Sensational Selknam Trample Yacare in Santiago

A sensational performance from Selknam saw the Chilean side improving their Super Rugby Americas 2024 season dramatically. Saturday’s win saw a team on a mission; Selknam thoroughly outplayed Yacare to claim a bonus point win. The 39-15 result sees Selknam now firmly in the play-off’s zone and within three competition points of Yacare.

Selknam’s forwards were aggressive and won the battle up front. Captain Clemente Saavedra again impressed; the flanker is an early contender for MVP. Solid work from the pack opened a chance from which Tomas Salas made a half-break before passing in contact to Nicolás Garafulic who sprinted over.

Selknam had two further opportunities at tries but knocked-on within range of the try zone. It mattered not as center Nicolás Saab cut through for the next try. Rather than scoring he was illegally stopped by Juan Cruz Strada. The incident saw Cruz Strada yellow carded and Selknam being awarded a penalty try.

Yacare’s only first half score was a penalty to Joaquín Lamas. Early on, Salas had also landed a first half penalty. All told, Selknam were looking sharp with a 15-3 half-time lead, though Yacare’s response came after the resumption. Juan González’s try made it a one score difference.

Salas responded with a penalty before Selknam regained the upper hand. Not for the first time in Selknam colors, Argentine wing Iñaki Delguy show his pace. Delguy turned on the afterburners for a score down the right.

Marcelo Torrealba secured the win for Selknam with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Chilean test scrum-half did so as a replacement. Man of the Match Salas converted before adding the final score of the match with time up. He also converted from the sideline. Before his try, though, Yacare scored their second with Ignacio Palillo touching down.

The heavy loss may serve Yacare as a wake-up call. Selknam now look good for the play-off’s. Next up is Os Cobras in Santiago followed by Peñarol in Montevideo. With a home match against the American Raptors also yet to come, the season is now looking a lot better for the Chileans.

SCORING

SELKNAM (39)
Try (5) – N Garafulic (7′); Penalty Try (31′), I Delguy (54′), M Torrealba (69′), T Salas (80′)
Con (4) – No Kick (31′), T Salas (55′, 70′, 80′)
Pen (2) – T Salas (2′, 50′)
YC (1) – S Donoso (74′)

YACARE (15)
Try (2) – J González (46′), I Palillo (74′)
Con (1) – J Lamas (74′)
Pen (1) – J Lamas (27′)
YC (2) – JC Strada (31′), T Vanni (49′)

LINEUPS

SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Alfonso Escobar, 7 Clemente Saavedra (capt.), 8 Raimundo Martínez, 9 Rafael Iriarte, 10 Tomás Salas, 11 Nicolás Garafulic, 12 Nicolás Saab, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Iñaki Delguy 15 Luca Strabucchi

Replacements: 16 Norman Aguayo, 17 Simón Donoso, 18 Baltazar Gurruchaga, 19 Federico Albrisi, 20 Inti Ubeda, 21 Marcelo Torrealba, 22 José Larenas, 23 Santiago Edwards

YACARE
1 Ezequiel Reyes, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Rolando Portillo, 4 Ignacio Martínez, 5 Mariano Garcete (capt.), 6 Juan Pérez Rachel, 7 Felipe Puertas, 8 Nicolás Parada Heit, 9 Juan Cruz Strada, 10 Joaquín Lamas, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Ramiro Amarilla, 13 Tomás Vanni, 14 Arturo López, 15 Thomas Mc Call

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Palillo, 17 Camillo Blasco, 18 Rodolfo Rivadeneira, 19 Lucio Anconetani, 20 Ariel Núñez, 21 Gonzalo Barreiro, 22 Sebastián Urbieta, 23 Juan González

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

OFFICIALS

Referee: Damian Schneider (AR)
Assistants: Sebastián Toledo; Caua Ricardo
TMO: Ignacio Calle