Uruguay hold on to beat Spain in second test

Uruguay survived a tense second half to come away with a 19-10 victory over Spain in Montevideo on Friday evening. While the victory makes up for the defeat in the first test, the Leones claim the series on points differential by an aggregate score of 42-39.

Federico Favaro scored all 19 points for Los Teros though it can’t be said that the winger was in perfect form. He missed three kickable shots at goal including his first penalty attempt in the second minute. Favaro redeemed himself with two successful kicks before the first try was scored.

With Spain looking very sluggish in the first half, Uruguay looked to play at a higher tempo and it was finally rewarded with a try in the 34th minute. Felipe Etcheverry’s counter-attack put Andrés Vilaseca into space, and then quick hands from Gastón Mieres put Favaro into the corner.

The game dissolved into a mess just before halftime. Spain lock Victor Sanchez was shown yellow for pulling down Felipe Aliaga in the lineout, and then an off-the-ball fracas landed both Matt Foulds and Nicolás Freitas in the bin.

Despite being short-handed it was Spain who came out with the most energy to start the second half. David Mélé landed a penalty goal and then Julen Goia somehow found a hole in the Uruguayan defense to sprint in for a seven-pointer.

A third yellow card for Spain went to lock Manuel Mora but Favaro missed the ensuing penalty. He would come correct just after the hour mark before a critical moment came in the game.

Etcheverry’s clearance attempt from his own in-goal left the Leones with a perfect counter-attacking opportunity, but Kerman Aurrekoetxea’s late challenge on the Uruguayan flyhalf instead resulted in a 60-meter turnaround. Favaro opted for a long-range shot at goal and landed to clinch the win for Los Teros.

It remains to be seen when the two teams will take the field again due to ongoing uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Los Teros will be pleased to have built some depth but there will be concern over some positions, particularly the tight five with several World Cup players absent.

 

SCORING

URUGUAY 19
Tries – F. Favaro (34’)
Cons – F. Favaro 1/1 (35’)
Pens – F. Favaro 4/7 (5’, 28’, 64’, 73’)
Yellow cards – N. Freitas (40’)

SPAIN 10
Tries – J. Goia (47’)
Cons – D. Mélé 1/1 (48’)
Pens – D. Mélé 1/1 (41’)
Yellow cards – V. Sanchez (38’), M. Foulds (40’), M. Mora (52’)

 

TEAMS

URUGUAY
1 Matías Benítez (16 Facundo Gattas 51’), 2 Guillermo Pujadas (18 Ignacio Péculo 70’), 3 Diego Arbelo (17 Mateo Perillo 79’), 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Juanjuan Garese, 6 Manuel Ardao (19 Leandro Segredo 77’), 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Diana (20 Eric Dosantos 68’), 9 Guillermo Lijtenstein (21 Ignacio Rodríguez 77’), 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Rodrigo Silva, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Nicolás Freitas (23 Agustín Della Corte 52’), 14 Federico Favaro, 15 Gastón Mieres (22 José Iruleguy 37’)

SPAIN
1 Fernando López (capt.) (16 Leandro Wozniak 65’), 2 Vicente Del Hoyo (17 Steve Barnes 59’), 3 Andrés Álvarado (18 Joël Merkler 65’), 4 Manuel Mora (19 Mike Walker-Fitton 62’), 5 Victor Sánchez, 6 Matt Foulds, 7 Fred Quercy (20 Oier Goia 67’), 8 Afa Tauli, 9 Facundo Munilla (21 Kerman Aurrekoetxea 54’), 10 David Mélé (22 Daniel Barranco 55’), 11 Julen Goia, 12 Gonzalo Vinuesa, 13 Andrea Rábago, 14 Ignacio Contardi (23 Baltazar Taibo HT), 15 Richard Stewart

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)