Super Rugby Americas Round 11 Review: Play-off race blown wide open

By Joe Santamaria

Tarucas 41-21 Selknam

Tarucas kicked off a seismic round of Super Rugby Americas action with a stunning 41-21 victory over Selknam that ensures the race for the playoffs remains wide open.

The Argentine hosts took control early when fly half Nicolas Roger danced through the Selknam defence to set up his teammate Stefano Ferro to score.

Selknam gradually found their rhythm and levelled through second row Bruno Sáez who forced his way over from close range.

The Chilean side were disrupted by potentially serious injuries to in-form scrum half Marcelo Torrealba and captain Martín Sigren.

Extended absences at such a crucial stage of the season could wreak havoc on Jake Mangin’s side, with Chile head coach Pablo Lemoine hoping the two recover in time for key World Cup qualifiers in July. 

A Roger penalty restored Tarucas’ lead before the fly half set up another try for Agustin Sarelli in what was rapidly becoming a brilliant performance against his former team. Selknam hooker Augusto Bohme managed to find the line after a dominant driving maul to reduce the deficit to just three points at the break. 

The opening 15 minutes of the second half were cagey, with both sides keenly aware of what a defeat could mean for their chances of making the semifinals.

It took a superb individual try from Tarucas’ Mateo Pasquini to break the deadlock. The winger received the ball on the halfway line before shimmying past the last defender and holding off a would-be tackler to score. 

If Pasquini’s try was all about width and speed, Tarucas’ bonus point try was a love letter to forward dominance as replacement backrower Santiago Aguilar dotted down off the back of a dominant series of scrums.

Selknam put themselves in with a chance when Tomas Baguley scored with ten minutes to go but it was the hosts that finished stronger, scoring after an intercepted pass in the closing minutes to make an already impressive victory an emphatic one.    

Yacare 32-26 Pampas

Selknam’s poor weekend got even worse when Yacare leapfrogged them in the table after producing the shock of the round by beating league leaders Pampas 32-26, despite missing their captain Mariano Garcete.

Pampas drew first blood through Argentina international Justo Piccardo who shrugged off several attempted tackles on his way to the line.

Trailing 10-0, Yacare knew the game was threatening to slip away from them but brilliantly seized the initiative and scored in the corner through Juan Daniel González.

Both sides exchanged penalties before Yacare centre Valentino Dicapua looked to emulate his opposite number, Piccardo, by busting through the opposition defence to give his team a slender lead at halftime. 

The second half started slowly, with both sides electing for shots at goal before exploding into life just before the 50 minute mark.

After a jinking run from winger González, Yacare recycled the ball quickly, allowing rampaging flanker Ariel Nuñez Lesme to race over out wide and extend the host’s lead. 

The match was becoming a classic and one of its most prominent actors, González, was involved again when he slapped the ball forwards close to his own line, resulting in a penalty try for Pampas.

González was sent to the sin bin for his actions and, trailing by just two points, Pampas looked as though they would take advantage of the extra man and go on to win the game. 

Instead, the Paraguayan hosts showed immense spirit to hold out the visitors before launching an attack of their own that culminated in the game’s crucial try, scored by Santiago Ruiz.

A late Renthel Estanislao penalty means Pampas left with a losing bonus point but this was Yacare’s night and they were thoroughly good value for their win. 

Peñarol 57-23 Cobras

Peñarol ended the weekend in a home semifinal position after a clinical 57-23 victory over Cobras in Montevideo.

The opening quarter was dominated by a series of penalties, with Cobras opting for shots at goal while Peñarol preferred to kick to the corner.

This approach quickly bore fruit as the Uruguayan side scored two tries from the back of rolling mauls through Manuel Diana and Sebastian Perez.

The game began to open up as the half wore on, which delighted the home supporters as their side was clearly in the ascendency.

Peñarol secured the bonus point before halftime, scoring three more tries, including a stunner from winger Ignacio Facciolo Palesso, who powered through multiple tackles on his way to the line.

Peñarol head coach Ivo Dugonjic had the luxury of making a host of early changes in the second half, knowing his side have bigger challenges ahead as they look to secure a home semifinal.

Cobras showed glimpses of quality and scored a well-worked try through replacement Adrio Melo but never looked like breaking their run of defeats. 

Round Twelve kicks off in Tucuman where Tarucas face fellow Argentine side Dogos in a game with huge ramifications for the playoffs.

Yacare will be looking to strengthen their grip on fourth place when they welcome Cobras to Asunción before Pampas and Selknam attempt to bounce back from a disappointing Round Eleven when they face off in Buenos Aires.