Pampas Stomp a Mud Hole on Selknam

Super Rugby Americas league leaders, Los Pampas stomp a mud hole on Friday. In a one-sided contest, the Buenos Aires side demolished Selknam. The 54-0 win was the most comprehensive of the season. It means the Chileans are no longer in the Top 4.

Los Pampas played excellent rugby. Selknam did not. This can be attributed to performance but also to selection. The decision to play Argentina XV scrum-half Rafael Iriarte at fly half was diabolical. Iriarte had an appalling performance as play-maker. It came with uncapped Chilean Felipe Méndez playing fullback. Méndez has impressed this season when given opportunities.

The home side were 26-0 up at half-time. Advancing mauls saw Ignacio Bottazzini and Estanislao Carullo over for tries. Scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz found space to create an opportunity for N8 Joaquín Moro. The wonderful try was followed by a killer-blow as Santiago Pernas intercepted an Iriarte pass to score.

Selknam started the second-half well. The Chilean side had three opportunities to score points but failed to capitalize. Los Pampas then responded with tries. The first was a gem. Joaquín de la Vega Mendía put in a cross-kick for Jerónimo Ulloa who offloaded while in the air to Bruno Heit for the score.

Veteran flanker Santiago Montagner powered through four defenders to score next. Fellow back-rower Joaquín Moro then scored his second. It was a gift as Iriarte kicked the ball into Pampas legs for Moro to be the benefactor with an untouched run-in try.

Further foolish play from Selknam gave Los Pampas their final try. Looking to run from deep inside the 22, Iriarte passed wide to Nicolás Saab who passed to Martín Escobar. The ball was lost with Manuel Nogués accepting the gift-wrapped try.

Selknam and to bounce back fast and hard. The Chilean side now have their backs against the wall. Next up is Los Dogos before the final round clash against the American Raptors. Selknam do have a pathway to the play-off’s but it is now very tight. Los Pampas face Peñarol away and Os Cobras at home in their remaining regular season fixtures.

SCORING

PAMPAS (54)
Try (8)- I Bottazzini (1′); E Carullo (22′); J Moro 2 (30′, 66′); S Pernas (38′) B Heit (53′); S Montagner (61′); M Nogués (74′)
Con (7) – J de la Vega Mendía 4/5 (2′, 22′, 39′, 53′); M Nogués 3/3 (62′, 67′, 75′)

SELKNAM (0)
YC (2) – I Gurruchaga (21′); N Aguayo (73′)

LINEUPS

PAMPAS
1 Javier Corvalán, 2 Ignacio Bottazzini, 3 Estanislao Carullo, 4 Eliseo Fourcade, 5 Marcelo Toledo, 6 Santiago Montagner, 7 Nicolás D’Amorim, 8 Joaquín Moro, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía (capt.), 11 Jerónimo Ulloa, 12 Justo Piccardo, 13 Bruno Heit, 14 Santiago Pernas, 15 Manuel Nogués

Replacements: 16 Ramiro Gurovich, 17 Facundo Scaiano, 18 Javier Coronel, 19 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 20 Eliseo Chiavassa, 21 Ignacio Inchauspe, 22 Juan Pablo Castro, 23 Bernabé López Fleming

SELKNAM
1 Salvador Lues, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Federico Albrisi, 5 Santiago Pedrero, 6 Alfonso Escobar, 7 Clemente Saavedra (capt.), 8 Raimundo Martínez, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rafael Iriarte, 11 José Larenas, 12 Nicolás Saab, 13 Rodrigo Araya, 14 Iñaki Delguy, 15 Felipe Méndez

Replacements: 16 Tomás Dussaillant, 17 Norman Aguayo, 18 Marco López, 19 Javier Eissmann, 20 Augusto Sarmiento, 21 Sebastián Bianchi, 22 Martín Escobar, 23 Andrés Kuzmanic

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

OFFICIALS

Referee: Francisco González (UY)
Assistants: Gonzalo de Achával (AR); Sergio Alvarenga (PY)
TMO: Lucas Galán (AR)