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

Canada ready for World Cup
Canada wrapped up their World Cup preparations with a 24-7 win over Fiji in Suva on Friday. The two sides were deadlocked after 40 minutes but tries from Sara Kaljuvee, Maddy Grant, Tyson Beukeboom, and finally Gillian Boag led the visitors to victory. Beukeboom celebrated her 50th cap in style after coming off the bench in the second half.

Uncapped teen named on Canadian World Cup roster
Canada have made an early change to their squad for the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand. Versatile back Chloe Daniels has been called up, taking the spot of midfielder Marie Thibault. It’s believed Thibault’s withdrawal is injury-related though Rugby Canada have not released details of the change. Daniels is just 19 years old and has yet to make her full test debut.

International series set for late October in South America
The Americas Pacific Challenge has effectively been split in half. Brazil will host the ‘A’ sides of Chile and Canada, while Montevideo are in line to welcome the Argentina XV and USA Selects. A full-on Americas Rugby Championship would obviously be preferable but at least there are opportunities for players to develop.

Facundo Bosch helps Bayonne to home win over Bordeaux
Facundo Bosch was a try scorer for Bayonne on Saturday. The Basque side competed a 20-15 win over Bordeaux. Bosch played hooker with Uruguayan Manuel Leindekar playing the match in the second-row. Bayonne have a 2-2 record this season; a good return for a team rebounding from a season in the Pro D2.

AJ MacGinty on target in Bristol debut
Eagles fly half, AJ MacGinty scored 10 points for the Bristol Bears on Saturday. Bristol were 40-36 winners over London Irish. The match was MacGinty’s debut; he joined the club from rivals the Sale Sharks. The USA Eagles will be looking for plenty from the goal-kicker and captain in the upcoming RWC qualifiers in November.

Santiago Arata on fire for Castres in Top 14
Santiago Arata is on fire for Castres in France. The Uruguayan scrum-half has been named as the team’s best player in each of the three first round matches in the 2022-2023 Top 14 season. He also featured this past Saturday in a win over Brive. The 26-year-old has been organizing play well for Castres. His passing, kicking, running and defense have all been impressive.

MLR moves aplenty as October nears
This was the busiest week of the Major League Rugby off-season and another one beckons as October draws near, a month that promises even bigger announcements. Old Glory made a splash with the signing of former Pumas flyhalf Joaquín ‘Tito’ Díaz Bonilla, NOLA picked up ex-Hurricanes scrumhalf Luke Campbell, New York traded for Brad Tucker, the Seawolves got Peter Malcolm and Ben Mitchell, Isaac Ross and Sean McNulty went to San Diego, and the Arrows unveiled Bristol back row Mitch Eadie.

UNDER

Argentina fall to consecutive losses against Springboks
Los Pumas were beaten in Durban by South Africa on Saturday. The defeat follows another from seven days earlier. The results mean that Argentina missed out on Rugby Championship competition points and finishes the competition bottom. The South Americans had a 2-4 record, a positive outcome though short of what may have been.

39 penalties – discipline disaster or officiating meltdown?
There were many penalties in the match in Durban. Too many? Yes. How many? 39. Referee Damon Murphy was not shy to blow the whistle with both teams on the end of decisions that could be questioned. Six players were shown yellow cards in the match and two penalty tries were scored. Many scrums ended in penalties and even a perfectly straight lineout was not accepted. Players and officials are perhaps both to blame. However way you look at it, the match was not one for spectators.

Brazil say goodbye to Fernando Portugal
Fernando Portugal is no longer the coach of Os Tupis nor of Brazil’s professional team that competes in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). A new coach will be appointed for both the Men’s test team and Os Cobras Brasil XV. The change comes following Brazil’s unbeaten campaign at the South American Tri Nations in August in Barranquilla. Portugal coached Brazil to the title with wins over Paraguay and Colombia.

Pedemonte sees red in Pro D2
Bautista Pedemonte was sent off on Thursday. Playing for Vannes away to Colomiers, the Argentine back-rower received a red card in the 25th minute. Despite playing with fourteen men for the duration, Vannes were 30-27 winners. Puma Francisco Gorrissen captained Vannes from flanker while Uruguayan Nicolás Freitas played wing. Chilean center Iñaki Ayarza was also a Pro D2 winner as Charente defeated Béziers on Saturday.

Rodrigo Bruni undergoes surgery
Changes are inevitable from the Rugby Championship to the November Internationals. One name that can be scratched off is Rodrigo Bruni. The No8 was injured playing for Argentina against South Africa in Buenos Aires. The setback means his debut for Brive is now on hold while he will miss out on playing for Los Pumas against England, Scotland, and Wales in November.