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

USA Men’s Sevens
For the first time in their history the Men’s Eagles are on top of the world. They were defeated by Fiji in the Cup Final at Cape Town but their two-tournament total of 38 points is one higher than New Zealand. While the finale was ultimately a disappointment, their performance otherwise was excellent with Madison Hughes and Danny Barrett earning Dream Team selection.

Nathan Hirayama, Justin Douglas
The two Canadians reached historic scoring marks at the Cape Town Sevens. Hirayama became just the fourth person in HSBC Sevens Series history to reach the 1,500 points plateau. In the same game against Wales Douglas scored two tries to become Canada’s all-time leading try-scorer on the circuit, passing Sean Duke. Hirayama is just behind with 123. 

Major League Rugby
It was a busy week on the transaction front as the 2019 MLR season fast approaches. Dan Moor went to the Arrows, Chris Mattina and Paddy Ryan to New York, Sebastián Kalm to Austin, Roland Suniula to Seattle, and Victor Comptat to Houston. A number of others were revealed by ARN with Huluholo Mo’ungaloa one of the incoming Utah signings and Peni Tagive among several Austin arrivals, while Djustice Sears-Duru will play for the Seawolves.

Uruguay
After a rest following the November Internationals it is back to business today for Los Teros. Uruguay’s top domestic talent will resume their preparation for RWC 2019 today at the Centro Charrúa in Montevideo. The players will undergo a rigorous two week physical training regime to close out 2018. It is to be directed at what lies ahead in 2019, a year beginning with the Americas Rugby Championship and culminating with the World Cup in Japan.

Juan Imhoff
Imhoff had another strong performance in the Champions Cup, scoring a try on Sunday. It gave Racing 92 a home win over the Leicester Tigers and furthers the Parisian outfit as France’s best bet for a title this season in Europe. On a personal note the score saw Imhoff become Argentina’s first player to 100 professional tries across club and international appearances.

Facundo Isa
This past week saw the Santiago del Estero No8 signing a new contract to extend his stay in France for an additional three years. It will see him staying in the South of France well beyond RWC 2019 until at least June 2022, one season before RWC 2023. The option will be open for a return to Argentina at that point. Isa is the heavy favorite to be recalled to Pumas duty ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Santiago Cordero
The flying Exeter winger has been in blistering form this season and that continued on the weekend as Cordero set a new Champions Cup record with 17 players beaten against Gloucester. Cordero is also currently leading the Premiership in defenders beaten and clean breaks, is tied for 2nd in offloads, and is 3rd in meters gained. With Imhoff considered a certainty and incumbent Pumas wingers Ramiro Moyano and Bautista Delguy both in top form this year, there has never been greater competition for spots among Argentine outside backs.

UNDER

Manuel Carizza
At the age of 34 the former Pumas lock has retired. A professional player non-stop since 2005, Carizza hung up his boots on Saturday. His final match saw his starting for Lyon against the Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup. His long career saw titles with Biarritz, and Racing 92 in France and Europe and in South Africa for Western Province. For Argentina Carizza was a vital player over a long period. He earned 46 caps, firmly holding down a starting position in the second-row during the Santiago Phelan tenure.

Juan Pablo Orlandi
Also returning this week was Orlandi, doing so at the age of 35. The Mendoza native was a Puma from 2008-2015, and had the distinction of playing in a winning effort to get Argentina into the RWC 2015 Semi Finals. The tighthead prop had a long career as a professional in Europe, doing so after leaving Marista. He would play in Italy (Brescia, Rovigo), France (Racing 92, Pau, Bayonne) and England (Bath and Newcastle). He earned 20 caps for Argentina. 

Jaguares 2019 Roster
Yet to be confirmed is the Jaguares playing roster for 2019. The season gets underway in two months time with the preseason beginning in under a month. Those involved with Los Pumas this year are presently on their off-season and are to be joined by both new faces and names left out of the European tour. Who are these players? Among the central questions are who will be the options at flyhalf and will Agustín Creevy remain a Jaguar in 2019 or possibly return to Europe.

Super Rugby Expansion
A firm no has been given to Super Rugby expansion. This past week saw the Pacific Islands Super Rugby franchise bid declined. The governing body of the competition and of the Rugby Championship – SANZAAR – has officially rejected expanding the competition. At present Super Rugby includes teams from five countries – Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa. Of those only Japan is not a member of SANZAAR.

Six Nations Referee Appointments
The appointments for the Six Nations have been named, and it is now confirmed that the final World Cup referees will be chosen from the list of 14. This means that no referees from the Americas will take the middle in Japan. Argentina’s leading official – Federico Anselmi – has been nominated as an assistant, a role he was also assigned to at RWC 2015. Not since 2003 have the Americas had a referee at the world’s most prestigious event. Pablo Deluca Sr. was one of 16 referees in Australia at RWC 2003.