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In entertainment terms it was quite simply the best game of the Super Rugby Americas 2023 season thus far. Os Cobras and the American Raptors put on a slobber-knocker in Colorado. Os Cobras survived to defeat the Raptors 43-40 in a classic on Sunday.
There was some exciting rugby played by both teams. Os Cobras recovered from their travel horrors to start with a bang. Endy Willian Pinheiro broke off an advancing maul to score a 4th minute try. Captain Lucas Tranquez converted.
The Raptors burst to life in response. They scored two differing tries in the opening quarter. First, Lucas González Amorosino broke on an angle. He fed the ball to Aki Pulu who burst through the remaining defense to set-up Watson Filikitonga. Second, the forwards did the hard work with Diego Fortuny comine away with a maul try.
The Raptors were sitting pretty at the completion of the opening quarter. The 12-7 lead did not last; however, as Os Cobras dominated the second quarter. Endy Willian Pinheiro crossed for his second try before Lucas Tranquez and Adriel Rodrigues also got in on the action. Rodrigues’ score was the best of the half; he scored a superb try with flair and pace in the left corner.
While the Raptors centers had been highly productive on offense, their defense was poor in the second quarter. Two of Os Cobras tries were a result of weak mid-field defense. With Tranquez kicking 3/4 a goal in the first half his side led 26-12 at half-time.
Five minutes of Raptors brilliance saw the game back level. Tries to Tommy Clark and Line Latu brought the home side back despite having been well behind. Clark put down his shoulder to force his way over while Latu spotted a gap to dance through. González Amorosino converted both tries.
The final quarter started with the Brazilian side reclaiming the lead. Os Cobras were again able to cut through the mid-field. A times it was similar to a match of Rugby 7’s. Cobras N8 André Arruda showed speed, vision and power to come away with the try.
The Raptors’ mid-field was again easily breached. From a scrum, Nicolás Cantarutti cut though to humiliate the Raptors centers. Tranquez’ conversion made it a 40-26 lead with thirteen minutes left on the match clock.
The action continued. The Raptors hit-back three minutes later. Following several raids, replacement prop Ma’aki Muti was over in the try zone near the left corner flag. González Amorosino got the Colorado team back to within one score by landing a tough conversion attempt.
Os Cobras were under pressure and responded. Tranquez took the first penalty kick at goal late. His 75th minute kick put the Brazilian side out of range with a 10 points lead.
There was no time for comfort. The American Raptors responded yet again. More rapid fire hands and phases culminated in the twelfth try of the match. Replacement second-rower Mikey Grandy went over to give Os Cobras a late scare. The conversion was good and the Raptors advanced from the kick-off. A knock-on ended was truly was a slobber-knocker.
Os Cobras now travel from Colorado to North Carolina. They face the USA Hawks in a friendly. The Raptors next match will be against Los Pampas on April 16. Super Rugby Americas takes a break for Easter.
SCORING
RAPTORS (40)
Try – U Filikitonga (8′); D Fortuny (19′); T Clark (52′); L Latu (54′); M Muti (69′); M Grandy
Con – L González Amorosino 4/5 (20′, 53′, 55′, 70′)
COBRAS (43)
Try – E W Pinheiro 2 (4′, 24′); L Tranquez (27′); A Rodrigues (36′); A Arruda (60′); L Cantarutti (66′)
Con – L Tranquez 5/6 (5′, 28′, 37′, 61′, 67′)
Pen – L Tranquez 1/1 (75′)
TEAMS
RAPTORS
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Juan Echeverría, 4 Will Crawford, 5 Diego Magno, 6 Ronan Murphy, 7 Tommy Clark, 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Lucas González Amorosino, 11 Seimou Smith, 12 Aki Pulu, 13 Watson Filikitonga, 14 Ryan Smith, 15 Line Latu
Replacements: 16 Chris Schade, 17 Ma’aki Muti, 18 Adagio Lopeti, 19 Mikey Grandy, 20 Tavius Sykora-Matthess, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Cassh Maluia, 23 Ramiro Moyano
COBRAS
1 Levy Marinho, 2 Endy Willian Pinheiro, 3 Henrique Ferreira, 4 Ben Donald, 5 Lucio Anconetani, 6 Cleber Dias, 7 Matheus Cláudio, 8 André Arruda, 9 Facundo Villalba, 10 Lucas Spago, 11 Ariel Rodrigues, 12 Robert Tenório, 13 Nicolas Cantarutti, 14 Sérgio Luna, 15 Lucas Tranquez (capt.)
Replacements: 16 Diego Vidal, 17 Alexandre Alves, 18 Bautista Vidal, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Donnacha Byrne, 21 Douglas Rauth, 22 Guilherme Coghetto, 23 Alain Altahona
Date: Sunday, April 02
Kick-Off: 5pm (MST); 8pm (Brasília)
Venue: Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado (US)
Referee: Damián Schneider (AR)
Assistant Referees: Michael Lawrenson (US); Juan Manuel León (CO)
TMO: Amanda Cox (US)
