Up and Under

The 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

 

USA
The Eagles made history in Ottawa. Never before have the Eagles won three test matches in a row against Canada. It was also the largest ever win beating the previous biggest margin of 15 points in 2003. Unlike the win in the recent Pacific Nations Cup, the USA won by scoring tries, five of them in total. All of a sudden both Japan and Samoa have reason to consider the Eagles a genuine threat at the World Cup.

Agustín Ormaechea
Uruguay’s scrumhalf continues to impress against superior teams at international level. His latest performance, this past Saturday against Japan, saw the Mont-de-Marsan no9 marshaling his troops well and creating his team’s try with Jerónimo Etcheverry diving over in the left corner. Ormaechea has been impressive in the Pro D2 but is entering the World Cup as a player in which elite level clubs should be paying attention to.

Patricio Fernández
One of Argentina’s certain future stars, Patricio Fernández made his professional debut on Friday when he came off the bench for the 2015 European Rugby Champions Cup finalists, Clermont. Fernández is expected to be a long-term Puma but is currently not involved due to Daniel Hourcade deeming him not ready. Still aged just 20 Fernández will be at a good age come Rugby World Cup 2019 and is likely to have plenty of caps under his name before then.

Twin Elm Park
A full house at Twin Elm Park in Ottawa witnessed Canada’s latest loss. The public nonetheless deserve a special mention for getting behind the team. The values of rugby highlight the importance of working together through the thick and the thin and the public certainly were in attendance to give their support. When Canada is back to winning ways again, there is good reason to believe the previous BMO Field record will be beaten.

Las Tucanes
Colombia’s women defeated Samoa in a Rugby Sevens match in Ireland on Sunday. The result was Colombia’s only win in the two-day tournament played in Ireland but was, nonetheless, an extremely noteworthy accomplishment. Samoa is one of rugby’s best countries with the men’s team being a two-time Rugby World Cup Quarter Finalist and a constant threat to Tier One opposition. By way of comparison in 1993 there were only 50 people playing rugby in Colombia.

 

UNDER

 

Kieran Crowley
When former All Black Kieran Crowley became Canada’s international coach in 2008 he had a troubled beginning but in 2009 began to steady the ship and Canada obtained noteworthy results. Since the 2011 World Cup, Canada’s world ranking has slumped five spots from 13th to 18th, and they have managed only one test win since January of 2014. Crowley’s team is to face France, Ireland, Italy and Romania with the Eastern Europeans being the game to target as must-win. Recent form, though, implies that Canada will need to step it up in a significant way if they are to accomplish that.

Matías Díaz
Days after being named in Argentina’s Rugby World Cup squad the Mendoza tight head prop had his tournament ended through heart problems. Díaz had been selected to join Ramiro Herrera and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro in the position but has had his place taken by Juan Pablo Orlandi. It follows Juan Figallo having earlier been ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury.

Martín Castrogiovanni
Another Argentine tighthead prop, Martín Castrogiovanni gave away a penalty in the final scrum of the game on Saturday which host his representative country, Italy a shot at a late victory. Italy had led Scotland into the final ten minutes before Scotland made a rare break down the right tough line to go ahead and ultimately win. Castrogiovanni has been capped 111 times but age now appears to be showing.

Phil Mack
A number of Canadian players could be named here but Phil Mack’s yellow carding after an underwhelming performance as replacement scrumhalf was particularly noteworthy. Canada desperately needs to see the Phil Mack back to the form he showed in 2013, a time in which the suggestion that Canada would lose three times in-a-row against the USA seemed ludicrous.

RWC Quarter-Finals Talk
The global sporting event is almost here. In four weeks’ time the Rugby World Cup will have started and Argentina, Canada, Uruguay, and the USA will all have played their first matches. There are countless must-see matches, yet there is too much talk already as to not only who will be the champion but also who will contest the Semi-Finals and Quarter-Finals. It is all premature. First the pool phase needs to be played and a lot could happen. A strong side could fall short as Ireland and Wales both did in 2007 or injuries to key players could change everything. Rather than speculate, why not sit back and enjoy the entire tournament?