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Uruguay enjoyed a good start to their World Rugby u20 Trophy campaign. The South Americans were 25-7 winners over Kenya at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Los Teritos now turn their attention to North America; Uruguay face the USA on Saturday.
Los Teritos’ opening game provides reason for optimism. The match was the second of the tournament. Earlier on in the day, Japan humiliated Hong Kong 105-20. That result asks World Rugby why exactly Hong Kong are involved instead of a qualifier from a different region?
Los Teritos sealed the win over Kenya by crossing for two tries in the final quarter. However, the scoreline does not reflect the fact the Peñarol’s Ícaro Amarilla was off-target with three conversions. Indeed, Uruguay scored four tries while Kenya scored one.
One of the up-and-coming players from Super Rugby Americas 2023 was Pedro Hoblog. The scrum-half also impressed in Scotland against Kenya. Hoblog crossed for the opening try. Ícaro Amarillo failed to convert the 10th minute score. He made up for the miss with a penalty four minutes later.
The only other try of the first-half went to Alfonso Perillo. The inside center carried strongly to get have the strength to score while being tackled by two Kenyans. Amarilla converted for a 15-0 lead. He played fullback despite having started at fly half for Peñarol in the Super Rugby Americas Semi Final loss against Los Pampas.
Kenya opened their account in the 56th minute. Outside center Mike Wamalwa used good foot work to score late in the third quarter. Fullback James Olela converted to make it an eight point deficit. Uruguay scored the remaining points. Replacement prop Santiago Cagnone and hooker Francisco García both scored tries.
The match was the second in history between Uruguay and Kenya at u20 level. The previous fixture was in 2019 with Uruguay winning 63-11 in Brazil. The Uruguayan side on that day featured plays who went on to play at Rugby World Cup 2023. They were Felipe Aliaga, Baltazar Amaya, Felipe Arcos Pérez, Ignacio Péculo, Reinaldo Piussi, and Carlos Deus.
| SCORING |
KENYA (07)
Try (1) – M Wamalwa (57′)
Con (1) – J Olela (58′)
YC (1) – P Okeya (52′)
URUGUAY (25)
Try (4) – P Hoblog (10′), A Perillo (37′), S Cagnone (66′), F García (73′)
Con (1) – I Amarilla (38′)
Pen (1) – I Amarilla (14′)
| LINE-UPS |
KENYA
1 Darren Oluoch, 2 Bramwel Mate, 3 Wicklife Ogutu, 4 Eugene Etale, 5 Clein Omukhulu, 6 Edmond Onyango (capt.), 7 Andycole Omolo, 8 Iddo Kuta, 9 Patrick Wainaina, 10 Jackson Siketi, 11 Brian Kiptanui, 12 Philip Okeya, 13 Mike Wamalwa, 14 Daniel Bett, 15 James Olela
Replacments: 16 Brian Huya, 17 Geylord Ngasi, 18 Ian Nyandusi, 19 Eddy Odhiambo, 20 Nathan Tsindoli, 21 Willy Tino Wiwatu, 22 Benadict Muiruri, 23 Faran Mutem
URUGUAY
1 Felipe Pick, 2 Tomás Sturla, 3 Santiago Martirene, 4 Franco Bertini, 5 Benjamín Borrazás, 6 Francisco Gallo, 7 Juan Manuel Dotta, 8 Phillip Bowles, 9 Pedro Hoblog, 10 Francisco Landauer, 11 Santiago Terra, 12 Alfonso Perillo, 13 Santiago Gini, 14 Francisco Garayalde, 15 Ícaro Amarilla
Replacements: 16 Francisco García, 17 Santiago Cagnone, 18 Rodolfo Arocena, 19 Federico Lawlor, 20 Felipe Bofill, 21 Iñaki Idoyaga, 22 Augusto Flangini, 23 Ignacio Fruggone
