Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week. Due to the unusually high content of rugby at the moment this week’s Up and Under is a longer than usual edition.

UP

Uruguay
The RWC 2019 bound Uruguay defeated Chile at the Estadio de La Pintana in Santiago on Saturday. Nine tries were scored, their most ever against Los Cóndores. The final score read 67-15, also setting records in points scored and points differential. Manuel Diana scored a hat-trick while Federico Favaro bagged a double. Remarkably both players were called-in due to injuries. They were not involved in defeating Canada in Vancouver and Montevideo. The bonus point victory means that Los Teros still have an outside chance to claim the ARC title.

USA
The USA scored a convincing 45-16 win over Brazil at the Estádio Martins Pereira on Saturday. It keeps the Eagles’ undefeated ARC campaign alive. The North Americans are now just one match away from claiming a historic ARC Grand Slam. Mike Te’o scored early and further scores followed, keeping Brazil out of the game. This would not be a repeat of the 2016 shock loss by the Eagles against Brazil. All that now stands between the Eagles and back-to-back titles is Uruguay. A win, draw, or two-point loss will be good enough to lift the trophy.

Argentina XV
A 40-15 win by the Argentina XV over Canada gives them a shot at the ARC title. They will need help from Uruguay to be crowned champions but have recovered well from their opening round defeat against the USA.  A feature of the win was the impressive showing of players new in the set-up. Lucas Mensa had a fine performance at fly half, Santiago Álvarez, Juan Cruz Mallía and Santiago Resino also delivered in the backs. Back-rowers Mariano Romanini and Santiago Montagner are surely knocking on Los Jaguares’ doors. The Argentina will finish their 2018 ARC against Brazil next weekend.

South American Professional Rugby
A professional league for South American rugby is becoming a reality. Plans are for the new competition to start in 2019. It would be an 8-team competition involving yet to be identified sides from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. Involved would be the same players from the Americas Rugby Championship. The competition would therefore attend to the needs of all four unions and of the players themselves. There is also a vision to having the competition work together with Major League Rugby to have the north and south involved in a second competition.

Andrés Vilaseca
A dream debut as stand-in captain for Uruguay is what Andrés Vilaseca had in captaining his country. The 26-year-old  from Montevideo’s Old Boys club, took over from Juan Manuel Gaminara. The regular captain of Uruguay was ruled-out through injury as was Alejandro Nieto who captained the team against Brazil. Valise not only had big boots to fill but also had to make due without Tight Head Mario Sagario, scrum-half Santiago Arata, winger Nicolás Freitas and Uruguay’s European-Based players. Valise earned his 40th cap in Saturday’s victory.

Houston Sabercats
The Houston SaberCats made history once again on Saturday evening when they defeated the New Orleans Gold 30-12 at Constellation Field. It was the first ever match between two Major League Rugby franchises, a match played at high tempo in front of nearly 2,700 strong. Both the attendance and caliber of rugby on display in the preseason fixture bode well for the future of the nascent competition. It was Houston’s 8th game already in 2018 and saw them completing another victory. Next week they face the Ontario Arrows, a Canadian side looking to join Major League Rugby in the future.

Argentine Hookers in Europe
Agustín Creevy being the mainstay hooker for Los Pumas and Los Jaguares has seen paper thin opportunities in the position for both teams. The problem is worsened by Julián Montoya, Creevy’s understudy. Montoya is, by all accounts, an outstanding deputy. The Argentina XV has quality hookers and the same is true of Argentine hookers abroad. In the Top 14 Facundo Bosch is having an outstanding season for Agen. In the Aviva Premiership Santiago Socino is going from strength to strength while Tomás Baravalle’ move to the Guinness Pro 14 has been highly successful.

South American Players in the Top 14
Facundo Bosch contributed heavily to Agen’s shock win over Stade Français on Saturday. The same is true of Axel Muller who scored a try for Oyonnax who miraculously went to Clermont and won. Down in Castres Benjamín Urdapilleta and Rodrigo Capó Ortega were also stand-out performers in their team’s win over Lyon. Such performances underline the need to rethink the selection policy used by Argentina. Blocking players from international duty due on them playing abroad has caused great harm. Indeed Capó Ortega’s return for Uruguay against Canada was nothing short of inspirational.

