is also represented by the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Gold-winning men’s teams, recognized in 2012.

Felipe Berchesi, Benjamín Urdapilleta, Sebastian Poet and Martín Chiappesoni
Uruguay’s win this weekend is further boosted by news out of France. First choice fly half, Felipe Berchesi delivered an outstanding performance for Dax who won their Pro D2 match on Friday. Berchesi was joined by Martín Chiappesoni who was a try scorer. Also scoring in France’s second division this weekend was Sebastián Poet. The Argentine fly half had his best match of the season thus far, slowing 19 points. In the Top 14 Benjamín Urdapilleta scored 16 points in Sunday’s win over Agen.

Chris Wyles
In England Chris Wyles continued to defy age as he again scored. The 34-year-old went over for what was Saracens’ decisive bonus point score against London Irish. The win takes the London-based club to the top of the standings in the Aviva Premiership. Wyles hung up his Eagles’ boots in 2015, doing so after playing his 54th and final test match. It was against Japan in a Rugby World Cup 2015 pool match. He scored a try in the match to end his outstanding test career appropriately.

Facundo Gigena
Facundo Gigena played against Japan on Friday. The uncapped Córdoba prop featured from the bench against a World XV. Aged 23, Gigena is a potential future Puma. He went through the PladAR system playing two Junior World Championships for Los Pumitas and featuring for the Argentina XV in the Americas Rugby Championship. He was included in the Jaguares roster for the 2016 Super Rugby campaign. He subsequently went on to appear in five matches. Yet to be capped by Argentina at senior level, his selection to take on Japan is a prime opportunity to push for higher honors. A spot under Mario Ledesma in Los Jaguares is realistic.

 

UNDER

Missing Cóndores
A significant number of senior players were absent from Chile’s provisional roster named for the November Internationals. Among the most notable are Bayonne forwards Ramón Ayarza and Pablo Huete, incumbent flyhalf Francisco González Moller, powerful midfield duo Simón Pardakhty and Matías Nordenflycht, and the Fernández brothers Martín and Rodrigo. It remains to be seen whether these players will be added to the roster. González Moller is currently in Australia playing club rugby.

Manuel Carizza
Former Puma Manuel Carizza was red carded on Saturday. Playing as a replacement second-rower for Racing 92 the 33-year-old veteran of 47 test matches was sent off in the 75th minute. Having entered the match in just the 72nd minute his contribution was a mere three minutes before being red carded for foul play. Bordeaux’ Sebastien Taofifenua was simultaneously red carded. Earlier in the match France’s Fijian flier, Virimi Vakatawa was also red carded for a shocking tackle. His involvement in the November Internationals appears to be over.

Ramiro Herrera
Argentina’s list of players not eligible for international duty is growing. The latest entrant is Ramiro Herrera. The Patagonia prop takes up his contract with Stade Français in November. This means that he has not been considered for Argentina’s tour to England, Italy and Ireland. It leaves the under pressure Daniel Hourcade with one player less for the tour. Herrera is at the top of the list of Argentine Tight Head props but this does not matter as the UAR only selects from players playing their rugby in Argentina.

Patricio Fernández
Sidelined through injury is Patricio Fernandez. The Rosario fly half is badly needed back to fitness for Clermont. The club lost Camille Lopez to injury one week ago. His return will not happen until late April at the very earliest. Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw is also out of action until 2018. This leaves Clermont with no ffit fly halves. The solution is the academy. Though Nicolás Sánchez was approached and turned down Clermont’s offer.

Bundee Aki
New Zealander Bundee Aki is now Irish-qualified and set to play against Argentina. After completing three years under contract at Connacht in the Guinness Pro 14, the center has been selected by Ireland. This may at first to appear to be just yet another case of a powerful union taking advantage of the laws. Indeed this is exactly what Ireland has done. Aki was precisely a Project Player, a vision to have him become Irish after 36 months. Yet what is shockingly concerning is that Aki is the same player who upon signing to play in Ireland declared: “If I play three years over there and it doesn’t go well, I can always go back to Samoa”. He is qualified for Samoa via the parent law. Make no mistake the Five Year Eligibility change, coming post 2019, is needed to end such abuse by players and unions.

La Plata, Atlético del Rosario
The 22nd and final round of the URBA Top 12 season was played this past weekend. It confirmed the Semi Finals which are to be Pucará vs Hindú and SIC vs Alumni. Both fixtures will be played on Saturday November 04 at CASI. On the flip side La Plata and Atlético del Rosario were both relegated. They will play one division lower in 2018. Regatas must win the repechage battle against San Albano to remain in the URBA Top 12.