Uruguay send statement with win over Argentina XV

Uruguay played host to the Argentina XV today in Montevideo. The match was a warm-up for Los Teros who take-on Brazil and Chile in RWC 2023 qualifiers this month. Uruguay came through with a victory; a result that gives Los Teros confidence to confront their South American rivals in the coming weeks.

Los Teros had a strong start. Center and captain Andrés Vilaseca charged his way over for the opening try. His 11th minute score set the tone of the match; Uruguay were playing to win. Felipe Berchesi landed the conversion and was also on target in subsequent efforts.

The Argentina XV responded to Vilaseca’s score. Fly half Martín Elías scored a converted try to open his team’s account. It was followed by a second try from a Jaguares XV player. Second-rower Rodrigo Fernández Criado punished an overthrown lineout from Germán Kessler to run into the try zone.

Kessler made up for the error with a try of his own. The French-based hooker went low to score from close range for Uruguay. His 32nd minute effort was an equalizer; the teams were now 14-14.

Uruguay scored again to take the lead. Second-rower Ignacio Dotti charged over to give Los Teros a 21-14 lead at the interval. The home side would not relinquish the lead. They extended the lead after the break. A quick tap from Berchesi rested in Mateo Viñals scoring in the 49th minute.

The Argentina XV responded with a coast-to-coast effort. Juan Bautista Daireaux intercepted to run from inside his own 22 and score at the opposite end. The 59th minute score gave the Argentina XV more than just hope of a comeback.

Uruguay recovered to score through Felipe Etcheverry. Berchesi’s understudy also converted Uruguay’s final try which was scored by replacement hooker Facundo Gattas.

Attention now turns to Brazil vs Chile. That RWC 2023 qualifier will take place this coming Saturday in Montevideo. It is to be followed by both competitors facing Los Teros. Uruguay’s win today sends a statement to both ahead of the RWC qualifiers

 

SCORING

URUGUAY 42
Try – Vilaseca (11′), Kessler (32′), Dotti (40′), Viñals (48′), Etcheverry (61′), Gattas (80′)
Con – Berchesi 5 (12′, 33′, 40′, 49′, 62′), Etcheverry (80′)
YC – Dosantos (72′)

ARGENTINA XV 26
Try – Elías (19′), Fernández Criado (24′), Daireaux (59′), Simes (74′)
Con – Eliás 2 (19′, 25′), Prisciantelli (74′)

 

TEAMS

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Diego Arbelo, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Ignacio Dotti, 6 Franco Lamanna, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Felipe Berchesi, 11 Gastón Mieres, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez, 14 Mateo Viñals, 15 Rodrigo Silva

Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Juan Echeverría, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Juanjuan Garese, 20 Diego Magno, 21 Eric Dosantos, 22 Baltazar Amaya, 23 Felipe Etcheverry, 24 Leandro Leivas, 25 Marcos Chamyan, 26 Guillermo Pujadas

ARGENTINA XV
1 Francisco Minervino, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss (capt.), 4 Federico Gutiérrez, 5 Ignacio Calás, 6 Lautaro Favaro, 7 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Joaquín Pellandini, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Martín Cancelliere, 12 Juan Pablo Castro, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Julián Quetglas, 15 Juan Bautista Daireaux

Replacements: 16 Mariano Muntaner, 17 Nicolás Revol, 18 Manuel Bernstein, 19 Lautaro Simes, 20 Ignacio Gandini, 21 Rafael Iriarte, 22 Martín Bogado, 23 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 24 Lucio Sordoni, 25 Tomás Molanos

 

Referee: Nehuén Jauri Rivero