UNDER

Brazil
A repeat of the 2016 win did not happen this weekend. Instead the USA outscored the Brazilians but eight tries to one. That is a quintessential hammering. Brazil’s attack and defense were both problematic with the Eagles outplaying them across the board. Not helping matters was poor discipline from Os Tupis. The red card last weekend against Canada did not result in the team improving in this regard. Instead Stefano Giantorino, Diego López and Jardel Vettorato were all yellow carded. Brazil has a lot to do to avoid an even bigger loss against the Argentina XV next weekend.

Canada
A loss by 25 points against the Argentina XV is not what Canada needs nine months before do-or-die RWC repechage qualification. The task of successfully qualifying for Japan 2019 will involve stiff competition. Either Romania or Samoa is extremely likely to be fighting against Canada for the spot. Canada will be boosted by having all players involved. Yet of the team that faced the Argentina many are front-line players. This includes the two try scorers in Jujuy – Ray Barkwill and Phil Mack. Canada’s path to RWC 2019 has started. The core of the team will be the same.

Chile
A record defeat against Uruguay was how Chile’s Saturday went. Los Condores were outmatched in the forwards and the backs and the team’s poor discipline factored in too. Winger Matías Baldontín was yellow carded twice, therefore picking up a red card. Center Francisco de la Fuente was also yellow carded. Chile managed two tries in the match, Uruguay crossed for nine. Chile’s major problem is that the competition is above the level of the national side. More players need to be playing regularly at a higher level. When this happens Chile will obtain improved results.

Jaguares
Los Jaguares were hammered by the Lions on Saturday. Their 47-27 loss sees them opening the 2018 Super Rugby season with an 0-2 record. In neither match did the team obtain a bonus point. The heavy loss against the Lions came despite Los Jaguares having held an early 10-0 advantage. In the end the Lions won by six tries to three. Scoring for Los Jaguares were wingers Bautista Delguy and Emiliano Boffelli. Yet suggesting they had strong matches would not be accurate. Both players were guilty of errors on defense resulting in Lions tries. Overall it was a poor Jaguares performance. Two yellow cards did not help matters either.

Matías Orlando
Commonly regarded as the top performing Pumas back in the Rugby Championship from 2012-2015 is Marcelo Bosch. The Saracens mid-fielder earned his 39th, and final, cap for Argentina in RWC 2015. His successor has been Matías Orlando, a player straight into the team by virtue of playing for Los Jaguares. Indeed even though injury saw Orlando miss the entire 2016 Super Rugby campaign he was starting at 13 for Argentina in that year’s Rugby Championship. He has begun 2018 as a player looking far from one with 31 caps. Lacking attacking input of note and leaking line-breaks has been a feature of his play thus far. Meanwhile in the ARC Santiago Resino has been a standout for the Argentina XV.

Daniel Hourcade Staying
Speculation over the future of Daniel Hourcade as Los Pumas Head Coach, or not, appears to be over. While an official announcement over Hourcade as coach is set to come within weeks, it appears all but certain now that El Huevo will remain in charge until RWC 2019. Hourcade travelled to Japan last week to inspect the facilities that Argentina will play in during the tournament. Los Pumas, based on results following RWC 2015 tumbled down the World Rankings. This meant a disastrous draw for Los Pumas – playing in the Pool of Death. Hourcade has a 1-11 record in the Rugby Championship since RWC 2015. He has two wins over Italy and one over each of France, Japan, and Georgia during this period. No action has been taken to look for coaching alternatives.

Saracens, Clermont
Two of Europe’s most powerful teams today are Saracens and Clermont. Both have Americas players on their rosters today and have had leading players from years gone by. Amazingly both lost at home this weekend. Saracens fell 28-20 against the Leicester Tigers while Clermont lost 18-12 against Oyonnax. Any pundit willing to have placed a large bet on one of these outcomes will certainly have come away with a very strong financial return. Saracens are now five points adrift of the Exeter Chiefs while Clermont are, astoundingly, in 10th position facing the likelihood of missing the play-off’s.