Brazil come close to upsetting Spain

Brazil came close to upsetting Spain this evening, losing 22-16 in Osasco, Greater São Paulo. The occasion marked just the second test match between the countries. In the first Spain were convincing winners at home by 67-38 in Spain in 2017.

This evening was a very different game of rugby. The result was the same with Spain coming out on top yet it went down to the wire with Brazil having an opportunity to win the match with time up.

Early-on the signs were that Spain would run away with a dominant win. They quickly found their way to and over the try line via Julen Goia. The right winger’s try came from a neat kick through from fly half David Mélé.

Following his successful conversion Mélé would then add a 10th minute penalty to give Spain a 10-0 lead after as many minutes. The signs were ominous for Os Tupis.

Yet as has been in the case in recent times Brazil is not a side to fold under pressure despite being quickly behind. This was again the case against Spain as two Josh Reeves penalties made it a 10-6 scoreline.

Spain would respond to score their second try with left winger Jordi Jorba scoring from an attacking scrum. Los Leones appeared in a frame of mind that it had given them control. Yet in their next attack their carelessly threw the ball away enabling Reeves to kick and Daniel Sancery to chase and score a gift try.

The score officially marked game on though Spain would, once again, respond swiftly. Their next try would be their last with scrum-half Facundo Munilla darting over to give Spain a 22-13 lead.

The score would be Spain’s last while all Brazil would succeed in coming up with in the second half was a penalty. It came from a scrum, the area of play in which Brazil would indeed control.

With neither side able to score Os Tupis would have an unlikely shot at victory in the final stages. Los Leones’ early dominance suddenly counted for nothing as Brazil was inside the Spanish 22 and kicked for the corner for an attacking line-out. Rather than go for a maul they passed to the backs only to knock-on as the referee blew for full-time.

Despite being a close match and one between two reputable sides it was not a match that the CBRu will be very pleased about. Only 417 spectators were at the venue.

The June Internationals will continue for both Brazil, and Spain next weekend. Os Tupis will play against Romania in Jundiaí while Los Leones travel west to face Chile in Santiago. Earlier today Chile hosted Romania with the Eastern Europeans coming out as the winners.

 

SCORING

BRAZIL (16)
Try: Sancery
Conversion: Reeves
Penalty: Reeves (3)

SPAIN (22)
Try: J Goia, Jorba, Munilla
Conversion: Mélé
Penalty: Mélé

 

TEAMS

BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud, 2 Wilton Rebolo, 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Matteo Dell’Acqua, 5 Luiz Vieira, 6 Cléber Dias, 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 De Wet van Niekerk, 13 Lorenzo Massari, 14 Lucas Tranquez, 15 Daniel Sancery (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Yan Rosetti, 17 João Talamini, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Lucas Piero, 21 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 22 Moisés Duque, 23 Robert Tenório

SPAIN
1 Fernando López (capt.), 2 Steve Barnes, 3 Alberto Blanco, 4 Manuel Mora, 5 Mike Walker-Fitton, 6 Victor Sánchez, 7 Oier Goer, 8 Afa Tauli, 9 Facundo Munilla, 10 David Mélé, 11 Jordi Jorba, 12 Álvar Gimeno, 13 Ignacio Contardi, 14 Julen Goia, 15 Richard Stewart

Replacements: 16 Thierry Feuteu, 17 Vicente del Hoyo, 18 Mattius Pisapia, 19 Ien Ascroft-Leigh, 20 Michael Hogg, 21 Tomás Munilla, 22 Emiliano Calle Rivas, 23 Federico Casteglioni

 

Attendance: 417