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

Rugby World Cup 2019
RWC 2019 is done and dusted and with this being the case the conclusion can now be made as to the tournament. Attendance were strong; there were upsets; it was well hosted; and it likely left a legacy for rugby in Japan and East Asia. The tournament was a true success and a second Japan-hosted RWC will certainly happen, possibly within 20 years.

South Africa
With a victory over England by a 20-point margin South Africa were crowned RWC 2019 championship. The Springboks had a dominant display from the forwards and execution outside from the back-three and outside center to un in two tries to zero. In winning the RWC South Africa are three-time champions, matching the record of New Zealand. Yet in not having played in RWCs 1987 or 1991 South Africa are officially the greatest country in RWC history.

Uruguay
This past week saw Uruguay joining the World Rugby Council. In doing so the Unión de Rugby del Uruguay became the 52nd member of rugby’s global decision-making entity. It follows a monumental cycle in which Uruguay won Americas 2 to qualify for RWC 2019 ahead of Canada and went on to defeat Fiji in the tournament itself.

New Zealand
A strong evening from the All Blacks in Tokyo on Friday saw New Zealand claiming Bronze at RWC 2019. The Player of the Match performance went to Brodie Retallick who was strong as were many players. Among them was Ben Smith who ran in a hat-trick.

Japan
The categorization of Japan as a Tier 2 country is about to be ended. Tier 1 status was demonstrated at RWC 2019 wherein the Japanese won Pool A, defeating Russia, Ireland, Samoa, and Scotland. For 2020 Japan is set to host England in the July Internationals and tour England, Ireland, and Scotland in the November Internationals.

Joe Taufete’e
The excellence of Eagles hooker Joe Taufete’e was recognized this past week with him short-listed for World Rugby 2019 Player of the Year. He was one of six players up for the award and of them he was the only front-rower. Taufete’e broke the long-standing world record in 2019 for test match tries scored by a front-rower.

Tomás Baravalle
Another hooker from the Americas earns a place in UP this week. It is uncapped Argentine hooker Tomás Baravalle. He started for Benetton Treviso in the team’s 18-16 home win over Edinburgh in the Pro 14 on Saturday. Baravalle was a try scorer in the Italian side’s victory.

Tomás Lavanini, Facundo Gigena
Argentine forwards Tomás Lavanini and Facundo Gigena were replacements for the Leicester Tigers in their win over Gloucester on Saturday. Lavanini made his debut, doing so following the completion of his suspension for foul play against England. He came on to put in a solid performance, including leaving his impression felt with a solid and legal tackle as the supporters erupted in applause. Both he and Gigena are in the frame for international duty.

MLR Las Vegas
Ticket sales for Major League Rugby’s first ever venture into Las Vegas went live over the weekend. Five games will be played at Las Vegas Ballpark as part of a new initiative from the league to help break up the long stretches of home matches for eastern franchises where the weather precludes early season games from being hosted. A group in Las Vegas are understood to be in advanced talks to bring a franchise to Nevada, and there is speculation the team could be confirmed during the events in February.

 

UNDER

England
Having gone undefeated in the pool stage, and romped past Australia and New Zealand in the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals England were the odds-on favorite to win the RWC Final. Instead they were in trouble from the start and would be badly outplayed with weaknesses appearing at the scrum breakdown and fullback. England were comfortably the second best of the finalists.

Wales
The Dragons finished RWC 2019 with back-to-back defeats. They fell to a narrow loss against South Africa but were no match for New Zealand in the Bronze Final. With it the coaching career of Warren Gatland ends with three complete RWC cycles, including two fourth place finishes at RWCs. Despite falling short of RWC glory the progress made by the Western British side under Gatland has been immense.

Silver Dissatisfaction
Any time a team loses a final there is heartbreak yet there are appropriate and inappropriate pathways to accept the outcome. A number of England’s players took the latter route, refusing to wear their Silver Medals. It was hardly an example of the spirit of rugby and was lambasted on social media.