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.

UP

Uruguay
Uruguay have secured an impressive four-match schedule for their November tour to Europe. Included are two exhibition matches against Guinness Pro 14 sides Ulster and the Cardiff Blues and a pair of test matches against high quality opposition – Fiji and Romania. The match against Fiji is to be a preview of their RWC 2019 pool match in Kamaishi, Japan. The closing match against Romania will be a tough assignment. Had Romania not have breached the player eligibility laws they would have played in the tournament opener of RWC 2019 in Tokyo.

Felipe Berchesi, Pablo Huete
Uruguay’s leading fly half has secured his playing future in France. Felipe Berchesi has signed a new one-year contract to remain at Dax. While the club will play in the Fédérale 1 rather than Pro D2 this coming season the deal nonetheless ensures regular rugby for the Teros 10 at a higher level than that in his homeland. For Uruguay it ensures additional opportunities for a homebased player to pick up a pro contract with the URU. Chilean Pablo Huete joins Berchesi at Dax for the 2018-2019 season.

Prairie Wolfpack
Grant Crowell was the hero on Friday. His try in stoppage time gave the Prairie Wolf Pack a 27-24 win over the BC Bears in Canadian Rugby Championship action at Calgary Rugby Park. The score saw the Wolfpack going a staggering 95 meters with time expired to earn the win. The two teams will play again at Klahanie Park in Vancouver on Saturday, August 4.

Tokyo 2020
Rugby 7’s is to feature in the opening week of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the IOC confirmed this past week. It is to be a repeat from the 2016 Olympic Games but, more importantly, it is a positive outcome for the sport. Not only has Rugby 7’s been given a good time slot but it will also have plenty of exposure there are to be a total of six match days for the Men’s and Women’s competitions. They are to be organized into two daily sessions and will be played from July 27 to August 01 2020.

Juan Imhoff
How much longer can Argentina play without their best winger? The all-time top try scorer for Argentina at RWCs has not played a test match since RWC 2015. In his place Los Pumas have fielded Jaguares players, including players out of position. The quality of those to have worn the Pumas 11 shirt has not matched that of Imhoff who has continued to impress for Racing 92. This was evident again on Saturday when he played in a 2018-2019 pre-season match against Brazil. He scored a trademark try with his support line and pace combining brilliantly yet so effortlessly.

Sudamérica Rugby Sevens Circuit
The Sudamérica Rugby Sevens Circuit will continue in 2019. The next installment will see two legs taking place in January with Punta del Este, Uruguay and Viña del Mar, Chile being the hosts. 2019 marks the third season of the regional circuit. With success from the first and second editions the third is certain to again be highly competitive and to involve a range of countries both from South America and around the world.

UNDER

Brazil
Brazil managed to score a try against Racing 92 on Saturday but it was little consolation as they fell to a heavy defeat. As impressive as Lucas Tranquez’ score was the match was a reminder of the vast gulf that still exists to see Brazil rise to become a Tier 2 country overtime. Racing 92 was able to give their wider roster members plenty of game time and it did not have an impact on proceedings as they were easily the better of the two teams. There is a fundamental gap between being fully professional and semi-professional.

Super 16
A lot of praise has been given to the management of Brazil Rugby. The national Men’s side has achieved massive progress following the creation of the Americas Rugby Championship. Both the Men’s and Women’s 7’s teams have also continued to produce notable results. Yet the state of the domestic competition in 2018 is ugly. The brand-new format has four pools of four teams with the pools being relatively regionally organized. After two rounds it is clear the format should not be repeated for 2019.

Argentina XV
A second half flop from the Argentina XV resulted in a 23-22 defeat against the Georgia XV on Saturday. In what was the opening match of the inaugural Rugby Summer Cup, the Argentina XV were again humbled. A 15 point first half lead would be eroded by the Georgia XV who also kept the Argentina XV scoreless in the second half. It need not be dressed-up as the reality was clear for all watching the match – the Argentina XV were out played. It is time for the UAR to take action and ensure the team playing as Argentina’s ‘A’ side is the genuine article. Far too many players involved are not close to being in the frame as reserves for the Rugby Championship.

Jaguares Fly Halves
Argentina’s Super Rugby franchise, Los Jaguares officially does not have a fly half. Veteran Juan Martín Hernández retired earlier this year while Nicolás Sánchez will join Stade Français in November. This means the options, as they stand, for 2019 are part time roster member Joaquín Díaz Bonilla or the out of favor center Santiago González Iglesias. Needless to say Los Jaguares will need to add two fly half options for the 2019 season. The Argentina XV is not helping matters. Prior to quitting Daniel Hourcade had named four locals as possibilities for Los Pumas – Díaz Bonilla, González Iglesias, Domingo Miotti, and Juan Daireaux. None of the four started against the Georgia XV on Saturday.