February 6, 2017
Americas Rugby Championship 2017 Recaps, Round 1
Doug Coil
Brazil v Chile – Feb. 3
Brazil opened the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship with a 17-3 win in a rainy match at the Pacembú Stadium in São Paulo, Brazil. A crowd of 5,002 spectators, witness a match with numerous handling errors and stringent defenses.
Matías Nordenflycht slotted a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead, the only points scored during the first 53 minutes of the match.
At the 54th minute, Brazil elected not to tie the match with a penalty kick and kicked to touch for a lineout. This proved to be the right call as replacement scrumhalf Mattheus Silva went in for the try and with the Moisés Duque conversion Brazil took a 7-3 lead.
Four minutes later, Duque’s penalty kick hit the post, the third time it happened in the match. Chile then had a 5 meter scrum. Brazil’s larger scrum had Chile’s scrum on the back foot and the ball came loose. Brazil spun the ball wide and Felipe Sancery added a second try for Brazil With Duque’s conversion the score was 17-3.
That was the way the match would end. Both teams now travel to North America. Brazil will play the USA in Texas, while Chile will travel to Canada.
USA v Uruguay
A recap of this match was published on February 4 and may be read by clicking here. The USA defeated Uruguay 29-23 in San Antonio, Texas Saturday. The match will be braodcast on The Rugby Channel.
Canada v Argentina XV
Argentina XV opened the defense of their inaugural Americas Rugby Championship last year with a 20-6 win against Canada. The match was played with snow on the ground and in freezing conditions in Langford, Canada.
On the opening restart, Canada’s Lucas Rumball was sent to the bin as he hit the defender in the air. Argentina flyhalf Domingo Miotti slotted the penalty kick and Argentina took a 3-0 lead. Gordie McRorie then tied the match in the 11th minute.
Argentina added the first points of the second half as replacement prop Santiago Medrano went in for a try at the 50th minute and Miotti added the conversion.
Canada narrowed the score with another McRorie penalty kick to 10-6. (62′) Five minutes later wing Segundo Tuculet counterattacked eluding defenders for a try. Miotto added the conversion increasing their lead to 17-6.
In the 75th minute, Miotto would add another penalty kick for a 20-6 lead. With two minutes left in the match scrumhalf Juan Manuel Lescano was sent to the bin, however this did not impact the score, as Argentina XV emerged with a 20-6 win in difficult playing conditions.
Argentina XV retunrs home and will face Uruguay next weekend in Bahía Blanca. Canada will host Chile next week in Langford.
Previews:
