Uruguay Defeat Chile To Advance in RWC Qualifiers

Uruguay defeated Chile to advance in Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifiers. Los Teros’ 27-11 victory sees Chile officially eliminated and means Uruguay will face the runner-up of June’s Canada vs USA home-and-away series.

Uruguay won the match on the back of an explosive opening quarter performance. The home side took just three minutes to get on the board. Fly half Felipe Berchesi crossed for the opening points, scoring a try. He also added the conversion.

Berchesi would have difficult shots in goal in the following minutes. A long-range attempt in the 8th minute rebounded off the posts while a 10th minute strike narrowly missed.

In the 16th minute Berchesi was on target. He successfully converted Uruguay’s second try and with it Los Teros held a 14-0 lead. The try was scored by Leandro Leivas. The winger latched onto a kick from scrum half Agustín Ormaechea.

Nine minutes later Berchesi added further points. His first of two opening half penalties saw Chile’s dream slipping away. With a second strike finding target minutes later Uruguay were 20-0 ahead with 14 minutes yet to play in the first half.

Neither side would trouble the scorers again until the 43rd minute. Getting Los Cóndores onto the board was Francisco González Moller. The Sporting RC fly half offered Chile a glimmer of hope.

Uruguay’s comfortable advantage did not see the same urgency which had been apparent against Brazil last weekend. Additional points would nonetheless come. Scoring Uruguay’s third and final try was Rodrigo Silva. The fullback’s 56th minute try made it a 27-3 scoreline.

Uruguay had secure the result but Chile would not give up. Los Cóndores showed determination to work their way towards the Teros tryline. Francisco De La Fuente  was the benefactor. The center’s try was unconverted.

The final points of the game came with 12 minutes remaining. Replacement Francisco Urroz landed a penalty to make it a 27-11 final scoreline.

Chile return home to prepare for the Argentina XV. The teams are to meet in Santiago on Saturday June 03. Uruguay’s next assignment will be against Emerging Italy in Montevideo on June 10.

 

SCORING

URUGUAY 27
Tries – F. Berchesi (4’), L. Leivas (16’), R. Silva (48’)
Cons – F. Berchesi 3/3 (5’, 17’, 49’)
Pens – F. Berchesi 2/6 (27’, 31’)
Yellow cards – J. Cat (68’)

CHILE 11
Tries – F. de la Fuente (51’)
Cons – F. Urroz 0/1
Pens – F. González Moller 1/1 (44’), F. Urroz 1/1 (69’)
Yellow cards – P. Huete (77’)

 

TEAMS

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (17 Matías Benítez 78’), 2 Martín Espiga (16 Germán Kessler 76’), 3 Mario Sagario (18 Juan Echeverría 64’), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Manuel Leindekar (20 Diego Magno 73’), 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.) (23 Santiago Hernández 79’), 7 Franco Lamanna, 8 Alejandro Nieto (19 Gonzalo Soto 67’), 9 Agustín Ormaechea (21 Santiago Arata 64’), 10 Felipe Berchesi, 11 Gastón Mieres, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (22 Germán Albanell 73’), 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Rodrigo Silva

CHILE
1 Ramón Ayarza (17 Vittorio Lastra 76’), 2 Manuel Gurruchaga (capt.) (16 Tomás Dussaillant 70’), 3 José Tomás Munita (18 Maximiliano Hurtado 76’), 4 Pablo Huete, 5 Mario Mayol (20 Alfonso Rioja 73’), 6 Ignacio Silva, 7 Anton Petrowitsch, 8 Benjamín Soto (19 Nikola Bursic 61’), 9 Jan Hasenlechner (21 Beltrán Vergara 52’), 10 Francisco González Moller (22 Francisco Urroz 47’), 11 Franco Velarde, 12 Francisco de la Fuente, 13 Matías Nordenflycht (23 José Ignacio Larenas 64’), 14 Felipe Brangier, 15 Rodrigo Fernández

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (UAR)
Assistants: Juan Pablo Federico (UAR) & Leónidas Diez (UAR)