Argentina XV down Uruguay to Secure Sudamérica Rugby Cup

Having downed Uruguay 18-8 this evening in Colonia del Sacramento the Argentina XV are South American Champions. The hard-fought victory marks the second win by the Argentina XV away to Uruguay in 2016.

Played under heavy first half rain at the Estadio Supicci, running rugby was out of the question for much of the match. As a result both teams reverted to the more stereo-typical approach of predominantly tight play.

The low scoring affair was played under the experimental laws in which tries are worth six points and with a conversion the total scored is eight rather than seven points. Both penalty and drop goals were also worth two points.

In the match neither team kicked penalties or drop goals. Instead the scoring game through tries with the Argentina XV outscoring Uruguay by two to one.

Crossing once in each half the Argentina XV’s tries came from second-rower Ignacio Larrague and winger Sebastián Cancelliere. Fullback Pedro Mercerat converted both and also landed one penalty. Uruguay’s try came from center Andrés Vilaseca with fly half Martín Secco adding the extras.

The fixture was the second of two for Uruguay who earlier defeated Chile 39-14 in a match doubling for the South American A Championship. Chile will now host the Argentina XV next Saturday, June 04 in Santiago.

Los Teros will turn their attention to Eastern Europe. Their upcoming international activity will be in the World Rugby Nations Cup in Bucharest, Romania. Test matches will take place against the hosts and Spain as well as a non-capped fixture against Emerging Italy.

SCORERS
URUGUAY
Try: Vilaseca
Conversion: Secco

ARGENTINA XV
Try: Larrague, Cancelliere
Conversion: Mercerat (2)
Penalty: Mercerat

URUGUAY
1 Facundo Gattas, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Diego Arbelo, 4 Franco Lamanna, 5 Diego Magno, 6 Juan Gaminara (capt.), 7 Gonzalo Campomar, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Guillermo Lijtenstein, 10 Martín Secco, 11 Nicolás Freitas, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Joaquín Prada, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Rodrigo Silva

Replacements: 16 Carlos Arboleya, 17 Rafael Mones, 18 Ignacio Secco, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Matías Beer, 21 Andrés Rocco, 22 Santiago Arata, 23 Santiago Martínez

ARGENTINA XV
1 Franco Brarda, 2 Facundo Bosch, 3 Felipe Arregui, 4 Pedro Ortega, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Lucas Maguire, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Santiago Portillo, 9 Marcos Bollini, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Franco Cuaranta, 12 Joaquín Paz, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Pedro Mercerat

Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Eduardo Bello, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Federico Lavanini, 20 Santiago Montagner, 21 Juan Manuel Lescano, 22 Bruno Devoto, 23 Tomás Granella