Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
In what will not go down in history as a classic, Selknam completed a road victory in Denver over the American Raptors. The 26-07 victory sees Selknam climbing up the standings to now be in the play-off’s Zone.
Two ugly early incidents put a stain on the match. First, Tommy Clark made head contact while attempting a tackle. He was let off of any foul play. Second, a dangerous tackle from Javon Camp-Villalovos on Iñaki Delguy was deemed foul play. The Raptors paid the price with an 8th minute red card.
Iñaki Delguy got swift revenge. The Argentine winger flew into the try zone to score. It came following a strong carry from captain Clemente Saavedra. Nicolás Roger landed the conversion.
The second score was also a Selknam try. In what was the only other score of the opening half, Roger made excellent use of tight space to score. With the conversion Selknam were 14-0 up. The Raptors looked to hit-back and came close only for Tomi Morani’s try to be ruled a knock-on.
A future of the match was the tension. Forwards from both sides were involved in a fierce rivalry. The outcome on two occasions was a double yellow card. In the first such incident, Facundo Pomponio and Clemente Saavedra were yellow carded two minutes from half-time.
Before they returned to the field, Selknam scored their third try. Waves of attacks culminated in The Racing 92 bound hooker, Diego Escobar scoring a well-taken try.
The bonus point came with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. An advancing maul saw replacement rookie back, Nicolás Saab latching on the back and diving over for a try. Marcelo Torrealba converted despite the ball having fallen off the kicking-tee with little time remaining.
The American Raptors messed up an opportunity for a try by kicking a penalty dead. The Colorado side also turned-down two regulation penalties. However, perseverance did pay off in the end. Second-rower Mikey Grande scored ten minutes from full-time. Argentine Francisco Quinn added the conversion.
The result was Selknam’s best outcome thus far in Super Rugby Americas 2024. The Chilean side previously won 30-20 against Os Cobras and drew 23-23 against league leaders Los Dogos. The win in Denver came with a bonus point. With it Selknam have overtaken the Raptors and Peñarol.
Selknam now fly home to Chile with a bye next weekend. The American Raptors will remain in Denver to take-on Los Dogos. If the Raptors can return to form, and upset Los Dogos, then they will rise at least one spot in the standings.
| SCORING |
AMERICAN RAPTORS (07)
Try (1) – M Grandy (70′)
Con (1) – F Quinn (71′)
YC (3) – F Pomponio (40′); D Ferris (61′); D Sheridan (78′)
RC (1) – J Camp-Villalovos (8′)
SELKNAM (26)
Try (4) – I Delguy (10′); N Roger (25′); D Escobar (48′); N Saab (58′)
Con (3) – N Roger (10′, 26′); M Torrealba (59′)
YC (2)- C Saavedra (40′); J Larrenas (78′)
| LINEUPS |
AMERICAN RAPTORS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Diego Fortuny (capt.), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 Javon Camp-Villalovos, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Tommy 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 Francisco Quinn
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Clay Markoff, 18 Justus Tavai, 19 Mikey Grandy, 20 Shawn Clark, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Aki Pulu, 23 Patrick Madden
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 Nicolás Roger, 11 José Larenas, 12 Martín Dumay, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Iñaki Delguy, 15 Luca Strabucchi
Replacements: 16 Tomás Dussailant, 17 Simón Donoso, 18 Baltazar Gurruchaga, 19 Federico Albrisi, 20 Inti Ubeda, 21 Marcelo Torrealba, 22 Nicolás Saab, 23 Nicolás Garafulic
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Gonzalo de Achával (AR)
Assistants: Benjamín Le Beaupin (US); Frank Méndez (CL)
TMO: Chris O’Malley (US)
