Chile suffer heartbreaking defeat against Namibia

Rugby World Cup 2023 teams Chile and Namibia went head-to-head on Saturday. In the first-ever match between the countries, the match went down to the wire. It was only decided in the final play of the game. Namibia won a penalty in their own 22 to win the match 28-26. 

An action-packed opening quarter saw Chile up 14-7. It was all about the backs. Marcelo Torrealba made a break and fed Rodrigo Fernández who went over for the opening score with Santiago Videla converting. 7-0 quickly became 14-0. This time Namibia mishandled a lineout which Augusto Bohme pounced on. With quick ball to the left Iñaki Ayarza sliced through to score.

Chile’s great start hit a bump. Namibian captain Johan Deysel replicated Ayarza by cutting through the mid-field defense to score.  Tiaan Swanepoel slotted the conversion for a 14-7 scoreline with 25% of the match completed.

Both teams were playing with width and this remainder during the opening half. The forwards got in on the action for carries in between the ball being spun wide. Both teams worked their way into the opposition 22 only to be stopped. 

Slowly, but surely, Los Cóndores were winning the second quarter battle. Consecutive penalties had Chile camped on the Namibian try zone. With referee Craig Evans playing advantage the Chilean forwards went about their work. The raids culminated in a try with captain Martín Sigren scoring. Videla missed the conversion as Chile were 19-7 up with only second left in the opening half.

Namibia enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory in the third quarter. Two periods of raids on the Chilean line were stopped. Chile’s defense was up to the challenge. Defense from the backs also stopped an excellent try-scoring opportunity. Chad Plato was in the clear but Videla chased him down to force a knock-on.

Chile had a good attack down the left but were penalized for not releasing. Namibia kicked long and set-up a lineout. The Africans powered over from a maul. Tiaan Swanepoel converted to make it a five point ball-game after 65 minutes. 

The teams then traded tries. Teamwork from Chile saw a break down the left and a try down to right to center Domingo Saavedra. It gave Chile confidence, too much in fact. Chile looked to attack again from the restart but gifted Namibia a try. Divan Roussouw ran-in the score for what was the turning option of the contest.

The match had swung. Namibia crossed again as the Chilean forwards were unable to hold off Adriaan Ludick. The try gave Namibia a lead 28-26 with ten minutes left. To add salt to the wound Chile lost replacement center José Ignacio Larenas to a yellow card. Evans deemed Chile to have given away too many penalties. 

Chile had all the ball in the final minutes. They won a penalty which Videla kicked just to the right. Namibia cleared their lines but Chile were back smartly pushing forward with a maul. Another penalty came but this time Chile kicked for the corner. Chile were within two meters of the line when they were penalized for going off their feet.

Namibia were still in their own half. Chile attacked again with width. They had a chance to score and were looking to win a kickable penalty. Namibia held their nerve to win a penalty with time up. The Africans celebrated a nail-bitting win.

 

SCORING

CHILE (26)
Try – R Fernández (14’) I Ayarza (17’);  M Sigren (39’); D Saavedra (57’)
Con – S Videla 3/4 (15’ 18, 58’)
YC – JI Larenas (70′)

NAMIBIA (28)
Try – J Deysel (20’); D Roussouw (59’); L van der Westhuizen (64’); A Ludick (68′)
Con – T Swanepoel 4/4 (20’, 60’, 65′, 69′)

TEAMS

CHILE
1 Salvador Lues, 2 Augusto Bohme, 3 Matías Dittus, 4 Pablo Huete, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Clemente Saavedra, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Nicolás Garafulic, 12 Domingo Saavedra, 13 Matías Garafulic, 14 Santiago Videla, 15 Iñaki Ayarza

Replacements: 16 Tomás Dussaillant, 17 Javier Carrasco, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Santiago Pedrero, 20 Ignacio Silva, 21 Lukas Carvallo, 22 José Ignacio Larenas, 23 Francisco Urroz

NAMIBIA
1 Desiderus Sethie, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 4 Adriaan Ludick, 5 Ruan Ludick, 6 Wian Conradie, 7 Max Katjijeko, 8 Richard Hardwick, 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 11 JC Greyling, 12 Danco Burger, 13 Johan Deysel (capt.), 14 Chad Plato, 15 Divan Roussouw

Replacements: 16 Lodewikus Jacobs, 17 Jason Benade, 18 Casper Viviers, 19 Tiaan de Klerk, 20 Johan Retief, 21 Prince !Gaoseb, 22 Jacques Theron, 23 Andre van der Berg

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Matias Esteban (Uruguay); Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)