HANOVER, NH – This weekend saw the same winners from round three continue their success into round four. Argentina XV and the USA steamrolled over their competition in the second half while Uruguay upset their higher ranked Canada. Next week’s match-up of the undefeated Argentina XV and the USA will determine the champion for this year’s tournament. Let’s see how the matches unfolded.
Chile vs. USA
Chile managed to hold the Eagles to a fairly close 17-6 halftime lead as the USA couldn’t seem to piece things together. However, that changed when the floodgates opened in the second half the USA scored six tries.
Ben Cima, the current ARC points leader, got the Eagles on the board with a penalty goal before Los Cóndores tied it up. Cam Dolan later finished off a fantastic long-range try that started with a kick deep by Shaun Davies and recovered by Bryce Campbell. Tony Lamborn also scored a try to extend the USA lead going into the half. Just after Campbell was sent to the sin bin in the 43rd minute for coming into the breakdown from the side, the Eagles began their try scoring outbreak thanks to David Tameilau, Matt Jensen, Todd Clever, Lamborn, and two by Peter Malcom. Besides a lone Chilean penalty goal in the 48th minute, the USA held Chile scoreless in the second half with an impressive defensive showing. The Eagles finished the match with a bonus point in the 57-9 victory.
Pressure into points again! Tameilau to Jensen for a great Try! pic.twitter.com/9aepeQwrmq
— The Rugby Channel (@TheRugbyChannel) February 25, 2017
A promising sight for the Eagles was the impressive number of young players who saw the field. Matt Jensen and Calvin Whiting of BYU, Indiana University’s Bryce Campbell, Ben Cima, Hanco Germishuys, and Siaosi Mahoni are all college age.
Argentina XV vs. Brazil
Unsurprisingly, Argentina XV made easy work of Brazil in a lopsided 79-7 victory in Patagonia. However, initially the score was much closer than the final result with Brazil only up 22-7 at halftime. Brazil was in fact up 7-5 at one point was Moisés Duque scored for the visitors. In the first half, Sebastián Cancelliere, Domingo Miotti, Franco Brarda, and Tomás de la Vega all recorded points for Argentina XV.
The second half was a much different story. Argentina XV made the most of two yellow cards and recorded 9 tries and six penalty goals by the time the final whistle blew. Scrumhalf Cancelliere stood out for his smart decisions and impressive passing. Emiliano Boffelli and Ignacio Larrague of the Jaguares also had a number of strong runs.
Uruguay vs Canada
Canada was unable to bounce back from a tough loss last week against a determined Uruguayan side. The Canucks got on the board first with a penalty goal from captain Gordon McRorie in the 4th minute. It would be Los Teros who strike back next with Germán Albanell knocking down a kick at goal and an incurable try scored by Leandro Leivas using some fantastic kicking skills. Uruguay scored its final points of the match in the 26th minute off a maul that lurched towards the try zone, but was deemed to be intentionally collapsed by the Canadians which resulted in a penalty try.
Canada finally managed to get back on the board in the second half, but it was too little too late. McRorie kicked a penalty goal in the 50th minute but it wasn’t until the 75th minute that Canada was able to score again off a try by Conor Trainor. It was a bruising match that saw a number of hard hits and an altercation break out within the 5th minute of the match. Going into the match, Canada was ranked 20th and Uruguay 23rd according to World Rugby’s rankings, but now Uruguay barely sits just behind the Canucks at 21st.
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