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The final match of the round took place in Denver, Colorado. The American Raptors recorded their first win of Super Rugby Americas 2024 with a bonus point home victory over Os Cobras. Those in attendance at Infinity Park were treated to a highly competitive match. The back-and-forth contest saw the lead change hands regularly before the Raptors went clear late.
The Raptors won 29-21, doing so with a bonus point for scoring four tries. Os Cobras were denied a losing bonus point which sees them returning to Brazil now at bottom of the standings one point below Selknam and the Raptors.
Os Cobras started strongly in Denver. Argentine second-rower Franco Carrera opened the scoring from a rolling maul. Meanwhile, Ignacio Mieres opened the Raptors’ scoring. On debut, Mieres landed a long-range penalty.
The back-and-forth scoring continued. Os Cobras hit-bak through Henrique Ferreira. The Brazilian front-rower used good body position to get over in the try zone. Fly half Lucas Tranquez was again on target with the conversion.
A feature of Os Cobras attack was the rolling maul, particularly the lineout to maul move. Notwithstanding, the Brazilian side was not successful at defending the same attacks from the Raptors. Former Pumas hooker Diego Fortuny went over for the first Raptors try and former Pumas fly half Mieres converted. This reduced the half-time deficit to 14-10 in favor of the visitors.
Back-rower Mo Vaniolo gave the Raptors the lead early-on in the second-half. It came from a series of raids on the Cobras‘ own try line. Mieres converted to put the Raptors three points clear.
The Brazilian side responded once again. This time it was N8 Pedro Aparecido who scored in the try zone. Aparecido did so from a quickly taken penalty. The home defense was not ready. Tranquez landed the conversion in what was the final score from Os Cobras.
The roller-coaster ride was not over; the Raptors responded with a try of their own. Four minutes after Aparecido’s try, Jacob Hidalgo went left and into the try zone. It came following impressive work using the grunt of the forwards.
The lead was restored and subsequently expanded on. Former Scotland winger Rufus McLean provided the match-winner. Playing fullback, McLean made multiple breaks. Ultimately, the retreating Cobras were unable to withstand the Raptors. Deveraux Ferris linked with Aki Pulu who scored the bonus point try.
Ferris is the only capped USA Eagles player involved in today’s match for the Raptors. McLean is now very likely to play for his country of birth. McLean will be eligible to do so as of July 2025.
The Raptors remain at home next week and face another South American opponent. It will be the in-form Yacare. Os Cobras return home to Brazil and have a bye next weekend. Their next match will be on April 06 against Los Pampas.
| SCORING |
RAPTORS (29)
Try – (4) D Fortuny (25′); M Vanikolo (48′); J Hidalgo (63′); A Pulu (75′)
Con (3) – I Mieres (26′, 49′); D Ferris (76′)
Pen (1) – I Mieres (9′)
YC – (2) I Mieres (37′); M Muti (57′)
COBRAS (21)
Try (3) – F Carrera (5′); H Ferreira (21′); P Aparecido (59′)
Con (3) – L Tranquez (6′, 22′, 59′)
YC – (1) B Donald (62′)
| LINEUPS |
RAPTORS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 Will Crawford, 5 Mikey Grandy, 6 Shawn Clark, 7 Mo Vaniolo, 8 Diego Magno, 9 John Lefevre, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 11 Jacob Hidalgo, 12 Watson Fikitonga, 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Daytwon Sheridan, 15 Rufus McLean
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Clay Markoff, 18 Justus Tavai, 19 Tommy Clark, 20 Aidan Christians, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Feofaaki Pulu, 23 Cian Barry
COBRAS
1 Luciano Gabelliere, 2 Henrique Ferreira, 3 Francisco Moreno, 4 Franco Carrera, 5 Gabriel Paganini (capt.), 6 Maiki Lemes, 7 Rafael Teixeira, 8 Pedro Aparecido, 9 Douglas Rauth, 10 Lucas Tranquez, 11 Robson Morais, 12 Victor Silva, 13 Joel Júnior, 14 Sérgio Luna, 15 Lucas Spago
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Souza, 17 Levy Marinho, 18 José Santucho, 19 Ben Donald, 20 Renato Santos, 21 Nassor Lukata, 22 Alain Altahona, 23 Widson Menezes
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, March 17
Venue: Infinity Park, Denver, Colorado (US)
Kickoff: 4pm (MST); 7pm (Brasília)
Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy 8°C; wind (3-11 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN; Star +
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Pablo Deluca (AR)
Assistants: Federico Solari; Khalil Harrison
TMO: Chris O’Malley
