Americas Top 10 No10 Performances

The influence of the No10 position in any rugby game is great. In the Americas it’s a position that has been filled by some of the very best players that the region has seen over the years. Not just national all-time greats but World Rugby Hall-of-Famers have come from this side of the Atlantic.

Below we take a shot at our top 10 best international performances from fly halves. In making our decisions we took into account individual achievement first and foremost but also the historic relevance of the game in question.

 

10. Moisés Duque vs USA (2016)
A committed performance from Os Tupis produced the first upset in Americas Rugby Championship history. Duque slotted a full-time penalty to secure a 24-23 win. It was and remains Brazil’s greatest test victory. In a 14-point personal haul Duque kicked 5 out of his 7 shots at goal. The unforgettable day edges Josh Reeves’ 18 points in the 18-10 win against Canada in 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJko5K_Ej00

 

9. Federico Todeschini vs British & Irish Lions (2005)
In a show of perfection Todeschini kicked 7 out of 7 to score 20 points for Argentina in the 2005 draw against the British & Irish Lions. The phenomenal display of goal-kicking saw him striking the ball from all angles. Todeschini’s selection came with an estimated 30 European-based players unavailable. He went on to retain his spot in the side for two years and was a replacement at RWC 2007.

 

8. Nicolás Sánchez vs Ireland (2015)
Argentina’s top point scorer, Sánchez had a strong RWC 2015 tournament. His best day came in Cardiff against Ireland. He kicked 23 points in the match, landing 9 out of his 10 shots at goal. He was also creative around the park. The 10-12 combination with Juan Martín Hernández was pivotal to the attacking game plan. All four of Los Pumas’ tries were scored by the outside backs.

 

7. Gonzalo Quesada vs Samoa (1999)
Quesada’s heroics at RWC 1999 are well-documented. His 102 points made him the top point scorer of the tournament. Sublime goal-kicking accuracy was instrumental in his country’s performances. He scored 18 points in the 23-18 loss against Wales, the result meaning Los Pumas needed to win their remaining games. Quesada’s 27 points against Samoa led Argentina back from a 16-3 half-time deficit to win 32-16. He then followed up with 23 points against Ireland 10 days later to claim the historic Quarter Final appearance.

 

6. AJ MacGinty vs Scotland (2018)
The USA Eagles made history in June 2018, upsetting Scotland 30-29 in Houston. It was a genuine team performance with all players showing complete commitment. Steering the ship was MacGinty in what was his finest test match to date. In addition to kicking 15 points he directed play superbly. With Scotland leading 24-23 the Eagles star kicked an up-and-under which Matt Fagerson bobbled. MacGinty gathered the ball to put Hanco Germishuys over for a try.

 

5. Gareth Rees vs Wales (1993)
For many years Rees was synonymous with Canadian success. After leading the team to the RWC 1991 Quarter Finals, he led a spirited showing at RWC 1995 and in his final cap he scored 27 points against Namibia at RWC 1999. His longevity is undeniable and his best performance was arguably in 1993. Rees scored 16 points in Canada’s 26-24 win over Wales in Cardiff, winning the game with a conversion of Al Charron’s try on full-time. In 1994 Rees scored all 18 points in Canada’s 18-16 win over France in Ottawa.

 

4. Hugo Porta vs South Africa (1982)
Argentine players recorded a win over South Africa long before Argentina joined the Rugby Championship in 2012. In 1982 Porta scored all 21 points in South America’s 21-12 victory over the Springboks in Bloemfontein. Porta claimed a full house as he scored points in every possible way: a try, conversion, four penalties and a drop goal. Not only did he run the show, but he did so against one of the all-time greats – his opposite on that day was Naas Botha.

 

3. Juan Martín Hernández vs Ireland (2007)
The next South American win in South Africa was in 2015, when Hernández scored 11 points and had a try assist in the 37-25 win in Durban. He was still on top of his game then, but was at his absolute best in 2007. Hernández slotted three drop-goals in Argentina’s 30-15 win over Ireland in Paris. His general play was remarkable as he controlled where the game was played. Time after time Ireland were stuck in their own half unable to advance or kick ahead. On that day Ireland had no answers to El Mago.

 

2. Felipe Berchesi vs Fiji (2019)
Perhaps it is recency bias, but arguably the greatest day from an Americas fly half at a World Cup was in 2019. The player was Felipe Berchesi in Uruguay’s unforgettable upset win over Fiji. He scored 15 points in the 30-27 victory, kicking 6 out of 7 attempts in a man-of-the-match performance. Berchesi was also busy in organizing play and went well beyond the expected defensive responsibilities of a fly half. Coincidentally prior to the tournament Uruguay hired Federico Todeschini as a kicking coach.

 

1. Hugo Porta vs Australia (1983)
Before and after winning in Blomfontein, Porta inspired wins over the Wallabies. Argentina were 24-13 winners over Australia in Buenos Aires in 1979 and 18-3 winners in Brisbane in 1983. The former has been described as putting Argentine rugby on the map, the latter a masterclass in territorial play that saw Los Pumas claiming a major scalp away from home. Porta defeated Australia again in 1987, this time scoring 23 points in a 27-19 win. All three performances were world class from the Pumas legend.