Super Rugby Americas: Round Ten Review

By Joe Santamaria

Dogos 39-29 Yacare

Dogos continued their recent surge up the table with a convincing 39-29 win over Yacare, though their opponents did manage to snatch a late try-bonus point that may prove crucial in their search for the playoffs.

After a cagey opening half hour, Dogos struck first when centre Faustino Sanchez Valarolo danced his way to the line.

Yacare struck back and scored a try of their own after a powerful rolling maul.

The visitors will be frustrated that they couldn’t make it to halftime with the scoreline still close, but it wasn’t to be as Dogos hooker Leonel German Oviedo burst through a tiring defence to widen the gap.

Dogos started the second half at a frenetic pace and soon extended their lead when powerful winger Mateo Solar tore through the Yacare defence on his way to the line.

It looked as if the hosts were going to rack up a huge victory with Mateo Sanchez and Lautaro Cipriani crossing the line with the hosts in absolute control.

Yacare staged a commendable fightback in the final ten minutes, scoring three tries to secure a point, but the game was long over as a contest.

Peñarol 28-35 Tarucas

The shock of the weekend was to be found in Montevideo, where two-time champions Peñarol slipped out of the top two after losing a thrilling match to visitors Tarucas.

The game couldn’t have started better for the hosts and second row Felipe Aliaga was put through unopposed after a sumptuous, delayed pass from fly half Felipe Etcheverry.

Tarucas were soon level via a penalty try after a Peñarol defender deliberately knocked the ball on in a dangerous position. 

It wasn’t long before Tarucas took the lead through another penalty try, this one secured through a series of dominant scrums that would go on to become a theme of the game.

They quickly extended their lead when centre Mariano Garcia Ascarate charged down Etcheverry’s attempted chip and then showed great pace to reach the line under pressure.

The Uruguayan hosts fought back to finish the half as they had started it, with hooker Sebastian Perez burrowing over to ensure his team only trailed by seven at the break. 

Perez doubled his tally for the game almost immediately after the break, and momentum seemed to be swinging back in Peñarol’s favour.

Tarucas have won many admirers this season for their relentless forward power, but it was a moment of subtlety that allowed Stefano Ferro to reclaim the lead after a pass from Juan Manuel Molinuevo Lazcano that was a near carbon copy of Etcheverry’s earlier assist.

The try of the game was scored by Tarucas’ Simon Benitez Cruz who was the beneficiary of a superb individual burst from backrower Thiago Sbrocco.

A late Manuel Diana try may have ensured two bonus points for Peñarol but they will rue their inability to strengthen their claim for a home semifinal.

Tarucas, meanwhile, were absolutely deserving of their 35-28 triumph.

They knew going into the game that a loss would likely spell the end of their playoff hopes and, while they remain outsiders, the race for the top four still has six runners for now. 

Pampas 78-18 Cobras

Cobras‘ difficult season continued with another heavy defeat, this time to league leaders Pampas.

The Brazilian hosts actually started brightly and took a 10-0 lead, thanks in part to a well taken try from Moises Duque.

Pampas head coach Juan Manuel Leguizamón made several changes to the side, including pushing fullback Quinn Francisco into midfield and the move quickly yielded results as Quinn held off a defender to score in the corner.

Juan Pablo Castro Collado scored the pick of the tries in the first half as Pampas gradually established control to lead 26-13 at the break. 

If the first half had been encouraging for Cobras, the second half display was all too familiar for their fans, who once again saw their team fold in the face of the opposition.

The visitors tore through the Cobras defence at will and looked utterly dominant. Replacement Renthel Estanislao scored the best of the tries after finishing a move that began near his own line.

The 78-18 victory did not flatter Pampas at all and marks the second consecutive round in which Cobras have conceded over 70 points at home. 

Round Eleven kicks off with a huge match between Tarucas and Selknam with both sides knowing they can ill afford a loss if they are to make the semifinals. Fellow playoff hopefuls Yacare will have to put that match out of their minds to focus on welcoming Pampas to Asunción. Finally, Peñarol will try to put this weekend’s disappointment behind them when they face off against Cobras.