Up and Under

Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It covers the best and worst from games involving the Americas players and teams over the previous week.

UP

Women’s RWC
The Women’s Rugby World Cup will expand from 12 to 16 teams for the 2025 tournament. The 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be ninth the ninth in history. The first was in Wales in 1991 and the most recent in Ireland in 2017. Canada hosted the 2006 edition; the only time the tournament has not been played in Europe. The 2021 Women’s RWC will not be the first tournament to feature 16 teams. The 1998 and 2002 editions both had 16 teams. They were hosted by Holland and Spain respectively.

Argentina
It was a 16-16 draw on Saturday. As such, Argentina and Australia competed to draws in both Tri Nations matches between the teams. When added to Argentina’s win over New Zealand it means that Los Pumas had a 1-2-1 record and finished second. Los Pumas had to endure a week from hell. Following their heavy loss the prior Saturday, complaints over a weak Diego Maradona tribute and leaked tweets made for a tense build up to the match. The team held firm and was unlucky to not win Saturday’s contest.

New Blood in Pumas
Five players made their test debuts for Argentina in the Tri Nations. Center Santiago Chocobares, and flanker Santiago Grondona did so in the win over New Zealand. Second-rower Lucas Paulos made his debut in the loss against New Zealand while fly half Domingo Miotti, and flanker Francisco Gorrissen debuted in the second draw against Australia. Gorrissen was the last of the new blood to enter the field. He is Puma #870.

USA Sevens
The Eagles Men and Women were in display this past weekend for a series of intra-squad matches. While giving the teams a chance to take out some frustrations on each other after a long year, it also served as an introduction to some impressive new talent. Nia Toliver showed her pace, and some veterans may feel uneasy after the strong performances of Jake Lachina and Christian Dyer. The Men’s Eagles will play more games on Friday and Saturday.

Carrasco Polo, Old Christians
Carrasco Polo and Old Christians Club will meet in the 2020 Uruguayan Final. The teams won their respective Uruguayo de Clubs Semi Finals on Saturday. Carrasco Polo defeated Paysandú Trébol 25-10 while Old Christians were 19-17 winners over Old Boys. The 2020 Uruguayo de Clubes Final will be played on Saturday, December 12 in Montevideo.

Manuel Leindekar, Taylor Paris
Oyonnax were 25-22 away winners over Valence Romans on Thursday. The result continues the encouraging season for Oyonnax. The club are third in the Pro D2 and well-played to press for promotion to the Top 14. Uruguayan lock Manuel Leindekar and Canadian winger Taylor Paris both started in Thursday’s win. Former Jaguar Segundo Tuculet started for Valence Romans.

AJ MacGinty
It was another leading performance from MacGinty who kicked 11 points in Sale’s win over London Irish at Brentford. Agustín Creevy was in fine form for the Exiles, but it wasn’t enough with MacGinty’s boot opening the scoring and putting a wrap on Sale’s second win of the new Premiership campaign.

LA Giltinis
In another busy week of player recruitment, LA confirmed seven new signatures. Lindsey Sevens from NOLA Gold, Mika Kruse, John Ryberg and Luke White from the Colorado Raptors, Luke Burton from San Diego Legion, and Ruan and Jean-Pierre Smith from the Queensland Reds. The team will debut in the 2021 Major League Rugby season.

UNDER

Canada, USA
International duty for 2020 has now concluded. Few test teams actually played this year. Of the Americas four RWC competitors there were two that did and two that did not. Argentina played in the Tri Nations and Uruguay hosted Spain. There was no rugby at all for the men’s test teams from Canada and the USA. The Americas Rugby Championship, July Internationals, and November Internationals were all cancelled for both North American countries.

Pablo Matera, Guido Petti, Santiago Socino
Three players sat out Saturday’s match against Australia. They did so after a bombshell revealed offensive social media posts from the trio circa 2011-2012. The UAR responded by suspending them. The union subsequently overturned the suspensions. The union did so for three reasons. First, non-traveling injured Pumas supported the players. Second, former Pumas supported the players. Third, a good number of clubs supported the players. The incident has left a stain on what should have been a positive end to the year and will require a greater effort from all involved to restore the reputation of Argentine rugby.

Old Boys
Old Christians Club were 19-17 winners over Old Boys on Saturday. The result saw Old Christians winning the semi final and meant the elimination of Old Boys. It was a tough result for Old Boys; the clubs had been leading 17-6. Ultimately, Old Christians were able to erode the deficit and compete a come-from-behind victory.

Jaguares Exodus
Listed as Under is the Jaguares player exodus. It is arguably a positive, due to the players continuing their professional careers abroad. This also has the affect of easing the economic concerns of the UAR during the COVID-19 pandemic. More players have departed during the Tri Nations. Bautista Delguy signed for Bordeaux and Lucas Paulos did so for Brive. The signing of the latter means that every Jaguares second-rower with game-time in Super Rugby has departed.

Joaquín Díaz Bonilla
Leicester Tigers supporters have criticized the performances of recruit Joaquín Díaz Bonilla. The former Jaguar and Puma arrived at the club for the current season. He had been a reliable player for Los Jaguares, yet his performances over the past two weekends have tested the patience of the fans of his new club.