Chile overcome Brazil in challenging heat

Mogi das Cruzes in Greater São Paulo played host to Brazil vs Chile on Sunday. The fixture was the first in an Americas triangular series also featuring Canada. For Chile and Brazil the fixture was the third between the teams this year. Chile won matches in Santiago and Temuco as preparation for Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers against the USA.

As was the case in the earlier fixtures between Chile and Brazil the teams played as the Chile XV and Brazil XV; however, the non-capped international really was a test match. Both teams fielded line-ups very close to full-strength.

Mogi das Cruzes put on the heat. The midday kick-off in tropical heat played at an altitude of 780 meters made for a challenge for both teams. The visitors were certainly out of their element; yet, found their way to the try zone more than Brazil to win by 57-36.

Chile led from start to finish but were made to work for the win. Brazil fought back very well after having looked to have been overwhelmed in the opening quarter. A lineout to maul try from captain José Ignacio Larenas and an impressive run from winger Matías Garafulic gave Chile tries in the opening quarter. Marcelo Torrealba opened the second quarter with an impressive score.

Brazil’s only opening quarter points were a penalty to Lucas Tranquez. They did not let the scoresheet influence their attitude, though, as Brazil scored twice before Chile regathered. Hard work from the forwards opened a gap for Adrio de Melo to pick up and go for a try. Leonardo de Souza added one of his own as the scoresheet was drawing level.

There was less than a score between the teams. Brazil’s home supporters were on their feet cheering on the team. Torrealba and Robert Tenório exchanged tries before Chile soaked up the pressure, and the heat, to respond with force. Cristóbal Game and Augusto Böhme got over for tries to seal the result. A penalty try on full time then made sure the win was by a large margin.

The Americas Rugby Trophy continues on Friday. Chile will take on Canada in the second of three fixtures in the competition. Brazil will play the final match against Canada on October 26.

 

SCORING

BRAZIL 36
Tries – D. Rauth (27′), A, de Melo (40′), L. de Souza (41′), R. Morais (48′), R. Tenório (55′)
Cons – L. Tranquez 4/4 (28′, 40′, 42′, 50′)
Pens – L. Tranquez 1/2 (12′)
YC – L. Tranquez (60′), A. Arruda (80′)

CHILE 57
Tries – J. Larenas (6′), M. Garafulic 2 (14′, 46′), M. Torrealba 2 (21′, 52′), A. Escobar (30′), C. Game (62′), A. Böhme (77′), Penalty Try (80′)
Cons – S. Videla 5/8 (7′, 15′, 31′, 47′, 77′), No kick (80′)
YC – J. Milesi (64′)

 

TEAMS

BRAZIL XV
1 Brendon Alves, 2 Leonardo de Souza, 3 Henrique Ferreira, 4 Gabriel Paganini (capt.), 5 Cléber Días, 6 Adrio de Melo, 7 Matheus Cláudio, 8 André Arruda, 9 Douglas Rauth, 10 Lucas Tranquez, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Robert Tenório, 13 Lorenzo Massari, 14 Victor Silva, 15 Guilherme Coghetto

Replacements: 16 Endy Willian, 17 Alexandre Alves, 18 Levy Marinho, 19 Gabriel Oliveira, 20 Diego Vidal, 21 Igor Luciano, 22 João Amaral, 23 Robson Morais

CHILE XV
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Santiago Edwards, 7 Ignacio Silva, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Matías Garafulic, 12 José Ignacio Larenas (capt.), 13 Pablo Casas, 14 Cristóbal Game, 15 Santiago Videla

Replacements: 16 Augusto Böhme, 17 Sebastián Otero, 18 Lucas Bordigoni, 19 Santiago Pedrero, 20 Joaquín Milesi, 21 Lukas Carvallo, 22 Tomás Salas, 23 Raimundo Martínez

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Damián Schneider (Argentina) & Nehuén Jauri Rivero (Argentina)