Chile dominate Paraguay in South American A Championship

A strong showing from Chile as Los Cóndores dominate Paraguay in the opening match of the 2016 South American A Championship in Santiago this afternoon. Chile’s 68-7 win saw the home side playing significantly better rugby that in the recent Americas Rugby Championship.

In a great team effort 10 different Cóndores players scored tries. The dominant scoreline was well deserved but had the goal kicking been more on target Chile would have won by an even greater margin.

Chile was in full control throughout. Los Cóndores showed genuine determination in putting in a ruthless performance. Benjamín Soto, Manuel Gurruchaga, Pablo Casas, Pedro Verschae, and Germán Herrera crossed for tries in the opening half. Together with the goal kicking of center Matías Nordenflycht the home side found itself leading 32-0 at the interval.

The one-way traffic did not come to an end at halftime. Instead Chile continued to produce outstanding rugby with scrumhalf Juan Pablo Perrotta scoring a try in the opening minute of the second half. Nordenflycht converted to make it 39-0 before adding another three minutes later following a try to flyhalf Rodrigo Fernández.

Paraguay hit back with their first and only try of the afternoon. Scored and converted by outside center Sergio Alvarenga, Paraguayan celebrations would see the visitors hold off Chile for 15 minutes. A nervous Chile opted to utilize Nordenflycht’s goal kicking in the 59th minute, giving Chile a 49-7 advantage.

Subsequent pressure turned into points with Chile capitalizing on the yellow carding of Álvaro Rojas. Two minutes after his 64th minute sin-binning Nordenflycht scored an unconverted try. It revived Chile who would cross for two further tries with winger Matías Contreras and replacement Gustavo Carrasco scoring once each.

SCORING

CHILE 68
Tries – B. Soto (3′). M. Garruchaga 2 (13′, 37′), P. Casas (19′), P. Verschae (26′), G. Herrera (32′), J. Perrotta (41′), R. Fernández (44′), M. Nordenflycht (66′), M. Contreras (73′), G. Carrasco (79′)
Cons – M. Nordenflycht 5/11 (14′, 42′, 45′, 74′, 80′)
Pens – M. Nordenflycht 1/1 (59′)

PARAGUAY 7
Tries – S. Alvarenga (47′)
Cons – S. Alvarenga 1/1 (48′)
Yellow cards – Á. Rojas (64′)

TEAMS

CHILE
1 Claudio Zamorano (17 Ricardo Lobos 59′), 2 Manuel Gurruchaga (16 Sebastián Parra HT), 3 Nicolás Venegas (18 Hernán Amigo 67′), 4 Ignacio Álvarez (19 Francisco Hurtado HT), 5 Raimundo Piwonka, 6 Cristóbal Niedmann (20 Gustavo Carrasco 67′), 7 Javier Richard, 8 Benjamín Soto (capt.), 9 Juan Pablo Perrotta (21 Beltrán Vergara 72′), 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Matías Contreras, 12 Germán Herrera (22 Francisco González Moller 46′), 13 Matías Nordenflycht, 14 Pedro Verschae, 15 Pablo Casas (23 Jan Hasenlechner 64′)

PARAGUAY
1 Emilio Gorostiaga (16 Rodrigo Da Rosa 51′), 2 Omar Rojas (19 Joaquín Vera HT), 3 Álvaro Rojas (17 Juan Inglés 71′), 4 Alejandro Montiel, 5 Luis Mauger, 6 Carlos Bareiro (20 Carlos Plate 51′), 7 Martín Ortiz (capt.) (18 Victor Bóveda 71′), 8 Leonardo Glizt, 9 Eymard Brizuela (21 Miguel Jara 45′), 10 Francisco Gangoiti, 11 Manuel Careaga (23 Gonzalo Bareiro 59′), 12 Diego Argaña (22 Mateo Arevalos 61′), 13 Gerard Cuttier, 14 Daniel González, 15 Sergio Alvarenga

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
Assistants: Alejandro Aguayo (UAR) & Juan Manuel Martínez (UAR)