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The USA have the edge over Uruguay in the Americas qualifying series for RWC 2023. The Eagles were 19-16 winners over Los Teros in Glendale, Colorado this evening. The result gives the North Americans a three point lead before the remaining match. The winner of the series will qualify for RWC 2023.
Early signs were good for Los Teros. Uruguay started well with solid phase play. They made meters upfield as the USA Eagles were tackling throughout the opening 12 minutes. The South Americans came away with a 3-0 lead; Felipe Berchesi opened the scoring with an 8th minute penalty.
The remainder of the opening quarter was evenly contested. Both teams put on pressure and had opportunities. The telling moment came 21 minutes in. Hanco Germishuys made a break down the left sideline. What followed was quick hands and slick off-loading. Five players exchanged the ball which found its way into the NOLA Gold hands of Cam Dolan.
Will Magie converted to give the Eagles a four point advantage. The Eagles were up on the board and now enjoying the better of possession and territory. It eventually led to a second Eagles score and it again came from a break near the try line. Christian Dyer broke through tackles from Rodrigo Silva and Andrés Vilaseca en route to the try zone.
The Eagles were 14-3 ahead at half time. The home side were also tactically and mentally on top. This was further evident in the early second half. Felipe Berchesi kicked a goal-line drop-out directly in to touch. The Eagles were making no such errors; instead, clever organization from Ruben du Haas opened the way for Mika Kruse to score. Despite running to a favorable kicking position, the attempt was wide.
Uruguay were 19-3 down and in trouble. Their efforts to use the maul and charge forward through Vilaseca’s runs were well defended against. This included defending the try zone line well as Uruguay raided. Los Teros came away with three points as Berchesi landed his second strike more than 50 minutes after his first.
A third Berchesi penalty cut the deficit to 10 points and there was more to come. Replacement Guillermo Pujadas several phases after a set-piece move. he went over near the left touch line. Berchesi landed the difficult conversion to make it a three-point game with two minutes remaining.
Attention now turns south to Montevideo. The teams will play in the Uruguayan capital next weekend. The equation for both teams is clear. The USA need to win, draw or lose by less than three points. Uruguay must win and do so by 4 or more points.
The winner of the two-match series will earn a place in Pool A alongside New Zealand, France, Italy, and an African qualifier; the loser will have two more chances to earn a ticket to France via the Americas 2 or the Repechage qualifier next year.
SCORING
USA 19
Tries – C. Dolan (19′), C. Dyer (39′), M. Kruse (49′)
Cons – W. Magie 2/3 (20′, 40′)
Pens – L. Carty 0/1
URUGUAY 16
Tries – G. Pujadas (77′)
Cons – F. Berchesi 1/1 (78′)
Pens – F. Berchesi 3/3 (8′, 63′, 69′)
TEAMS
USA
1 David Ainu’u (17 Matt Harmon 76′), 2 Kapeli Pifeleti (16 Dylan Fawsitt 72′), 3 Joe Taufete’e (18 Paul Mullen 52′), 4 Nate Brakeley (19 Greg Peterson 60′), 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Andrew Guerra, 8 Cam Dolan (20 Moni Tonga’uiha 75′), 9 Ruben de Haas (21 Nate Augspurger 65′), 10 Will Magie (22 Luke Carty 72′), 11 Mika Kruse (23 Will Hooley 50′), 12 Bryce Campbell (Capt.), 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Marcel Brache
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (18 Matías Benítez 65′), 2 Facundo Gattas (16 Guillermo Pujadas 65′), 3 Diego Arbelo (17 Juan Echeverría 60′), 4 Ignacio Dotti (19 Diego Magno 65′), 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Diana (20 Eric Dosantos 56′), 9 Santiago Arata (21 Tomás Inciarte 60′), 10 Felipe Berchesi, 11 Gastón Mieres, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Nicolás Freitas, 14 Rodrigo Silva (22 Federico Favaro 50′), 15 Felipe Etcheverry (23 Felipe Arcos Pérez 70′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistants: Peter Martin (Ireland) & Scott Green (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
