Los Dogos are in command of Super Rugby Americas 2024. The teams from Córdoba, Argentina are firmly placed at the top of the table and are the only unbeaten team. This was underlined with a comeback 18-14 win over Los Pampas in Buenos Aires on Friday.
The rugby played was tense but also full of errors. Climatic conditions also played their part. Juan Baronio got he scoring underway with a 3rd minute penalty. The lead was temporary; Santiago Pernas crossed for the opening try. It was a beautiful work of art. The winger had work to do after fullback Marcos Eliçagaray sliced the defense open.
The Colomiers-round Joaquín de la Vega Mendía landed the conversion before returning to the kick-ing tee a second time. The backs were on fire as Eliçagaray ran in the second try. With it Los Pampas were 14-3 ahead after just 8 minutes of play.
As remarkable as the scoreline was so early-on in the match, the Buenos Aires side were unable to score again in the 72 minutes that followed. Los Dogos scored the two remaining tries while Los Pampas received four of the six yellow cards that were yet to come.
N8 Joaquín Moro was the first to see yellow. Baronio took the opportunity to strike a penalty. The Córdoba side were then awarded a penalty try to make it 14-13 on the half-hour mark. It came with Bernabé López Fleming tackling Agustín Moyano int he air with the try zone in full sight. López Fleming was yellow carded.
The incident also saw fighting break out and with it came more yellow cards; Santiago Montagner and Baronio both left the field for 10 minutes. Lautaro Simes was yellow carded before they returned. This meant the half ended with 13 players on the field per team.
Los Dogos looked to claim the lead late in the half. Raids from the forwards was rewarded with Tomás Bartolini underlining his strength to force his way into the try zone. With it came an 18-14 lead.
The second half did not see points scored but it sawn shortage of intensity. he home side end close rot scoring twice only for the bounce to be unfavorable. There was also one final yellow card with replacement prop Javier Corvalán missing the final four minutes of the match.
Los Dogos take the win with then back to Córdoba. The players will rest up with a bye next weekend. Los Pampas will look to pick up the pieces as they fly across the Andes with destination Santiago to face Selknam.
SCORING |
PAMPAS (14)
Tries – (2) S Pernas (5′); M Eliçagaray (7′)
Con – (2) J de la Vega Mendía (6′, 8′)
YC – (4) J Moro (17′); S Montagner (30′); B López Fleming (30′); J Corvalán (76′)
DOGOS (18)
Tries – (2) Penalty Try (30′); T Bartolini (36′)
Con – (1) No Kick
Pen – (2) JB Baronio (3′, 18′)
YC – (2) JB Baronio (30′); L Simes (34′)
LINEUPS |
PAMPAS
1 Matías Medrano, 2 Ramiro Gurovich, 3 Javier Coronel, 4 Eliseo Fourcade, 5 Marcelo Toledo, 6 Manuel Bernstein (capt.), 7 Santiago Montagner, 8 Joaquín Moro, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 11 Bernabé López Fleming, 12 Justo Piccardo, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 14 Santiago Pernas, 15 Marcos Eliçagaray
Replacements: 16 Valentino Minoyetti, 17 Javier Corvalán, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Tomás Bernasconi, 20 Nicolás D’Amorim, 21 Mateo Albanese, 22 Manuel Nogués, 23 Bruno Heit
DOGOS
1 Santiago Pulella, 2 Boris Wenger, 3 Octavio Filippa, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Franco Molina (capt.), 6 Ignacio Gandini, 7 Aitor Bildosola, 8 Efraín Elías, 9 Nicolás Viola, 10 Juan Bautista Baronio, 11 Ernesto Giudice, 12 Leonardo Gea Salim, 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 14 Lautaro Cipriani, 15 Mateo Soler
Replacements: 16 Tomás Bartolini, 17 Juan Aguirre, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Lorenzo Colidio, 20 Valentín Cabral, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Valentino Di Capua, 23 Felipe Mallía
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, March 8
Venue: Club Newman, Buenos Aires (AR)
Kickoff: 4:45pm (AR)
Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy, 27°C; wind (12-16 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN
OFFICIALS |
Referee: Pablo Deluca (AR)
Assistants: Simon Larrubia; Luca Solda
TMO: Lucas Galán