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

Americas RWC Qualifiers
This past weekend’s RWC 2023 qualifiers were tight contests. One match was decided in the final play of the game; a kick for goal handed the home side a 1 point win. The other match saw the home team winning by 3 points. The matches underline progress from the two South American competitors when compared to past results. Predicting winners in game two, and thus the series, next week remains a roll of the dice.

USA start strongly in Americas 1 RWCQ Finals
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 on Saturday 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.

Uruguayan comeback significantly improves Los Teros’ chances
Uruguay were well behind against the USA. The Eagles held a 19-3 lead in the final quarter; yet, a strong finish from the South Americans saw them finishing the better side. The two penalties from Felipe Berchesi and his conversion from Guillermo Pujadas’ try mean that Los Teros are now -3 behind going in to game two. It had appeared that the USA would take a commanding lead over 15 or more into the finale in Montevideo; instead, Uruguay remain well within reach of the Americas 1 spot.

Canada take lead into elimination match
A penalty goal from Robbie Povey with time expired gave Canada a desperate 22-21 win over Chile in the first leg of their World Cup Qualifying series in Langford on Saturday. The result sets up a winner-take-all match in Valparaiso next week with the loser dropping out of contention to play at France 2023. Canada go into the game with a +1 advantage over Los Cóndores.

Chile go from ARC wooden spooners to RWC qualifying contenders
Los Cóndores missed out on beating Canada very, very narrowly. Chile were leading in the final minute. The one point loss came after Chile opted against kicking a penalty in to touch. They looked to wind down the clock only to give away a penalty. The loss is small potatoes; the big game is this coming weekend. If Chile win by 2 or more they will eliminate Canada in the RWC 2023 qualifiers. This was simply unthinkable during the 2016-2019 years of the Americas Rugby Championship.

Thomas Gallo writes his name in the record books
History was made on Saturday; Thomas Gallo became the first prop on test debut to score two tries during the professional era. The Tucumán prop was a second half replacement and made an impact. His two tries in the match were also the most by any Puma during the 2021 Rugby Championship. Previously, only two others had scored tries on debut. In 1973 Hugh Wyndham did so for Canada vs Wales in Toronto on his only cap, and that same year Roberto Fariello for Argentina vs Paraguay in São Paulo on his first of 3 test caps.

Tomás Albornoz moves ever closer to Pumas frame
Benetton continued their winning ways in the United Rugby Championship.  The Italian side downed Scottish team Edinburgh this past weekend. The win involved a number of Argentines, both capped and uncapped. Of the uncapped Argentines Tomás Albornoz was again the starting fly half. He kicked two goals and ran 52 meters in the match. Given Argentina’s crisis his name is one to watch out for when the roster is named for the November Internationals.

Pumas increase November options
Argentina lost over a dozen players to injuries during the Rugby Championship. There were also players who missed out due to injuries. Among them are Mayco Vivas, Santiago Grondona, and Ignacio Calles. Both Grondona and Calles are fit again and will be free for selection in November. Calles was part of a winning effort on the road this past weekend in France. Pau downed Perpignan in an important fixture for both teams.

 

UNDER

Argentina 0-6 in Rugby Championship
Los Pumas are in crisis. The Mario Ledesma coaches team finished their 2021 Rugby Championship campaign winless. Argentina were outperformed in all six matches; they never came close to winning a match. There are many factors that can explain what went wrong. No home matches, tired players, the end of Jaguares in Super Rugby, and strong opposition are such examples. Another is the game plan and selections of Ledesma. His position is increasingly under pressure.

Officiating in Canada vs Chile
The officiating was unfortunately substandard in Langford on Saturday. Perhaps it was the weight of the contest, or styles unusual to the referee, but there were several decisions – and non-decisions – that left players, coaches, and spectators scratching their heads. Both teams were on the receiving end of unusual penalties. While a neutral referee was appropriate and appreciated, perhaps an appointment from within MLR or SLAR might have been a better fit to at least give some players a familiar face to work with.

Six Argentine players miss Rugby Championship finale
Six Pumas were ruled-out of Saturday’s Rugby Championship fixture against Australia. The missing men violated regulations by crossing state borders from Queensland to New South Wales during their rest day on Wednesday. Mario Ledesma had to adjust plans which saw former captain Pablo Matera among those unable to be considered for Saturday’s test match. Of the other five, a notable name was Santiago Medrano. His loss saw a test debut for Eduardo Bello from the bench on Saturday.

USA miss AJ
The USA’s task to beat Uruguay to become Americas 1 is not easy. In past RWC qualifying tournaments the Eagles were able to outperform Uruguay to win comfortably. It is not so in 2021. Indeed, the USA take in a three point advantage from their home game. The match against Uruguay in Montevideo will be tougher than the home fixture. It will also be played without captain AJ MacGinty. The Eagles fly half was injured playing Premiership Rugby seven days prior to the home qualifier against Uruguay.

Missing in action
Eagles prop Titi Lamositele and Canadian back-rower Tyler Ardron are two examples of established starting players missing in action. They have not been involved in the ongoing RWC 2023 qualifiers; yet, they have both been busy in the Top 14 this season. The case of Canada is of particular note. A number of players opted against playing in the RWC qualifiers against Chile as well as the earlier qualifiers against the USA and the July Internationals in the UK. A dramatic late turn of events sees Ardron flying in for the final test against Chile on Saturday.

World Cup Qualifier Broadcasts
Rugby fans were once again left with a poor palate of viewing options for Saturday’s critical test matches. The game in Langford was behind a paywall in Canada and streamed locally in Chile, with no broadcast at all for potential viewers of interest across the globe. In Glendale the situation was only slightly better with World Rugby at least providing a stream link to those outside the Americas. Making things equally frustrating was that kickoff times were identical, meaning that fans of MLR or SLAR who have become familiar with all players were forced to choose… if they even had an option. Rugby administrators simply must do better.