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

Sensational Canada send shockwaves throughout Americas
An inspired performance from Canada saw them take a stunning 34-21 win over the USA in St. John’s on Saturday afternoon. Absent several of their top players in Europe, the home side scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to take a commanding 13-point lead into the second leg of their World Cup Qualifying series next weekend. Spencer Jones earned the official nod as Man of the Match in his test debut. Equally deserving were flanker Matt Heaton and second row Conor Keys.

Uruguay reach historical heights
Canada’s win over the USA lifted Canada in the rankings and saw the USA fall. The outcome sees others also affected. One benefactor is Uruguay. The updated rankings mean that Uruguay is now ranked above the USA. This is historic. For the first time ever Uruguay is the second-highest ranked men’s rugby team from the Americas.

Americas 1 race wide open
The Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers in the Americas have been blown wide open. Canada’s sensational upset win over the USA in St. John’s has changed the script. The USA have gone from the frontrunners for the Americas 1 spot to now needing to defeat Canada next weekend by a large margin. Canada are on +13 differential and both Uruguay and Chile are watching on with interest. Los Teros’ record vs Canada in recent times is very good while Chile was unlucky to not beat Uruguay in July.

Four Pumas overcome injuries
Four players that were in doubt have now have been declared fit for Argentina. Facundo Gigena, Emiliano Boffelli, Matías Moroni, and Matías Orlando are all again available for Mario Ledesma. It is timely news as Argentina are now without Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro for the remainder of the Rugby Championship. Santiago Carreras will miss this coming weekend’s fixture. Ledesma, though, has a luxury of options to chose from in the back three.

Argentines help Mont-de-Marsan to emphatic victory
Mont-de-Marsan were big winners in the Pro D2 this past week. The team’s 48-13 win over Bressane sees the club joining Bayonne at the trio of the table after two rounds. Argentine players José Luiz González and Lucas Mensa both scored tries for Mont de Marsan. Sebastián Poet kicked eight points for Bressane.

Biarritz back in the Top 14
After a long seven year absence, former French champions and Heineken Cup finalists Biarritz Olympique are back in the Top 14. They marked their return in style with an impressive 27-15 home win over Bordeaux Bègles. Evan Olmstead started at lock for les Biarrots and played 68 minutes. The big Canadian is hoping to secure a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.

UNDER

USA torn apart in dreadful second half showing
The USA scored first against Canada and held a half-time lead; the day tough truly belonged to Canada. The Eagles were torn apart in the second half as Canada overcame the odds to win for the first time since 2013 and now have one foot in the door to advance to the next round as North America 1 in the RWC 2023 qualifiers. The USA must now overcome a 13 point deficit to win the series on aggregate. Eagles coach Gary Gold labeled the performance as unacceptable.

Trio forced out of Pumas vs All Blacks
Argentina will be without Nicolás Sánchez and Santiago Carreras this coming weekend. The two backs have been ruled out of the Rugby Championship match against New Zealand due to injuries. The Pumas medical report also lists the uncapped Santiago Mare as out of the fixture. Sánchez and Carreras featured in both matches against South Africa as well as the test matches in July.

RWC Qualifier – Why the missing men?
Tyler Ardron played for Castres and Titi Lamositele played for Montpellier this past weekend. They are a sample of Canadian and USA players who were not involved in the RWC 2023 Qualifier. The dates of the qualifiers are not during the off-season nor during an existing test window; instead, they are at a time that makes it less than ideal for all involved. Clubs are obliged to release players; however, there continue to be instances wherein players choose club and career over country.

Matt Jensen calls it a day
Matt Jensen has announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 29. In a statement posted on social media, the Utah Warriors stalwart and former USA Eagles lock, who has maintained a full-time job away from rugby, says he intends to spend more time with his young family.

Eagles lose Madison Hughes to sabbatical
Men’s USA Eagles Sevens captain Madison Hughes has announced that he is taking a break from the game for the time being, though he intends to return in the future. The 28-year-old’s decision comes at the end of an arduous period through the pandemic that concluded with a 6th place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.

Further Cancellations to World Sevens Series
The pandemic has claimed two more stops on the World Sevens Series. Both the Singapore and Cape Town tournaments have now suffered the same fate as the Hong Kong Sevens, effectively bringing an end to the 2021 circuit in its entirety. The Canadian stops in Vancouver and Edmonton are the only events still intended to be played.