Brazil beat Colombia to claim first South American title

Brazil have done it. After their superb win over the Argentina XV a week ago they have completed another first with their first ever South American title, winning the new Sudamericano 6 Naciones ‘A’. The Tupis scorched the Tucanes by 67-5 in São Paulo, scoring nine tries while conceding only one.

It took a while for Brazil to get going. They were unable to capitalise on scoring opportunities until an overthrow at a lineout gave Arthur Bergo a free shot at the line. That would be their only try of the half however, with two Josh Reeves penalties accounting for the 13-0 lead at the break.

Discipline proved an issue for both teams in the early going, particularly Brazil. The first yellow card went to Tucanes lock Jhon Carlos Álvarez for an intentional knock-on. A dramatic moment occurred just a couple minutes later when Jonatas Paulo, playing in his final game for the Tupis, was sent off for punching in a ruck. Cléber Dias was then shown yellow for his own intentional knock-on and Brazil were reduced to only 13 men almost to the break.

With the advantage Colombia pressed with the first half dragging well into injury time but the defense held. A Tucanes attack was hauled down just short of the line and Bergo beat the ruck to win a turnover and end the half.

After regrouping at the break the Tupis came out firing in the second half. Jardel Vettorato and Santiago Mejía did not return for their respective sides after being injured in the first half, but the fresh legs favored Brazil with Wilton Rebolo making an impact in the scrum.

A special moment came just a couple minutes after the break when João Luiz da Ros crossed to start a a flood of scores for Brazil. It was a fitting conclusion for ‘Ige’, who was due to retire last week but held on to win his record 67th and final cap for the Tupis.

Two quick scores from Moises Duque followed with one each to Gabriel Paganini, Lucas Tranquez, Daniel Sancery, Felipe Sancery, and finally De Wet van Niekerk. Colombia did manage to grab one consolation score near the end from replacement scrumhalf Óscar Forero to erase the zero on the scoreboard.

The historic occasion represents a time of transition for Brazilian rugby. Stepping away are veterans da Ros and Paulo with others likely to be follow while a new generation emerges such as Valentin Garcia, the midfielder who made his test debut as a replacement. In the meantime the celebrations will go on long into the São Paulo evening as the Tupis revel in their finest hour.

 

SCORING

BRAZIL 67
Tries – A. Bergo (9’), J. da Ros (43’), M. Duque 2 (46’, 50’), G. Paganini (55’), L. Tranquez (63’), D. Sancery (66’), F. Sancery (69’), D. van Niekerk (80’)
Cons – J. Reeves 8/9 (10’, 47’, 51’, 56’, 64’, 67’, 70’, 80’)
Pens – J. Reeves 2/2 (18’, 23’)
Yellow cards – C. Dias (29’)
Red cards – J. Paulo (27’)

COLOMBIA 5
Tries – Ó. Forero (73’)
Cons – J. Diosa 0/1
Pens – J. Diosa 0/2
Yellow cards – J. Alvarez (24’)

 

TEAMS

BRAZIL
1 Jonatas Paulo, 2 Yan Rosetti (capt.), 3 Jardel Vettorato (17 Wilton Rebolo HT), 4 Cléber Dias, 5 Gabriel Paganini, 6 Michael Moraes (18 Lucas Abud 31’), 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 João Luiz da Ros (20 André Arruda 60’), 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Lucas Tranquez, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery (23 Valentin Garcia 71’),14 Stefano Giantorno (22 De Wet van Niekerk 71’), 15 Daniel Sancery

Not used: 16 Luan Almeida, 19 Lucas Piero, 21 Will Broderick

COLOMBIA
1 Mauricio Espinal (17 Sebastián Arroyave 71’), 2 Jorge Álvarez, 3 Andrés Arango (16 Diego Posada), 4 Santiago Mejía (19 Danny Giraldo HT), 5 Jhon Carlos Álvarez, 6 Gerson Ortiz, 7 Diver Ceballos (20 Felipe Aguirre 75’), 8 Sebastián Mejía (capt.) (18 Camilo Cadavid 60’), 9 Julián Navarro (21 Óscar Forero 52’), 10 José Manuel Diosa, 11 Arley Urrutia, 12 Johan Ortiz, 13 Juan Dávila, 14 Maicol Machado, 15 Emmanuel Bedoya (22 Andrés Álvarez 52’)

Not used: 23 Santiago Morales

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (ARU)