Dogos Sneak Home against Yacare in Super Rugby Americas Opener

Córdoba played host to the opening match of Super Rugby Americas 2023. The home fans in attendance were treated to a quality rugby match. They also went home smiling as locals, Los Dogos were 30-24 winners over Yacare from Paraguay.

The early going in the match were not pleasant. An early blow saw tight head Facundo Ignacio Pomponio unable to play beyond the third minute. Yacare were able to recover swiftly and score the opening points. Fullback Tomás Mac Call touched down and fly half Estanislao Gómez added a penalty following a missed conversion.

Los Dogos regathered to score in response. Prop Octavio Filippa powered over for the first of what would be three Dogos tries of the match. Yacare hit-back via the boot of Gómez. It gave the Paraguayan side an 11-7 lead at the close of the opening quarter.

The teams again split the second quarter with one try each. First, though, points came in the form of a penalty from Valentino Dicapua. Paraguayan second-rower Mariano Garcete responded to score for Yacare.

Rather than close out the half with a lead and the heads held high, Yacare went in with thirteen men on the field. Vice captain Marcos Riquelme and captain Ignacio Inschauspe were both yellow carded late in the opening half. Boris Wenger pounced for a try in response. The hooker had an excellent half.

The half-tome score read 17-16 to the Córdoba team. The lead would remain in the hands of the Argentines for all of the second half. There were, nonetheless, threats from Yacare and Los Dogos were tested.

Dicapua and Federico Cacciabue exchanged third quarter penalties. Los Dogos then went into a comfortable position with winger Valentín Soller scoring an individual try. With the conversion on target, the lead was secure.

The final quarter saw Yacare having the better of play. Two attacks into the opposition 22 gave the Paraguayan side opportunities of coming away with points. One was successful as Ignacio Inschauspe broke free to score twelve minutes from full-time.

The try made it a three point ball game. Both teams had opportunities of adding points. The win ultimately came with under a minute remaining. An attacking penalty saw Julián Hernández lining-up a shot at goal. The fly half from Mendoza was successful. With it history was made as Los Dogos began their professionalism with a home win.

Super Rugby Americas 2023 continuó this weekend. On Saturday, Selknam play host to the American Raptors in Santiago, Chile while São Paulo, Brazil will be the setting for Sunday’s match-up between Os Cobras and Los Pampas.

Los Dogos now turn their attention to Os Cobras. The Central Argentine side travel to São Paulo to face the Brazilians next Sunday. Yacare have a bye round. Their next fixture will be on March 05 also against Os Cobras in São Paulo.

 

SCORING

DOGOS 30
Try – O Filippa (12′), B Wenger (39′); V Soller (60′)
Con – V Dicapua (13′, 40′, 61′)
Pen – V Dicapua (27′, 48′); J Hernández (80′)
YC – B Wenger (54′)

YACARE 24
Try – T Mac Call (5′); M Garecete (33′); I Inschauspe (68′)
Pen – E Gómez (9′, 20′); F Cacciabue (55′)
YC – M Riquelme (36′); I Inschauspe (38′); I Martínez (71′)

 

TEAMS

DOGOS
1 Santiago Pulella, 2 Boris Wenger, 3 Octavio Filippa, 4 Gregorio Hernández, 5 Franco Molina (capt.), 6 Aitor Bildosola, 7 Efraín Elías, 8 Ignacio Gandini, 9 Juan Cruz Strada, 10 Valentino DiCapua, 11 Valentín Soler Filloy, 12 Leonardo Gea Salim, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Mateo Soler, 15 Franco Giudice

Replacements: 16 Roman Pretz, 17 Mateo Nuñez Miserez, 18 Ramiro Valdés Irribarren, 19 Federico Albrisi, 20 Manuel Todaro, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Julián Hernández, 23 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo

YACARE
1 Lucas Noguera Paz, 2 Emilio Gorostiaga, 3 Facundo Pomponio, 4 Ignacio Martínez, 5 Mariano Garcete, 6 Felipe Villagrán, 7 Felipe Puertas, 8 Marcos Riquelme, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe (capt.), 10 Estanislao Gómez, 11 Juan González, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Ramiro Amarilla, 14 Federico Gauna, 15 Tomás Mac Call

Replacements: 16 Julián Martín, 17 Camilo Blasco, 18 Estéfano Aranda, 19 Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel, 20 Mateo Rodríguez, 21 Diego Miño, 22 Federico Cacciabue, 23 Juan Chiavert

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (AR)
Assistant Referees: Cauã Ricardo (BR); Juan Pablo Chumbita (AR)
TMO: Martín González Deibe (AR)