Team of the Week

We’re very late getting our best from last weekend up but in our defense it was a busy week and it took some extra time to review all the footage! It was a rough week for the Jaguares and as such not one player from the team makes our selection. In fact all of our choices come from international rugby where the South American ‘A’ Championship concluded and Mexico hosted the USA South Panthers in Puebla.

1 – Omar Rojas (Paraguay) It was a rough day at the office for the Yacarés but they can take some consolation from their excellent effort in the scrum. Rojas played a full 80 minutes and gave his opposing front row a lesson in leverage.

2 – Mizael Loredo (Mexico) Honorable mention to Yan Rosetti who scored a try and led Brazil to a record-setting win over Paraguay. Our pick this week, however, is another try-scoring hooker in Loredo, who showed great desire in the loose and was excellent in the set piece where Mexico dominated.

3 – Mario Sagario (Uruguay) There was no question who had the edge at the scrum in Montevideo. The former European pro might not have had the impact of his opposite Ramón Ayarza in the loose, but certainly had Ayarza’s number in the set piece, giving the Bayonne loosehead a torrid time until coming off shortly after the hour mark.

4 – Ignacio Dotti (Uruguay) A tough call with Pablo Huete adding plenty of physicality to the Chilean pack and Manuel Leindekar again impressing for Los Teros. The impressive workrate of Dotti gets him the nod, with numerous charges at the line and strong work at the set piece.

5 – Cléber Dias (Brazil) Played like the extra flanker that he is with an excellent performance in the rout over Paraguay. Held up just short on one of his rampaging runs but worked the ball back quickly for Rosetti to score. At his best on the blindside, where his future surely lies for the Tupis.

6 – Franco Lamanna (Uruguay) An absolute menace at the breakdown, slowing the Chilean attack to a crawl and nabbing a couple turnovers. Put in a huge number of tackles, won ball at the lineout, and generally made things happen all over the pitch. Top marks for the Italy-based pro.

7 – Matt Hughston (USA South) Arguably the hottest competition of the week as Matheus Daniel touched down twice as a replacement for Brazil while Mexico’s Gonzalo Pons fought through an early injury to have an excellent first half before being forced off at the break. Hughston lasted the full 80 and was outstanding, putting Zach Miller through for a score and grabbing one himself after filling in as a center in the final minutes of the match.

8 – Hein Erasmus (USA South) Led his team back from a 23-7 deficit to very nearly draw level by force of will. Barreled into the opposition time and time again, making the hard yards you would expect from a bruising South African eightman.

9 – Andrés Rodríguez (Mexico) Uruguay were pleased to have Agustín Ormaechea back in action and his control, tactical kicking game, and superb defense played a big part in the win over Chile. All that wasn’t enough to displace the outstanding player for Las Serpientes in Puebla, with a two-try performance coming from Rodríguez. He might have had a third had he not been dragged down just short after nearly racing away for an intercept score.

10 – Adam Channel (USA South) Nothing flash from but a very solid performance from the Tiger Academy product. Kicked well, made good decisions, and defended like an extra loose forward. His team certainly couldn’t have asked for any more as they came up just short to a very confident Mexican side.

11 – Stefano Giantorno (Brazil) It was a good day at the office for the stocky winger who did damage with virtually every carry. Scored a try himself and created one for Josh Reeves with his quick thinking and a classy offload. Gastón Mieres also performed well for Uruguay, particularly in defense.

12 – Andrés Vilaseca (Uruguay) A tough call over the equally deserving Moisés Duque, but Vilaseca rarely gets the credit he deserves. His left-footed kicking from hand was on point and as usual the rest of his game was utterly dependable. His outside line put him clean through to create an early try for Felipe Berchesi and his tackling was keenly felt by a few Chileans.

13 – Felipe Sancery (Brazil) It was a glory day at the office for the Tupis with a record-setting victory over Paraguay and the Sancery twins were right in the thick of it. Felipe ran a beautiful line to burst clean through and touch down early, threatening often until earning a rest for the final quarter.

14 – Felipe Brangier (Chile) Not the sort of day going forward for a winger but the sevens expert certainly made his mark in defense with a couple thumping tackles and a turnover won at the breakdown. Sadly starved of possession on offense and will be wondering what might have been.

15 – Rodrigo Fernández (Chile) Stepped in as a late replacement for the injured Tomas Ianiszewski before the match and probably left people wondering why he wasn’t named in the lineup to begin with. One of the most promising young players coming out of Chile today, his pace created a brilliant try for Francisco de la Fuente and his footballing skills were evident throughout.