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

Argentina Sevens
Argentina defeated Canada in the Men’s final of the second Dubai Sevens tournament on Friday. The result saw Argentina securing back-to-back tournaments in Dubai. The two tournament wins follow two wins in Madrid, Spain and victory in the South American 7’s. In short, Los Pumas 7’s are a team that could compete for medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

Houston SaberCats vs San Diego Legion
After two shutout defeats and a scoring drought that extended to 180 minutes, the SaberCats finally bared their teeth against visiting San Diego on Saturday. That’s not to say the Legion were off the pace. In fact both teams delivered in a back-and-forth match that thrilled fans from start to finish. These are the kinds of games that will build the MLR brand.

LA Giltinis
The final score perhaps flattered them somewhat, but the Giltinis were undoubtedly the better side once again on Saturday against the Arrows. Greasy conditions in New Orleans didn’t allow for much running rugby from either team. LA showed they could also play to the conditions and now have the maximum 15 points from three wins.

Austin Gilgronis
The Gilgronis pulled of a last-gasp victory over the NOLA Gold on Saturday thanks to the brilliance of Mack Mason and Rodrick Waters, and perhaps a bit of luck. It’s just the second time in their history they have recorded back-to-back victories, the first coming in the middle of the inaugural 2018 campaign.

Rugby United New York
New York looked a much improved side on Sunday after a bye week to re-calibrate from their poor showing against NOLA. The visitors claimed tactical superiority with their kicking game more accurate than Rugby ATL, who squandered a significant first half advantage in possession.

Seattle Seawolves
There are no longer any MLR teams with zero wins on their record. Seattle did not look good in their first two games of the season but a passionate effort on the road in Utah gave them a deserved victory despite being absent key players Ben Cima and Brad Tucker. The Seawolves are back in the hunt.

Peñarol
The Uruguayan side completed a well-earned win over the Olímpia Lions on Sunday, though the determined effort fell short of securing the bonus point. Peñarol approached the match looking to build a lead and not worry about an attacking brand to bring in more points. Martín Roger added further to his lead as the top SLAR point scorer this season.

Benjamín Urdapilleta
Former Puma Urdapilleta won the prestigious Player of the Month award for March in France. The Argentine fly half had a tremendous personal month which included setting a new all-time record for the most individual points in a Top 14 match by any player. The 35-year-old intends on playing again for Los Pumas. Based on form there is a compelling argument that he should be on the roster for the mid-year test matches.

Tyler Duguid
Canadian age-grade international Tyler Duguid was named on the bench for Montpellier’s European Challenge Cup Quarter Final against Benetton Treviso on Saturday. He did not, in the end, see the pitch during the game but his elevation to the match day 23 is a strong indicator that may more opportunities are in store for the 20-year-old lock.

Domingo Miotti
Better late than never; this applies to Miotti and the Western Force. The Argentine fly half made his overdue debut for the Western Australian  Super Rugby side on Friday. Miotti was the match-winner; his late penalty secured victory. The match was also historic for Argentine and Australian rugby. It marked the first time wherein four Argentine players had started a Super Rugby match together for an Australian team. Of those joining Miotti, Tomás Lezana also had a particularly strong match.

 

UNDER

MLR Commentary
Major League Rugby has taken big strides this season with the launch of The Rugby Network, but more thought is needed in the production department. Commentary for Saturday’s double-header in New Orleans was well short of professional standards with the team apathetic to the action on the pitch. Meanwhile the hyper-partisan duo for the game in Utah left Seattle fans seething with disapproval. These appointments may suit a local audience, but are wholly inappropriate for games broadcast worldwide.

First try of the day to @Giltinis! 🙌

Tune in now 👉 https://t.co/Yc8s4Nn0cR#TORvLA is 3-10 | 👀@therugbynetwork | #MLR2021 pic.twitter.com/wcFpXg74OZ

— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) April 10, 2021

MLR Prognostication
Gamblers would have done poorly if they followed the expectations of the pundits this week. LA’s neutral win aside, three teams won on the road and the only home winners were clear underdogs. The unpredictability of MLR makes for compelling viewing and can only be a good thing as the season progresses. For the pundits, however, there is little hope.

Gastón Cortes
The Arrows were not at their best in New Orleans but were still in the fight until the turning point just before halftime. Cortes earned a yellow card for cynical play and LA proceeded to score 21 points in his absence. He had only just returned from two-week break after a red card in Week 1. The former Pumas tighthead simply must improve his discipline.

Chris Robshaw
After clearing suspension the former England captain lasted 57 minutes before being helped from the pitch with a dislocated shoulder. It’s desperately unlucky for both Robshaw and the San Diego Legion, and one might say the league itself with one of the highest profile players now out indefinitely. Fingers crossed there is a chance of a return before the season’s end.

Joe Johnston
The New England Free Jacks have lost Johnston for their next next two games. Their first choice openside flanker was suspended after being cited post-game for a dangerous clear-out on Utah Warriors center Tyler Fisher near the 10 minute mark of the home opener against Utah in round three.

Francisco Gorrissen
Los Jaguares XV vice-captain Gorrissen was suspended for three weeks. The Argentine international was sent off while playing for Los Jaguares XV against Peñarol. Not only was the red card deemed correct, but the flanker was handed an additional three weeks on the sidelines.

Jardel Vettorato and Lucas Tranquez
Neither Vettorato nor Tranquez are in Uruguay with Os Cobras. The test veterans are officially out of the second half of the 2021 SLAR season. Both have been regulars for Brazil in recent years; their absence casts serious doubt over their places on Brazil’s roster for the RWC 2023 qualifiers in June.

Cafeteros Pro lose three Argentines
Los Cafeteros Pro have also suffered injury blows. The Colombian team will not be able to field second row Ramiro Tallone, back row Aníbal Panceyra Garrido, and fullback Facundo Pueyrredón again this season. The trio all missed Sunday’s match against Selknam. None of them will be able to play again for Los Cafeteros Pro in 2021.