Chile send warning to USA with away series win over Russia

Chile were 42-27 winners over Russia this morning in Sochi. The away victory sees Chile making history by claiming an away series victory. It also sends a high alert warning to the USA, Chile’s opponents in the Americas 2 final in July. The winner will qualify for RWC 2023 and join Argentina, England, Japan and Samoa in Pool D.

The teams both looked to attack in the opening quarter. It ended with Chile holding a 6-5 lead. Russia initially turned down a shot at goal to go for the maximum. Chile’s defense held firm.

Los Cóndores secured points at the other end of the field. Fullback Santiago Videla opened the scoring with an 11th minute penalty. It did not last as Chile were penalized from the restart and Russia went for the corner. The Bears turned the second lineout into a try. Debutant Kirill Panarin went into the try zone for a lineout to maul score. The conversion was off-target.

Chile finished the opening quarter on top. Videla landed a well taken penalty in the 18th minute. His strike from 40 meters out gave the South Americans a 6-5 lead.

With a combination of vision and execution, Nicolás Garafulic was provider for Chile’s next score. Playing on the right wing, he made an inside center run to burst through the Russian mid-field. Marcelo Torrealba provided the perfect support run for Garafulic to attract the defenders and put Torrealba over. Videla converted to give Chile a 13-5 lead.

Penalties were frequent. The next went the way of Russia and Kushnarev kicked for goal. The strike reduced the deficit to five points and saw the veteran of 120 test matches taking his career points up to 697. He would reach 700 before the match’s end.

Los Cóndores again responded with points. They did so with the forwards this time. Strong carries resulted in an attacking penalty which Martín Sigren ordered Rodrigo Fernández to kick for touch. The result was an attacking lineout and raids from the forwards. Sigren went over to give his country a well-taken try. Videla landed his fourth kick of the match to put Chile in control late in the first half.

Videla’s 100% accuracy ended with his next attempt. It followed a superb try from Chile. Fly half Rodrigo Fernández made a break similar to that against Canada. He linked with Videla who made good meters and broke a tackle. Videla then found José Ignacio Larenas who went into the try zone for the score.

The second half started with Chile still on top. Before ten minutes had gone they had try number four. Debuting winger Pablo Casas went over in the left corner. His try was on the back of sustained forward pressure.

Referee Adam Jones was not afraid to use the whistle nor go to his pocket; three Chileans were yellow carded in the second half as was one Russian. When Chile were down to thirteen, Russia pounced. Center Denis Semikov scored the first of his two tries.

Chile hit back with a piece of fortune. An attempted slap back from Russia was gathered by Iñaki Ayarza. He ran down the right touch line and linked with Torrealba. The conversion ensured Chile were out of reach.

Russia scored twice in the final ten minutes to finish with a respectable scoreline. With time time, though, Chile got one back. Alfonso Escobar scored their sixth try of the match. Chile now return home with a historic test series win in Europe.

Attention will now turn to 2022. The bulk of the team will play for Selknam in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). They will do so with careful planning also well underway for the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers against the USA in July.

 

SCORING

RUSSIA 27
Tries – K. Panarin (13′), D. Semikov 2 (59′, 75′), V. Klimov (78′)
Cons – Y. Kushnarev 2/4 (60′, 79′)
Pens – Y. Kushnarev 1/1 (31′)
YC – K. Dzobelov (44′)

CHILE 42
Tries – M. Torrealba 2 (27′, 62′), M. Sigren (35′), J. Larenas (39′), P. Casas (49′), A. Escobar (80′)
Cons – S. Videla 3/6 (28′, 36′, 63′)
Pens – S. Videla 2/2 (11′, 18′)
YC – D. Saavedra (57′), A. Bohme (65′), I. Gurruchaga (77′)

 

TEAMS

RUSSIA
1 Alexey Skobiola (17 Valeri Morozov 50′), 2 Dmitry Parkhomenko (16 Alexander Ivanov 60′), 3 Vladimir Podrezov (18 Anton Drozdov 71′), 4 Bogdan Kireev (19 Vitali Klimov 71′), 5 Egor Zykov, 6 Vitali Zhivatov (capt.), 7 Kirill Panarin (23 Anton Sychev 44′), 8 Nikita Vavilin (20 Ivan Chepraga 71′), 9 Stepan Khokhlov, 10 Yuri Kushnarev, 11 Viktor Telnov (21 Denis Barabantsev HT {22 Alexey Golov 57′}), 12 Pavel Kirillov, 13 Denis Semikov, 14 Khetag Dzobelov, 15 Gleb Farkov

CHILE
1 Vittorio Lastra (17 Javier Carrasco 47′), 2 Tomás Dussaillant (16 Augusto Böhme 47′), 3 Matías Dittus (18 Iñaki Gurruchaga 71′), 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Augusto Sarmiento (19 Santiago Pedrero 71′), 6 Martín Sigren (capt.) (20 Diego Escobar 71′), 7 Thomas Orchard (21 Raimundo Martínez 57′), 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba (23 Lukas Carvallo 71′), 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Pablo Casas (3 Matías Dittus 79′), 12 José Ignacio Larenas (22 Iñaki Ayarza 57′), 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Matías Garafulic, 15 Santiago Videla

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistants: Chris Busby (Ireland) & Manuel Bottino (Italy)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)