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2021 was historic for Chile rugby while 2022 may be even more so. Selknam put in a spectacular display of defense to win their way to the SLAR 2022 Final. Selknam defeated Los Jaguares XV to eliminate the Argentine professional team.
Selknam’s 16-10 win means that SLAR will have a new champion. Selknam now await the winner of Peñarol vs Los Cafeteros Pro in the second SLAR 2022 Semi Final. In other words, the South American professional league will not have an Argentine champion.
Selknam earned their place in the SLAR 2022 Final with a performance worthy of respect. The Chileans scored early, extended their lead and stayed committed throughout. They were tested very hard as demonstrated by the 10-10 halftime score. Despite being caught, however, Selknam were never overtaken.
The Chileans opened an early lead through Benjamín Videla. The scrumhalf from Old Boys club scored in the 9th minute. Old Reds flyhalf Francisco Urroz landed the conversion. He did so from fullback, a position that he has impressed in for Selknam this season.
Urroz added a 17th minute penalty to open up a 10-0 lead. It was followed by a period wherein the Argentine side fought back to pressure Selknam. Martín Bogado ran in a try which was converted by Gerónimo Prisciantelli. The fly half then added one and missed one penalty.
The score was 10-10 at the midway point. Los Jaguares XV were not convincing but had a key advantage as Selknam forwards Salvador Lues and Alfonso Escobar were both yellow carded late in the first half. Lues returned only for fellow prop, Matías Dittus to also receive a yellow card.
The numerical disadvantage did not result in points being conceded; instead, all points scored in the second half were Selknam points. They came in the form of two penalties to Urroz.
The lead was up to six points but the result was not secured. Los Jaguares XV were deep in the Selknam 22 in the final minute. They worked their way to within inches of the try zone and bashed away. Spectacular defense from Selknam held the lines and they were able to pull off a result that was unthinkable 12 months ago.
SCORING
JAGUARES 10
Tries – M. Bogado (22′)
Cons – G. Prisciantelli 1/1 (23′)
Pens – G. Prisciantelli 1/2 (36′)
YC – M. Vivas (53′)
SELKNAM 16
Tries – B. Videla (9′)
Cons – F. Urroz 1/1 (10′)
Pens – F. Urroz 3/4 (17′, 54′, 75′)
YC – S. Lues (35′), A. Escobar (37′), M. Dittus (47′)
TEAMS
JAGUARES XV
1 Mayco Vivas (17 Nicolás Revol 63′), 2 Ignacio Ruiz (16 Bautista Bernasconi 60′), 3 Lautaro Caro Saisi (18 Javier Coronel 60′), 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Manuel Bernstein, 6 Andrea Panzarini (22 Federico Albrisi 75′), 7 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (17 Nicolás Revol 58′-63′) (19 Eliseo Chiavassa 63′), 8 Santiago Ruiz (20 Juan Bautista Pedemonte 69′), 9 Rafael Iriarte, 10 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 11 Juan Pablo Castro, 12 Tomás Cubilla (capt.) (23 Tomás Suárez Folch 75′), 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 15 Martín Bogado
Not used: 21 Mateo Albanese
SELKNAM
1 Salvador Lues (17 Javier Carrasco 45′), 2 Diego Escobar (16 Tomás Dussaillant HT), 3 Matías Dittus (18 Vittorio Lastra 57′), 4 Santiago Pedrero (19 Augusto Sarmiento 60′), 5 Franco Molina, 6 Martín Sigren, 7 Santiago Edwards (20 Ignacio Silva HT), 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Benjamín Videla (21 Marcelo Torrealba 45′), 10 Juan Zuccarino, 11 Luca Strabucchi (17 Javier Carrasco 38′-45′), 12 Matías Garafulic, 13 Domingo Saavedra(22 Santiago Videla 65′), 14 Nicolás Garafulic (18 Vittorio Lastra 52′-57′) (23 Ernesto Tchimino 79′), 15 Francisco Urroz (capt.)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)
Assistants: Cauã Ricardo (Brazil) & Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (Uruguay)
