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Like Brazil, the Chileans have benefited greatly from the re-development of the Americas Rugby Championship. Their 2016 total of 11 tests is almost three times as many as the four they played in 2015, and the first time they’ve had more than seven in a calendar year since 2005. While Los Cóndores have long topped the tier of South American teams below World Cup qualifiers Argentina and Uruguay, the increase in competition gives them a great deal more opportunities to develop some impressive young talent emerging from the country in recent years.
2016 ARC
Their 2016 tournament got off to a successful if nervous start as they scraped past Brazil in La Reina, but it was mostly hard yards the rest of the way. A surprisingly close loss to Uruguay was wrapped by blowout losses to Canada, the USA, and the Argentina XV, and in truth Chile struggled to find consistency from all but their very best players. Brazil’s shock win over the Eagles condemned Chile to the Wooden Spoon in 2016. Having access to overseas players like Ramón Ayarza, Matías Cabrera, and Francisco de la Fuente even in a limited capacity helped but they will not have them this year, at least in the early stages.
POST-ARC 2016
A runaway win over Paraguay to open the South American ‘A’ Championship gave Los Cóndores some much-needed confidence but a draw with Brazil followed immediately after and only points differential put them into the Sudamérica Cup over Os Tupis. Heavy defeats to Uruguay and the Argentina XV ended their summer and gave them plenty to work on ahead of their two-match series against South Korea. The first match was a comfortable enough victory, but the second ranks among the most embarrassing defeats in modern times as they squandered a 31-point lead in the second half to lose 38-36 in Santiago.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Had he been available, Anton Petrowitsch would have been a first-choice player for Los Condores in 2016. He has since returned from his European contract and should play a major role in their fortunes in 2017. Tall and agile, the loose forward will be a key man in the lineout and at the restarts, with his pace more than useful as a link man in the wider spaces.
Having seemingly fully usurped former national skipper Juan Pablo Perrotta, Beltrán Vergara is ready to stamp his signature on the scrumhalf position in 2017. The 26-year-old only made his international debut in last year’s ARC but went on to appear in all 11 matches for Los Condores, with his strong fundamentals ensuring his team sticks to the game plan.
One who could have a significant impact is heavily armored midfielder Simón Pardakhty. Previously capped as a back row forward, the 25-year-old has since been used as a smashing machine in the centres to great effect for French club Stade Rodez, and it’s there he should be unleashed for Chile in this tournament. A midfield combination with the outstanding Matías Nordenflycht would give any team cause for concern.
An area where Chile could use a little more life is in the outside backs, where their counter attack was largely stifled in last year’s competition. Enter promising youngster Rodrigo Fernández. His experience at flyhalf gives him a keen awareness of positioning and his footballing skills are similarly strong, but it’s as a fullback where his pace and stepping ability look most useful. This could be his chance to make a name for himself outside of Chilean borders.
VERDICT
A major change from 2016 is the hiring of a new coach in Bernard Charreyre, the former French age-grade coach who also ran the rule over Romania in the 2003 World Cup. His presence should help in cohesiveness but without injured Javier Richard and overseas pros Ayarza, Cabrera, and Pablo Huete in particular there’s only so much influence one man can have. After the disastrous loss to South Korea the team should be happy to get out of São Paulo with a win. Individual development, rather than results, are likely the best Chile can hope for this year.
