By Joe Santamaria
Round nine of the 2026 Super Rugby Americas began with a totemic clash in Córdoba, where Dogos leapfrogged Pampas with a commanding 43-28 victory.
The result means Pampas’ wretched record against their closest rivals continues, having tasted victory over Dogos just once in their history.
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Dogos dethrone Pampas in Córdoba
Pampas started brightly and looked threatening in the opening ten minutes, but weren’t able to capitalise.
Conversely, Dogos needed no second invitation when they achieved field position, with second row Enzo Ocampo powering over from close range in their first meaningful attack.
Within minutes, the hosts had crossed the line again, this time through the league’s top scorer Juan Greising Revol, who benefited from a powerful rolling maul.
Revol’s opposite number, Ignacio Bottazzini, managed to get Pampas on the board in a similar fashion a few minutes later, breaking away from a maul and showing enough strength to cross the line.
If Pampas supporters hoped Bottazzini’s try might turn the tide, their hopes were dashed when the impressive Nicolás Viola scored for Dogos.
The scrum-half showed great speed of thought to dot down before the Pampas defenders were in position.
Viola’s halfback partner Julián Hernández got in on the action when he dummied his way to the line to seal the bonus point before halftime.
Commanding
The pre-game predictions of a tight contest were a distant memory, as Dogos finished the half with a commanding 24-7 lead.
To say Pampas needed a fast start to the second half was an understatement, but even their most optimistic fan couldn’t have dreamt what happened next.
Argentina international Santiago Pernas managed to claim the kick-off before shrugging off two defenders and kicking ahead.
The winger showed enough pace to reach the ball first and score a magnificent individual try with barely ten seconds of the half played.
After the incredible start, the half settled into a ferocious contest, with neither side backing down from the physical nature of the game.
After 14 minutes, Dogos managed to force their way over from close range through Valentín Gozálvez to seemingly ease any nerves in the stands.
Within minutes, Pampas were back on the attack and scored another through Pernas, who was having one of his best games in the competition.
Late onslaught
The winger’s footballing skills were on display again, as he dribbled a loose ball ahead and beat the defenders in a footrace to score.
With seven minutes to play, Pampas gave themselves a chance after replacement Francisco Lusarreta did brilliantly to score from a penalty that he took on himself.
Dogos will be disappointed that he was able to cross the line, given their defence was set up and waiting for him.
Dogos’ lead had been reduced to just three points, with a famous comeback seemingly on the cards, but it wasn’t to be.
Instead, the hosts went through the gears themselves and finished with a flourish, scoring two late tries through Tomás Montilla and Augusto Cugnini.
Pampas, exhausted by their attempts at a comeback, simply couldn’t handle the late onslaught.
Physicality
Dogos continue to defy pessimistic preseason assessments of their chances and now sit at the top of the table with five matches of the regular season to play.
When they are at their best, they bring a degree of physicality few other teams can match and, for one reason or another, they always seem to bring their best when Pampas are the opponent.
For Pampas, the Dogos question can no longer be ignored.
Their dismal record against them has cost Pampas in the playoffs of the last two seasons, and one imagines they will need to beat Dogos this season if they are to win their maiden title.
They are highly likely to reach the playoffs, but their season may well be defined by the next clash against their bitterest rivals.
Selknam strengthen playoff push
Selknam’s pursuit of the playoffs took a step forward after a 34-13 away victory over Yacare.
The Chilean side have now notched three successive victories but were made to work by their Paraguayan hosts.
Selknam struck first through hooker Augusto Böhme, who scored after a well-organised rolling maul with less than ten minutes played.
Before long, the visitors had another, this one scored after a powerful scrum gave them front-foot ball.
Fly-half Rodrigo Fernández took the ball to the line and managed to get his arms free to offload to the onrushing Domingo Saavedra, who ran a great supporting line to score.
Yacare grew into the game and eventually got on the scoreboard through Francisco Calello.
The fullback collected the ball after some punishing carries from his forwards, and threw a dummy before sailing through a gaping hole in Selknam’s defence to score.
Two Joaquín Lamas penalties reduced the deficit to a single point at the break.
The second half began with a bizarre try from Selknam’s Alfonso Escobar.
Play-off contenders
Instead of attempting to catch a low pass out wide, the flanker volleyed the ball ahead, racing on to collect the bouncing ball before stepping the last defender to score under the posts.
The visitors pressed for the bonus point score, but Yacare held firm despite Selknam’s dominance at both scrum and lineout.
Eventually, though, Yacare collapsed a rolling maul destined for the line, and the referee awarded Selknam a penalty try.
Two late Matías Garafulic penalties added some extra gloss to the scoreline, with the points already secured.
Yacare deserves credit for dragging themselves back into the contest, but were outclassed in the second half.
Their playoff dreams are effectively over, but they will be desperate to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table and could still affect the upper echelons of the table, as one feels they could still cause an upset on their day.
Selknam have overcome an inconsistent start to the season and look like play-off contenders.
