Up and Under

Up and Under is an Americas Rugby News exclusive. It identifies the best and the tops and the flops involving the Americas during the course of the past seven days. Up and Under returns following the start of the Super Rugby Americas 2024 season.

 

UP

Cobras Stun Peñarol in Historic Victory
Cobras Brasil Rugby stunned Peñarol on Saturday afternoon. The 15-13 victory was historic; never before had the Uruguayans lost to a Brazilian competitor in Super Rugby Americas or the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). Hooker Endy Willian Pinheiro scored two tries to take home to man of the match award.

Full-Throttle from Dogos against American Raptors
Los Dogos were in a class of their own against the American Raptors. The emphatic win sent a warning to Super Rugby Americas rivals; Los Dogos are a force to be reckoned with. Los Dogos scored first half tries through Leonardo Gea Salim, Boris Wenger and Mateo Soler. Of note, the trio are all returning names from Los Dogos’ 2023 campaign. Four tries came in the second-half while the American Raptors only managed one.

Rookie Pampas Star Power Clear Against Yacare
Juan Manuel Leguzamón’s coaching debut was a success. Los Pampas claimed the maximum away against Yacare. The 48-32 victory saw the Buenos Aires team running in five tries and also being awarded a penalty try. Debutants Joaquín Moro, Bernabé López Fleming, and Justo Piccardo scored first-half tries and two other debutants scored the for Pampas in the second-half.

Puma in Waiting Ignacio Mendy Scores a Double Against Leinster
Ignacio Mendy is a Puma in waiting. The winger / fullback is having a red-hot season for Benetton. Mendy scored a double on Saturday for the Italians against Irish powerhouses Leinster. His performance was the latest instance of a player putting up his hand for new Pumas Head Coach Felipe Contepomi. For his first try, Mendy received the ball 27 meters out from the opposition try zone. He had plenty of work to do as there were two defenders marking him. Mendy accelerated and stepped to get past both and score. His second try was a regulation score.

Gonzalo García Continues to Push for Pumas Recall
Gonzalo García continues to push for a Pumas recall. The 24-year-old has been in the thick of the action for Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Like Ignacio Mendy for Benetton, García was a try scorer this weekend. García touched down in the opposition try zone against Edinburgh.

An Eagle and a Puma score tries in the Top 14
The latest round of the Top 14 featured tries to an Eagle and a Puma. USA prop David Ainu’u scored for Toulouse while Argentine second-rower Guido Petti scored for Bordeaux. Ainu’u and Toulouse celebrated a huge home win over Oyonnax while Petti and Bordeaux had to settle for a home defeat against Pau.

Dream URC Debut for Facundo Cordero
Facundo Cordero scored on debut for the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday. The 25-year-old Argentine winger touched down in the try zone in the 69th minute. The try was in a dominant performance; the Glasgow Warriors were 40-7 winners over the Dragons in a United Rugby Championship (URC) match.

 

UNDER

Peñarol Scrum Taken to School by Cobras
Peñarol scored two tries hooker, Joaquín Myszka scoring on debut and winger Gastón Mieres also touching down. Officially what separated the teams was goal-kicking. Juan Andrés Zuccarino did not convert Myszka’s try and Ícaro Amarillo’s conversion attempt from Mieres’ try was also unsuccessful. In addition, Mateo Viñals missed a penalty. In actuality, Peñarol’s scrum was dubstandard and the team suffered more from this than from missed goals. This area of the game gave Os Cobras key field position and saw Peñarol’s opportunities severely depleted.

American Raptors Beaten and Bullied
The American Raptors lost 56-8 against Los Dogos. It was a comprehensive defeat on the scoreboard and across the board in terms of areas of play. There is simply a lot that needs to be done better in upcoming matches. Also of concern is injuries; multiple early substitutions were made. Diego Magno played plenty of the match but was forced off his an arm injury.

Yacare Beaten by 16 points at Home
Yacare were on the wrong side of a 48-32 scoreline on Saturday. Los Pampas conquered Asunción by playing the better rugby. Yacare were competitive but not as strong as their opponents. A positive to come out for Yacare was Nicolás Parada Heit. The N8 bagged a double for Yacare on debut.

Forward Concerns for Seattle Seawolves
The Seawolves have made a handful of late roster moves. Top domestic flankers Devin Short and Nakai Penny have fallen off the roster, with Canada u20 lock or blindside Reid Davis signed and former Ironworkers back row Kara Pryor set to fill the gap. Meanwhile tighthead prop Mason Pedersen has suffered a season-ending injury leaving last year’s Western Conference finalists desperately short on the right side of the scrum.

Domingo Saavedra Denied Visa
NOLA have taken a hit with news that Domingo Saavedra’s visa has not been approved. The Chilean star will stick with Selknam for the time being while the Gold work through the frustrating process, but it is expected Saavedra will miss a large part of the regular season. In the meantime Tongan center or wing Taniela Filimone has been signed, having spent the past season with the Free Jacks.