Nieto Hat-trick Sees Uruguay Overcome Namibia in Windhoek

Uruguay overcame Namibia in Windhoek, winning 52-36 this afternoon. They did so with veteran no 8, Alejandro Nieto running in a hat-trick. The match was just the second in history between the countries. In coming away with a victory Los Teros now hold a 2-0 record.

The countries are similar in rugby terms for a number of reasons. Being the second ranked in their respective continental reasons and Rugby World Cup debuts in 1999 are cases in point. Their paths to qualifying for Rugby World Cups are vastly different though.

With the Africa 1 side qualifying directly unlike the South America 1 team it gives Namibia a far easier journey. In defeating the Africans today in Windhoek World Rugby have been sent a signal that alternative paths may better serve the sport.

A lack of opportunity outside of South America has plagued Uruguay for a long time. The creation of the Americas Rugby Championship has seen this altered as now both Canada and the USA face Uruguay annually.

Entrance into the tournament has benefited everybody. Like Brazil and Chile, Uruguay are now fully involved in the November Internationals. Indeed today’s win was Uruguay’s first playing outside of South American since 2011. The previous win was back in 2011 when Los Teros won 16-9 against Portugal.

Uruguay’s win was convincing in the end. Yet at one point it looked as if Uruguay would win by a lot more points. The opposite is true as there was a point in the second half in which Namibia came close to capturing Los Teros to record an unlikely come-from-behind victory.

Early on it was one-way traffic. A dominant early display for Uruguay gave the South Americans a 24-0 lead. Mateo Sanguinetti and Rodrigo Silva both crossed for early tries, both of which were converted by Federico Favaro. The right winger also landed an early penalty which was in response to Namibia’s opening points from the boot of Cliven Loubser.

Any signs of the match settling down thereafter were squashed as the teams traded tries. No 8 Alejandro Nieto went over for Los Teros while Darryl de la Harpe responded for the Africans. Both were converted.

With the first half coming to a close both teams miraculously found ways to score again. Nieto crossed for his second of the afternoon and Favaro continued his fine goal-kicking performance. Captain Rohan Kitshoff cancelled out the try with Loubser adding the extras.

The 31-17 half time advantage was deserved. But kicking-on and completing a victory would require additional strong work. Uruguay looked to be on course in the 50th minute. Nieto again stormed over, to complete his hat-trick.

Favaro slotted the goal to give Uruguay a 38-17 lead. Yet rather than providing comfort it resulted in the Namibians responded with fury. Three back-to-back tries from JC Greyling, AJ de Klerk and Johann Tromp sliced the lead. Loubser converted one as did replacement Theuns Kotzé.

With Namibia now trailing 38-36 Uruguay needed to dig deep. They managed to do so with fly half Rodrigo Silva and replacement prop Carlos Arboleya both scoring to take Los Teros past 50 points. Favaro’s outstanding performance continued as he converted both tries to finish with a 100% kicking record.

Uruguay’s win takes Los Teros to a 1-0 position in the two match series. A win again in seven days time will see Uruguay completing a remarkable series victory. Game two is to be at the same venue next Saturday.

 

SCORING

NAMIBIA 35
Tries – D. de la Harpe (28′), R. Kitshoff (40′), J. Greyling (56′), A. de Klerk (63′), J. Tromp (72′)
Cons – C. Loubser 3/4 (29′, 40′, 64′), T. Kotzé 1/1 (73′)
Pens – C. Loubser 1/1 (21′)

URUGUAY 52
Tries – M. Sanguinetti (4′), R. Silva 2 (13′, 76′), A. Nieto 3 (23′, 36′, 52′), C. Arboleya (80′)
Cons – F. Favaro 7/7 (5′, 14′, 24′, 37′, 53′, 77′, 80′)
Pens – F. Favaro 1/1 (18′)

 

TEAMS

NAMIBIA
1 Collen Smith (17 Casper Viviers HT), 2 Obert Nortje (16 Niel van Vuuren 53′), 3 AJ de Klerk (18 Nelius Theron 73′), 4 Mahepisa Tjeriko (19 Johan Retief 27′), 5 Ruan Ludick, 6 Rohan Kitshoff (capt.), 7 Thomasau Forbes (20 Max Katjijeko 64′), 8 Christo van der Merwe, 9 Damian Stevens (21 TC Kisting 73′), 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 David Philander (22 Theuns Kotzé 60′), 12 Darryl de la Harpe, 13 JC Greyling, 14 Lesley Klim, 15 Johann Tromp (23 Justin Newman 77′)

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (18 Matías Benítez 73′), 2 Germán Kessler (16 Carlos Pombo 68′), 3 Juan Echeverría (17 Carlos Arboleya 73′), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Rodolfo Garese (20 Diego Magno 57′), 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Manuel Diana (21 Franco Lamanna 65′), 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Santiago Arata (22 Agustín Ormaechea HT), 10 Rodrigo Silva, 11 Gastón Gibernau (23 Agustín Della Corte 71′), 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Nicolás Freitas, 14 Federico Favaro, 15 Gastón Mieres

Not used: 19 Diego Ayala

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Egon Seconds (SARU)
Assistants: Rasta Rasivhenge (SARU) & Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU)