Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly feature on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week.

UP

Axel Müller
Following a nightmare start to the Top 14 season the knives have been out for Toulon players and staff. Former Puma Diego Dominguez had his head on the chopping block but responded in the best way possible – defeating Toulouse away. Toulon silenced their critics by winning 32-15 at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday. Crossing for Toulon was debutante Axel Müller. The Argentine Sevens star completed a dream debut in the Top 14 and was joined by USA powerhouse Samu Manoa in the starting lineup.

Tyler Ardron, Jeff Hassler
In Ireland on Saturday Canadian captain Tyler Ardron was simply brilliant. The Ospreys humiliated the 2016 Guinness Pro 12 champions Connacht, downing them 32-11 in Galway. Two of the three Ospreys tries were from Canadians as Ardron and Hassler both crossed. Puma Facundo Isa will have to make way for Ardron in the Team of the Week while Hassler is certain to be in contention. If Canada could produce an entire XV with the quality of their Swansea-based duo they would be a force to be reckoned with.

Nicolás Mirande
The number of professional players from the Americas was boosted this past week. Joining Bourgoin in the Pro D2 was the former Argentina XV tighthead prop. For Mirande it is a second opportunity after he was previously brought into Racing 92 as a medical joker. His new home are not playing well. After three rounds of the season Bourgoin sit in 14th position, just one place outside of the relegation zone.

Christian Ostberg
Sitting pretty in the top spot of the Pro D2 is Aurillac. The central French side defeated Montanan 20-12 on Saturday, doing so with Christian Ostberg. The Eagles Development Training Group member was a second-half replacement for Aurillac. His development at the club has been impressive. It is only a matter of time before John Mitchell gives the Texan a phone call for him to play test match rugby.

Marcos Kremer 
Having just turned 19, Kremer is now a fully capped international rugby player. The Argentine made his debut on Saturday morning against none other than New Zealand. At such an age and against such an opposition it was very much an unlikely debut. Truth be told Kremer has been given the opportunity based on injuries and UAR policies. With neither Manuel Carizza nor Mariano Galarza having been green-lighted for selection, Kremer has been promoted early on. Daniel Hourcade likes what he sees in the teenager from Concordia, Entre Ríos, and will retain him for the long-term.

Chile, Uruguay u19’s
Opening round wins for Chile and Uruguay see both well positioned in the Junior South American Championship. Chile outperformed Brazil to complete a 16-0 win. It sets up a round two match against Paraguay who had no answer to the ever-improving Teritos. Uruguay’s 90-0 performance showcased a team rapidly developing. It is highly positive news for the future as Uruguay is dead-set on qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

UNDER

Argentina
Sometimes logic does not prevail. Indeed how does one go from beating South Africa to losing next up by 35 points. It is truly a sign of how good New Zealand are today must the real reasoning runs deeper. Argentina played a good game of rugby in Hamilton yet lost by a heavy margin. For one reason or another New Zealand was able to score three tries from pieces of luck. Yes, that is 21 points. The bounce of the ball is unpredictable yet in Hamilton the All Blacks seemed to have an earpiece from the Gods above. Argentina is much better than the scoreline suggests and will knock over more leading teams this year.

Juan Martín Hernández, Guido Petti
The word nobody wants to hear in rugby is injury. A loss can be cast aside by training harder but an injury cannot. It requires rehabilitation for the player and rethinking for the coaching staff. Daniel Hourcade will now need to scratch his head to come up with a quick fix for Saturday. Argentina play Australia away in Perth and will be without star center Hernández with minor ligament damage. In doubt is second row Petti who was the victim of a high tackle from Joe Moody. SANZAAR’s citing commissioner has subsequently given Moody an official warning. It does not help Argentina who are already down to bare-bones at lock without Tomás Lavanini and Juan Cruz Guillemaín to injury.

Newcastle Falcons
While Argentina were beaten badly they, nevertheless, made far more of a fight out of their match than did the Falcons. England’s northern-most team in the Aviva Premiership were utterly humiliated by Bath on Saturday. Losing 58-5 Newcastle went from a promising start against Sale just a week ago to a complete disaster at The Rec. Evan Olmstead was the best of a bad bunch on an afternoon they’d probably all like to forget. There is still a long way to go but performances like that cannot be repeated if relegation is to be avoided.

Mariano Moreno
A dozen rounds into the URBA Top 14 season and Moreno remain pointless. Based in La Reja on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the club is floundering in the basement behind 13th-place Los Tilos, will ahead with 13 points. At the top end of the ladder sit Belgrano and Hindú with 51 and 50 points respectively. Both have qualified for the Semi Finals while SIC secured a place in the playoffs this past weekend.

Paraguay u19’s
Paraguay’s 90-0 loss against Uruguay on Sunday was ugly. The land-locked South American country had no answer whatsoever for Uruguay. Los Teritos demonstrated a vastly superior skill set and fitness. This combination saw Paraguay dominated for 80 minutes. With a short turn-around Paraguay must now pick themselves up to face Chile on Wednesday. Uruguay will play against Brazil.