Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News which reviews the best and worst from games involving the Americas teams over the previous week. In this week’s edition ARN has expanded the scope to incorporate all not only the Americas but also from RWC 2019.

 

UP

England
In the biggest dismantling of the All Blacks in a RWC match in a very longtime England were convincing winners with a dominant display in Yokohama. England won by 12 points though even then they had two disallowed tries. With the win England are now firm favorites to win the RWC Final this coming Saturday.

South Africa
Facing England in the Final will be the Springboks. With England having beaten Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand already they now need a clean-sweep of the Rugby Championship teams to be crowned champions of the world. South Africa are two-time champions and go into the final without having played notably well in either their Quarter Final or Semi Final.

St. Lucia
With a 53-26 road victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines on Saturday St Lucia are riding high. The battle of the Caribbean island nations saw St Lucia also making up for their 17-14 loss in 2018 against the same opponent. In winning big on the road St Lucia have shot up in the Americas Rankings.

Jaguares Recruitment
Domingo Miotti was unveiled this past week as the latest new signing for Los Jaguares for the 2020 season. He penned a contract until the end of 2022, a long-term contract based on the greater interests of Argentine rugby. It is safe to say that it will take a miracle for RWC 2019 fly halves Nicolás Sánchez, and Benjamín Urdapilleta to play again for Los Pumas.

Juan Imhoff
After eight rounds of the Top 14 Juan Imhoff is the leading try scorer with six tries. The decision not to take him, or Santiago Cordero, to RWC 2019 to instead start Matías Moroni on the wing will forever be among the poorest in Argentine rugby history. Benjamín Urdapilleta’s perfect cross-kick for Moroni vs England did not result in a try. Had it been Imhoff, Cordero, Bautista Delguy then the prospects of a try would have been much greater.

Santiago García Botta, Martín Landajo
In the English Premiership former Pumas Santiago García Botta and Martín Landajo both had round two starts this past weekend. The Harlequins were 22-17 winners over the Bristol Bears with Landajo setting up a try with a delicate kick into the in-goal area.

Nick Civetta
Pro D2 side Vannes acquired the services of Nick Civetta. In doing so the club now has two RWC 2019 Eagles as Civetta joins Eric Fry. While there are disappointed fans that he will not be playing Major League Rugby the move is a step-up from the English to the French second division for Civetta.

 

UNDER

South Africa vs Wales
One of the biggest let downs in RWC 2019 was the opening hour of South Africa vs Wales. Nothing really could have followed the intensity of the England vs New Zealand match, though the game between the Springboks and Dragons was utterly boring until the final quarter. Nothing but box kicks as neither team looked to seize any initiative for well over half of the match.

Bronze Final
The structure of RWCs mean that the Bronze Final is a dead rubber. There is literally nothing for the winner to gain aside from medals for finishing third in the tournament. This needs to be reconsidered with RWC qualification being one of the money-makers that World Rugby fail to utilize. In the future perhaps only the tournament hosts plus best three from the prior RWC ought to qualify direct?

Zebre vs Leinster
In the Pro 14 a candidate for the worst match of the season, let alone the 21st century took place this past weekend in Italy. Zebre were beaten 3-0 by Leinster in an appalling match. There were test players involved for both sides.

Leicester Tigers
The Leicester Tigers were beaten 24-10 by a Saracens side missing many players to RWC duty. Uncapped Argentine loose head Facundo Gigena featured for the Tigers with Tomás Lavanini making his introductory appearance without playing. USA prop Titi Lamositele started for Saracens in their clinical victory.

Worcester Warriors
Also losing this weekend in the English Premiership were the Worcester Warriors. With players still missing due to RWC duty the Warriuors ought to be far more competitive. Instead they were outclassed, losing 35-16 vs the Northampton Saints. Involved for Worcester from the bench was Eagles hooker Joe Taufete’e.