This was far from a perfect performance, but they still managed to secure a bonus point on the road and their defensive effort was much improved.
Tougher tests lie ahead, but Jake Mangin’s outfit will take some beating.
Capibaras overcome Cobras to stay in the hunt
Cobras were overpowered in their 40-19 home defeat against Capibaras.
As has been the case too often this season, the Brazilian side showed improvements in attack, but continues to leak points at an alarming rate.
The visitors crossed the line with just five minutes on the clock, when powerful tighthead Enzo Avaca was helped over the line by his teammates after a series of gruelling phases.
It took another 20 minutes before they were able to breach the Cobras defence again, but managed it through the in-form Lautaro Cipriani.
The winger received the ball out wide and was able to use his lightning footwork to buy himself enough space to score in the corner.
Capibaras grabbed their third score around the half-hour mark when hooker Martín Vaca scored from a driving maul.
Cobras were able to hit back after a strong maul of their own, which was expertly finished off by talismanic hooker Endy Willian Pinheiro.
With seconds left to play in the half, Felipe Villagrán collected a crossfield kick and swatted away an attempted tackle to score Capibaras’ bonus point try.
Dangerous
Capibaras’ dominant rolling maul came to the fore again in the second half, with Bautista Grenón the beneficiary this time around.
Cobras then went on to enjoy a rare period of sustained possession and were able to put it to good use.
Replacement fly-half Julián Leszczynski spotted a gap between two forwards and surged through it on his way to the tryline.
The hosts were able to score a third try with ten minutes left to play when Mogomotsi Mokunyane held off the attention of several Capibaras defenders to score close to the ruck.
The visitors had the last laugh, however, as their scrum secured a penalty try with three minutes left on the clock.
There is no denying Cobras are a better and more dangerous team than they were during last year’s winless season.
Back in contention
However, for all their improvements, they simply give up scores too easily, meaning their attacking improvements aren’t enough.
They are in a fight with Yacare to avoid finishing bottom of the table at the end of the season.
Capibaras’ third win in a row puts them firmly back in contention for a home semi-final.
They currently sit in third place, but Pampas’ defeat means both the teams ahead of them are within their sights.
The new franchise had a blip earlier in the season, but seems to have put that behind them and will feel they have enough to go all the way this year.
Peñarol revives playoff hopes with a statement win
Peñarol put in their best performance of the season to defeat Tarucas away from home to keep their chances of reaching the playoffs alive.
The defending champions were excellent and fully deserving of the 34-20 win.
Tarucas struck first with less than a minute played when winger Mateo Pasquini received the ball out wide.
The youngster showed a brilliant turn of pace to escape the defenders and score out wide.
Peñarol struck back quickly when Joaquín Myszka scored from a rolling maul.
The visitors’ lineout has come in for criticism this season, but hooker Myszka deserves plenty of credit for its improvement on Sunday.
The hosts struggled to break down Peñarol’s defence but did keep the scoreboard ticking over with three Ignacio Cerrutti penalties.
Peñarol cut the deficit through Agustín Iglesias, who finished off a strange attack that involved a kick and chase from the second row and captain Felipe Aliaga.
A fourth Cerrutti penalty meant the hosts held a slender 17-12 lead at the break.
Cerrutti slotted yet another penalty at the start of the second half, but it proved to be his team’s last points of the game.
Stepped up
Peñarol, perhaps sensing how important a win here might prove to be for their season, upped the intensity and it soon paid dividends.
Fly-half Justo Ferrario showed great strength to force his way through two tackles and score under the posts, converting his own score to put his team within a point of Tarucas.
The game was delicately balanced, with both sides having their moments.
With nearly 20 minutes of the half gone, it was Myszka who broke the deadlock with his second try of the game from another rolling maul.
Backrower Lucas Bianchi sealed the bonus point and the win with a muscular effort late on, before a final Ferrario penalty closed out proceedings.
Tarucas’ strong start to the season seems a long time ago, as the Tucumán-based side have now lost three games in succession.
They have only scored two tries in their last 160 minutes of rugby, and must urgently find their attacking edge if they are to get their season back on track.
2026 has provided few moments to celebrate for the tournament’s most successful team, Peñarol, but this was one of them.
The team’s big players all stepped up and performed, which will delight head coach Ivo Dugonjic.
They have five games to salvage their season and get into playoff contention. This game showed they are capable of it.
Round 10
Round 10 sees Pampas travel to take on Capibaras, with the visitors desperate to get back to winning ways.
The hosts, meanwhile, will know a defeat to a team currently above them would leave an uphill battle for a home semifinal.
Yacare welcome Cobras in a game that could determine who finishes bottom of the table at the end of the season.
Selknam face Peñarol in Santiago in a fascinating clash that will see the winner take a significant step towards the playoffs.
The round closes out in Córdoba, where Dogos will be keen to build on their victory over Pampas against Tarucas, who are looking to avoid four defeats on the bounce.
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