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Chile delivered Canada a harsh reality check with a stunning 44-14 victory in Bucharest on Saturday. The two sides were neck-and-neck on the World Rankings heading into the match but Los Cóndores made it look easy with their seven tries, total points, and margin of victory all records against the Maple Leafs.
It was the worst possible start for the Canadians. From the opening kickoff they turned the ball over at the first collision. Iñaki Ayarza worked a give-and-go with Raimundo Martínez, with Alfonso Escobar there to act as a link with the scoring pass sending Cristóbal Game in with game time still measured only in seconds. Ethan Fryer was helped off in the background adding injury to insult.
Poor discipline from Chile handed over two kicking opportunities to Peter Nelson and he would land both to give the Canucks the lead. It wouldn’t last more than two minutes. Martínez bashed through two defenders and stepped on the gas, swerving past the cover to score a scintillating individual try from 40 meters. Santiago Videla converted to make it 12-6.
The unstoppable 🇨🇱Raimundo Martinez. pic.twitter.com/z6ecjy6EGo
— Bryan Ray (@raysrugby) November 9, 2024
A threatening attack down the left side ended with a desperate tackle on Nicolás Garafulic. Canada managed to clear to halfway but came straight back, this time pressing the right side. Videla dummied his way through and Rodrigo Fernández connected with replacement winger Matías Garafulic for a third Cóndores try. On the stroke of halftime Nelson sent over a penalty goal and the board read 19-9 in favor of the South Americans after 40 minutes.
Canada’s confidence deteriorated rapidly in the second half. A miscommunication in the midfield saw Ayarza busting clean though, with Benjamín Videla in close support to dive in under the sticks. Next it was a high ball that eluded the Canadian backs and returned possession to Chile. Simple hands from Ayarza and Nicolás Garafulic put Domingo Saavedra clear into the corner.
The trio combined again soon after, with Garafulic on the end after wide passes from Ayarza and Saavedra. Benjamín Videla went quick at a penalty after the Canadians were caught in their own end. He quickly found brother Santiago and Nicolás Garafulic cruised in unmarked for a double. Videla then landed a penalty goal to further stretch the lead to 44-9 with 66 minutes up on the clock.
Andrew Quattrin was sent to the bin for what was deemed a lifting tackle, leaving the Canadians shorthanded for the final minutes. They would salvage a consolation try three minutes from full-time, with Cooper Coats showing quick hands to send Lucas Rumball down the left side. The captain bumped off Ayarza en route to the line but the result was already well beyond doubt.
Los Cóndores will head to Amsterdam for a clash against the Netherlands next Saturday. The Maple Leafs will stay in Bucharest to reflect and regroup before closing out their calendar year against hosts Romania.
| SCORING |
CHILE 44
Tries (7) – C. Game (1′), R. Martínez (12′), M. Garafulic (26′), B. Videla (42′), D. Saavedra (50′), N. Garafulic 2 (54′, 57′)
Cons (3) – S. Videla 3/7 (13′, 27′, 43′)
Pens (1) – S. Videla 1/1 (66′)
CANADA 14
Tries (1) – L. Rumball (77′)
Cons (0) – P. Nelson 0/1
Pens (3) – P. Nelson 3/3 (5′, 10′, 40′)
YC (1) – A. Quattrin (69′)
| TEAMS |
CHILE
1 Javier Carrasco (17 Norman Aguayo 62′), 2 Augusto Böhme (16 Diego Escobar 55′), 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga (18 Matías Dittus 55′), 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Clemente Saavedra (19 Bruno Sáez 62′), 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Raimundo Martínez, 8 Alfonso Escobar (20 Ernesto Tchimino HT), 9 Benjamín Videla (21 Marcelo Torrealba 69′), 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Nicolás Garafulic, 12 Santiago Videla (22 Juan Cruz Reyes 66′), 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Cristóbal Game (23 Matías Garafulic 10′), 15 Iñaki Ayarza
CANADA
1 Cole Keith (17 Cali Martinez HT), 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Conor Young, 4 Kaden Duguid (19 Callum Botchar 61′), 5 Mason Flesch, 6 Ethan Fryer (20 Sion Parry 2′ {16 Jesse Mackail 73′}), 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Jason Higgins (21 Brock Gallagher 63′), 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Noah Flesch, 13 Ben LeSage (23 Mitch Richardson 45′), 14 Andrew Coe (22 Cooper Coats 61′), 15 Nic Benn
Not used: 18 Tyler Matchem
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, November 9
Venue: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Kickoff: 13:00 local
Weather: sunny, 50°F (10°C), wind NE 12-18mph (19-29km/h)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
Assistants: Morné Ferreira (South Africa) & Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
