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

USA Falcons XV deliver against Wales
Two tries from captain Kate Zackary led the USA Falcons XV to a 31-23 win over Wales in a friendly contest at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday. The match was organized as a warm-up for the Welsh women ahead of their Six Nations campaign and featured 20 overseas-based USA players. It’s a positive result that helps build confidence in a World Cup year.

The Cheika Shake-Up
Argentina have replaced Mario Ledesma with Michael Cheika. The change sees a first foreign head coach for Los Pumas since RWC 1999. Cheika now has the task of turning around a team that struggled in 2021 and seeing them compete for the right to be world champions at RWC 2023.

Uruguay to Japan
The match dates and venues are now official for Japan vs Uruguay in June 2022. The Asia no 1 will play host to the South American no 2 in a two match series outside of World Rugby’s player release window. The series will be known as the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2022.

Opportunities for North American Referees
Three North American match officials have been appointed to the Women’s Six Nations panel, including two as referees. The USA’s Kat Roche has been awarded two games in the middle with one going to Canada’s Julianne Zussman. Canada will also be represented by Chris Assmus, who has been appointed as TMO in two matches.

Alev Kelter Top of the Pops
Alev Kelter was named Premier 15s Player of the Month for her performances in three matches between February 5 to March 6. In that space she scored 38 points including two tries to help Saracens stretch their lead at the top of the table. The USA Eagles star has remarkably achieved the distinction in her first full month competing in England.

LA Giltinis Rock Star Signing
The LA Giltinis have signed USA international Joe Taufete’e for the remainder of the 2022 Major League Rugby season. He arrives from France, having been granted an early release from his contract with Top 14 club Lyon for family reasons. Taufete’e has been a consistent presence in the Eagles front row since debuting in the 2015 World Cup. He notably lined up at hooker on the weekend after playing tighthead prop for the Eagles in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Rugby ATL end the streak
Austin’s perfect record is no more. Rugby ATL brought the Gilgronis down to earth with a dominant 29-14 win at Silverbacks Park on Saturday. Played in chilly conditions, the visitors looked to be still feeling the affects of the hard-fought win over LA and could not match the strength of the Ratlers up front.

Free Jacks win ugly but win
The New England Free Jacks may not have enjoyed their home opener but they did enough to take a 21-15 win over the Toronto Arrows in a scrappy match at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Conditions were difficult with frigid temperatures combining with blowing rain and sleet throughout. The Arrows had sufficient opportunity to win but did not execute at key moments, while the Free Jacks made the most of their chances.

NOLA Run in Five Tries in Winning Effort
The Gold survived a second half surge from the Dallas Jackals to take a 32-26 win at Choctaw Stadium on Saturday evening. A dominant first half suggested that the visitors would pull away in the second, but instead it was the home side who clawed back to within three points until the final play.

Houston Hold Strong at Home
The Houston SaberCats were 21-19 winners on Saturday evening over the Seattle Seawolves. The victory saw the Texans ending their losing streak to claim an important win. With it the teams trade positions in the MLR Western Conference.

Peñarol open SLAR with a win
Peñarol overcame a spirited Cobras effort to open the 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season on Sunday. The Uruguayan side completed a 19-10 win, doing so with the teams only able to score three points each during the second half.

Cafeteros go down fighting
Los Cafeteros Pro surpassed expectations in their first match of SLAR 2022 The Colombian side scored a bonus point in a 33-22 defeat against the 2021 champions Los Jaguares XV. The team fell to heavy losses against Los Jaguares XV in 2021. On the evidence of one game, the 2022 season will be better for the Colombian team than was 2021.

Olímpia with the roar of the Lion against Selknam
Sunday saw a magnificent start to the SLAR season for the Olímpia Lions. The Paraguayan franchise produced a 22-20 upset win over Selknam in Valparaíso, Chile. The win has sent a warning to all SLAR teams – the Olímpia Lions have come to play.

 

UNDER

Austin return from orbit
Last season is was six games before the LA Giltinis tasted defeat. Austin’s dream run to start the 2022 campaign has come to an end after five wins on the trot. Ironically it was the attritional victory over the Giltinis a week ago that diminished the AG’s against ATL. To be sure, Austin remain the team to beat but there is no longer an invincible tag beside their name.

Dallas Beyond Frustrated 
The Dallas Jackals were close to winning for the first time in their rookie MLR season. The Jackals fell to a 32-26 defeat. Minutes before the game concluded, Dallas had narrowed what was a sizeable lead to make it a 29-26 scoreline. The set piece continues to plague Dallas though they did manage to win two unlikely penalties at the scrum in the second half.

LA Giltinis Second from bottom in the West
The Utah Warriors defeated a stunned LA Giltinis side 28-19 at Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. It was a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Final, but this time the visitors were the better side with two late tries securing the victory. Injuries have decimated LA’s back division and the defending champions now sit second from the bottom in the Western Conference.

Season over for Andrew Ferguson
Toronto Arrows scrumhalf Andrew Ferguson will play no further part in the 2022 Major League Rugby season. The Canadian international tore a hamstring in the season opener against the Seattle Seawolves and has now been advised that the injury will require surgical repair. It is a blow to the 29-year-old who was set to play a key role for the team as an alternative to fellow international Ross Braude.

Rusty Jaguares XV
Los Jaguares XV are unbeaten in SLAR; yet, the performance to open their 2022 campaign was flawed. The Argentine side was outscored in the second half by Los Cafeteros Pro. There were handling errors and an unconvincing lineout and scrum.

Cobras Must Improve
Os Cobras Brasil XV scored first in their match against Peñarol. It was a fortunate score after sloppy play from the Uruguayans was pounced upon. The Brazilian side never looked like scoring again. Os Cobras must improve or will be in for some very difficult matches this season. The team is the only one on zero points after round one of SLAR 2022.

Selknam Fall at home to Olímpia Lions
SLAR did not start with Selknam getting a win. The Chilean side were beaten 22-20 by Paraguayan franchise, the Olímpia Lions. It was an upset result and one that when combined with how the other matches unfolded, there is reason to suggest that there are many possibilities for the 2022 season.