Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week.

 

UP

South American 4 Nations
Argentina’s next-of XV will compete in the South American 4 Nations next month in Montevideo. The only capped player is Javier Díaz. Nine players from Los Pumas’ training regime are among the 30 traveling to Montevideo. Three of them are Jaguares: Tomás Albornoz, Javier Díaz, and Bautista Pedemonte. The six others are Lucas Bur, Juan Pablo Castro, Juan Bautista Daireaux, Gonzalo García, Rodrigo Fernández Criado, and Ignacio Ruíz.

Old Christians
In the final play of the match, Old Christians secured a 20-15 victory over Old Boys in Uruguay’s El Clásico. The fixture was a round five match in the Uruguayo de Clubes. The fixture had plenty of charm to it, including the involvement of RWC 2019 players Juan Echeverría, Manuel Ardao, Manuel Diana, Federico Favaro, Andrés Vilaseca, Juan Manuel Cat, Santiago Civetta and captain Juan Manuel Gaminara.

Juan Imhoff
The Argentine winger continues on his winning ways. Imhoff started for Racing 92 who were away winners over Clermont in their Champions Cup Quarter Final. The outcome sees the Parisians into the final four. Racing 92 will be up against Saracens. The second Semi Final will be contested between the Exeter Chiefs and Toulouse.

Facundo Isa, Santiago Cordero, Guido Petti
Saturday was a notable day for Rugby Championship hopefuls. Isa was a replacement in Toulon’s win over the Scarlets. His impact was crystal clear as he carried like a rampaging bull. It was notably what Argentina lacked at RWC 2019. Another to miss Ledesma’s roster was Cordero. He showed his speed and finishing expertise to score against Edinburgh. Petti impressed in the same match. He won line-out turnovers and was busy in general play for Bordeaux.

Taylor Paris, Manuel Leindekar
There was an Uruguayan battle in France on Friday. Teros forwards Germán Kessler and Manuel Leindekar started on opposite teams in Charente vs Oyonnax. It was the visiting team who were 16-8 winners. Leindekar was joined by Taylor Paris. The Canadian flyer scored the only try for the winning side.

Segundo Tuculet
Also scoring in the Pro D2 was Segundo Tuculet. The younger brother of retired Pumas fullback Joaquín Tuculet was a second-half try scorer for Valence Romans. Valence Romans were 32-24 home winners over Carcassonne. Tuculet started at fullback while RWC 2019 back Lucas Mensa started at outside center.

Kate Daley and Maria Gallo
Daley and Gallo are two North American coaches on the rise. They have been awarded internships by World Rugby for the lead-in to Rugby World Cup 2021. It means they will spend more time with their respective national teams ahead of the flagship competition with funding provided by the world governing body. This is a good initiative though perhaps simply calling them development grants would have been more appropriate than ‘internship’ given both are already on staff.

Phil Mack
After being effectively released by the Seawolves due to budget cuts, Mack has found a new home and it looks a perfect fit. The long-time international star will continue his coaching progress alongside Jamie Cudmore at the Pacific Pride. Mack will be able to keep his young family in Victoria and his winning mentality will rub off on the best of Canada’s future talent.

Kate Zackary, Gabby Cantorna, Jennine Duncan
The Eagles trio are set to fly in the United Kingdom with Exeter Chiefs. Current USA captain and flanker Kate Zackary will make the move from San Diego, with flyhalf Gabby Cantorna and winger Jennine Duncan also ready to test themselves in the Premier 15s. It’s ideal preparation for all ahead of RWC 2021.

Women’s Eagles Training Camp
Speaking of ideal preparation, the Women’s Eagles kicked off an unprecedented eight-week intensive training camp this past weekend at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado. A total of 59 players will be involved either for the duration or in two eight-day mini-camps. Rob Cain & Co. are making up for lost time after the international calendar was ravaged by COVID-19.

Miami Sun
Three more teams have been confirmed for the upcoming World Tens Series taking place in Bermuda. Previously announced Ohio Aviators and SX10 will be joined by the Asia Pacific Dragons, London Royals, and an entirely new American side – the Miami Sun. Little is know about the Miami side at this point but and it’s not clear if there is a connection to rumors of a potential MLR team in the iconic city.

 

UNDER

Jaguares Flankers Production
Marcos Kremer and Guido Petti are both world class players, ideally second-rowers who can play flanker. Kremer plays on the side of the scrum almost permanently now though he was a lock when he arrived at the Jaguares. It highlights a point: Mario Ledesma’s flanker options are not deep. No Argentina XV flankers are capped and Tomás Lezana is the only Argentine-based player in the Rugby Championship picture with text experience. No8’s Javier Ortega Desio and Rodrigo Bruni are likely to join him in Australia as are the uncapped Francisco Gorrissen and Santiago Grondona.

Jaguares
Also coming in in Under this week is Los Jaguares in general. There is yet to be a decision as to what 2021 will involve for the Argentine Super Rugby franchise. While the wait continues the roster continues to shrink. Joaquín Díaz Bonilla is the latest to go; his destination being the Leicester Tigers. Tomás Cubelli’s move to Australia is expected in a matter of days and others are expected to join him in Perth. Moreover, Toulouse are in talks with Javier Ortega Desio and Racing 92 with Emiliano Boffelli.

RWC 2023 Draw
New Zealand’s Head Coach wants World rugby to suspend world rankings. Ian Foster has called-upon the sport’s governing body to do so due to the ongoing doubt over international competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainties have resulted in speculation that world champions, South Africa should pull out of the Rugby Championship. Playing may see a fall in the rankings, a potential disaster given that the world rankings, on December 14, will determined RWC 2023 seedings.

Castres in Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup Quarter Final between Leicester Tigers and Castres Olympique scheduled for Sunday was called off. European Rugby opted to cancel the game completely after three members of the Castres club tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. Due to play in the match were five Americas players. Leicester had named Pumas star Tomás Lavanini at lock with uncapped Argentine prop Facundo Gigena on the bench. Castres named Canadian pair Matt Tierney and Tyler Ardron in the pack with another Puma in Benjamín Urdapilleta starting at flyhalf.

Pro 14 Momentum
All Pro 14 teams lost this past weekend in Europe. No team from the league was able to win a knockout match in either the European Champions Cup or Challenge Cup. Meanwhile the Pro 14 final – predictably dominated by Leinster – passed by with little interest from media outside the competing teams. The competition is also under a cloud of uncertainty with the Cheetahs and Kings seemingly set to be dumped permanently yet with a new season just around the corner no clarity on the situation has been offered. For a league that has been home to some of the world’s best players, some upward movement in momentum is desperately needed.

Seattle Seawolves
It was another sluggish week in MLR signings but there were a couple moves worth mentioning. Perhaps most notable was Jérémy Lenaerts moving from Seattle to Houston. The hard-working second row played a significant role for the Seawolves and will soon become a favorite for SaberCats fans. Meanwhile the Free Jacks signed a second South African prop in Kings loosehead Xandré Vos, and Jamie Dever moved from San Diego to DC to help the ailing Old Glory scrum.