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It was not a classic in São Paulo on Sunday. Los Dogos won a scrappy Super Rugby Americas contest 31-14 against a dogged Os Cobras. It took a long time for points to be scored and very long for the Argentines to take control of the contest.
There was plenty of early excitement. A half-break down the left from Ernesto Giudice was followed by solid clearing out over multiple phases. The forwards got Los Dogos very close and Efraín Elías scored from a pick-and-go. Referee Frank Méndez ruled no try with Elías deemed to have been offside.
In their next opportunity to score points, Los Dogos turned down an easy three points to go for seven. Os Cobras defended well to hold up a rolling maul. They withstood the next set of raids too as Julián Hernández was unable to land a penalty.
Three minutes later Lucas Tranquez also missed his first shot at goal. In response, Los Dogos were intent on running the ball out from deep inside their own half. With possession turned over a try almost came via a cross-kick from Nicolás Cantarutti.
The deadlock was ended in the 33rd minute. Having gotten up field the Argentines won an attacking penalty. Hernández made no mistake this time to make it 3-0. It gave the away side the lead but it would not last.
Los Dogos reckless play saw them ultimately pay the price. Having tried to run the ball out of their own try zone, a loose pass saw Franco Guidice tackled in the zone and a scrum awarded. André Arruda broke from the scrum to be tackled inches short. Henrique Ferreira touched down from a pick-and-go. Tranquez converted to give Os Cobras a 7-3 half-time lead.
Contact to the head is being dealt with around the world. Super Rugby Americas saw red cards in round one and again in round two. Lucio Anconetani was sent off for making should to head contact in a clear-out in the 45th minute.
Los Dogos had a prime opportunity to take the lead. An attacking lineout saw Boris Wenger over but he was held up. Three minutes later the same opportunity presented itself and this time Frank Méndez blew his whistle for a try. He awarded a penalty try and yellow carded Os Cobras’ captain for infringing at the maul.
Without both second-rowers more Dogos points were inevitable. Two back-to-back scores sealed the win for the Argentines. First, space opened up down the left for Efraín Elías to cut inside and score. Los Dogos were 10 points ahead and the win was secured. Second, Mateo Soler broke though in the center of the field and off-loaded to Agustín Moyano who ran over for a try.
A yellow card to Mateo Núñez Miserez gave Os Cobras good field position. A dozen raids at the line were rewarded with an historic Irish try. Donnacha Byrne touched down in the try zone seven minutes from full-time. Los Dogos hit-back with a penalty try to win well and go home with the maximum five competition points.
Os Cobras remain at home for week three. Having faced both Argentine teams, the Brazilian side will have home advantage against Yacare in week three. Los Dogos return home to host SLAR 2022 champions Peñarol on Saturday.
SCORING
COBRAS 14
Try – H Ferreira (40′); D Byrne (73′)
Con – L Tranquez 2/2 (40, 74′)
Pen – L Tranquez 0/1
DG – L Tranquez 0/1
RC – L Anconetani (45′)
YC – G Paganini (58′)
DOGOS 31
Try – Penalty Try 2 (58′, 79′); E Elías (65′); A Moyano (69′)
Con – No Kick 2 (58′, 79′), J Hernández 2/2 (65′, 70′)
Pen – J Hernández 1/2 (33′)
YC – M Núñez Miserez (72′)
TEAMS
COBRAS
1 Levy Marinho, 2 Endy Willian Pinheiro, 3 Henrique Ferreira, 4 Lucio Anconetani, 5 Gabriel Paganini (capt.), 6 Cleber Dias, 7 Matheus Cláudio, 8 André Arruda, 9 Facundo Villalba, 10 Lucas Tranquez, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Victor Silva, 13 Nicolás Cantarutti, 14 Ariel Rodrigues, 15 Guilherme Coghuetto
Replacements: 16 Alexandre Alves, 17 Leonardo Silva, 18 Joel Ramirez, 19 Ben Donald, 20 Diver Ceballos, 21 Donnacha Byrne, 22 Douglas Rauth, 23 Alain Altahona
DOGOS
1 Santiago Pulella, 2 Boris Wenger, 3 Octavio Filippa, 4 Gregorio Hernández, 5 Franco Molina (capt.), 6 Aitor Bildosola, 7 Efraín Elías, 8 Ignacio Gandini, 9 Juan Cruz Strada, 10 Julián Hernández, 11 Ernesto Giudice, 12 Leonardo Gea Salim, 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 14 Mateo Soler, 15 Franco Giudice
Replacements: 16 Román Pretz, 17 Mateo Núñez Miserez, 18 Ramiro Valdés Irribarren, 19 Federico Albrisi, 20 Juan Bautista Mernes, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Juan Bautista Baronio, 23 Mariano García Ascarte
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Frank Méndez (CL)
Assistant Referees: Guilherme Zaparoli (BR); Gonzalo Ventoso (UY)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (UY)
