Up and Under

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

UP

USA Eagles July 2021 Internationals
The USA will play two Tier 1 nations during the upcoming July window. The Eagles will face England at Twickenham on July 4, with a date against Ireland at Aviva Stadium the following weekend. The two tests will be the first played by the Eagles since Rugby World Cup 2019. They are to, among other things, serve as preparations for the all-important RWC 2023 qualifiers against Canada later in the year.

Major League Rugby
This past weekend was special for Major League Rugby. All six games came down to the wire with every losing side collecting at least one bonus point. Even the almighty Giltinis were proved mortal on Sunday. That has only happened once before in league history, the opening weekend of the 2019 season when four games were played. As fans begin to trickle back into stadiums the standard on the field seems to rise every week.

Rugby United New York
New York receive special mention for being the first team to topple LA. They did what others could not – slowing down the Giltinis offense and conceding only a single try. It wasn’t the greatest game ever in terms of execution but there was plenty of drama and even some controversy, with an LA penalty goal that appeared to miss being awarded by the officials. In the end the better team on the day won and ten others were taking note.

Peñarol
Peñarol became the first team to qualify for an SLAR Final. The Uruguayan side booked their place with a 17-14 win over Selknam. It was a game of two halves; Peñarol scored all 17 first half points and Selknam scored all 14 second half points. Peñarol’s control of play lasted 30 minutes; thereafter, Selknam were the better side. It mattered not as Peñarol were 17 points ahead, enough to see them home.

Jaguares XV
Los Jaguares XV remain unbeaten. The Argentine SLAR entrant overcame a spirited Olímpia Lions in the second Semi Final. In their toughest match of the season, Los Jaguares XV were 29-17 winners. The win sets up an Uruguayan vs Argentine SLAR Final. Peñarol and Los Jaguares XV will meet in the historic game on Saturday.

Benjamín Urdapilleta
An Argentine is the leading point scorer in the Top 14. Benjamín Urdapilleta has 266 points in the ongoing Top 14 season. This is two more than Antoine Hastoy. Urdapilleta overtook Hastoy this past weekend. He scored 17 points for Castres in their 37-29 win over Lyon.

Tyler Duguid
It was a memorable Saturday for the 20-year-old Canadian lock, who made his Top 14 debut – and first senior professional start – for Montpellier. Duguid played 50 minutes in the upset win over 2nd-place La Rochelle, lining up alongside international stars Bismarck du Plessis, Fulgence Ouedraogo, and Johan Goosen. It positions Duguid as a certainty to make his test debut this year, with the July tests a legitimate possibility. The USA’s Titi Lamositele started at tighthead prop for Montpellier.

Americas Players in Europe
Lucas Mensa scored in Valence Romans’ 36-28 win over Nevers. Axel Muller scored an intercept-try in Brive’s 31-28 home defeat against Stade Français. Nicolás Sánchez was among the point scorers for the Parisians. Also on top form was Santiago Arata who partnered Urdapilleta for Castres. AJ MacGinty impressed with 16 points in Sale Sharks’ 26-10 win over the Leicester Tigers. Malon Al-Jiboori made his club debut Ealing Trailfinders against Richmond.

UNDER

Los Pumas en casa
Argentina’s 2021 schedule is forthcoming. It will involve three tests in July, six in the Rugby Championship and three in November. All twelve test matches are to be played on the road. For the second consecutive year, Los Pumas will not play any matches in Argentina. There will be a total of 30 days of quarantine for the players and staff.

Selknam
Chile’s SLAR entrant were narrowly beaten in the Semi Final. Selknam lost by three points; a total which should never have eventuated. Selknam had a poor opening half. It saw them failing to score points and leaking one soft try. Peñarol were 17-0 ahead at half time. The players will be kicking themselves for falling so far behind in the first half.

Germán Kessler
Charente have been relegated from the Pro D2. The club will play in France’s third division next season. This is bad news for the club, supporters and players. The club is home to Uruguayan RWC 2019 starting hooker Germán Kessler. He may now need to look for a new team. Argentina XV hooker Pablo Dimcheff is also on the Soyaux Angoulême roster.

Federico Favaro
Peñarol’s hard-fought win was with 14 men. The Uruguayan side lost Federico Favaro to a 69th minute red card. He was sent off for making direct shoulder to head contact on Selknam’s Santiago Videla. Favaro’s place in the SLAR Final is now in doubt. He faces a potential ban which would see him miss the final.

Fernando Luna
Argentina have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. Vastly experienced forward Fernando Luna has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee that will require surgical repair. Luna, who turns 31 in a week, has been a leading player with Los Pumas 7’s for the last decade.