Uruguay finish 2nd in the ARC
- 1981
Uruguay overcome a combative Brazil in Montevideo to win their fourth match of the Americas Rugby Championship, in doing so claiming 2nd place in the competition for the first time since its new beginning in 2016. While the final score read 42-20 in favor of Los Teros, it was Os Tupis who led at halftime with the home side just pulling away in the final quarter.
The scrum battle was built up before the game and it was important from the start. Brazil struck the first blow with Josh Reeves landing an early three points. Uruguay fired back through Felipe Berchesi to draw the scores level.
From an attacking lineout Brazil went wide and Lorenzo Massari, who impressed in the midfield, broke through and nearly put Daniel Sancery away but for a desperate tackle from Gastón Mieres. The ball was recycled and spun wide right. Again the defense held but Lucas Duque was able to slip under the post to score the first try.
Sancery would not be denied on a second scoring opportunity. After a charging run from Luiz Vieira took the Tupis inside Uruguay’s 5 meter line, Sancery was quickest to react to the ensuing penalty and his quick tap put him over Reeves’ conversion giving Brazil an incredible 15-3 lead.
Berchesi sent over his second penalty before the Teros would finally get a try of their own. It came from the driving maul, with Germán Kessler spinning off the back to slide over. The conversion was missed and the score stood 15-11 in favor of the visitors at the break.
Another penalty from Berchesi closed the gap but Brazil’s confidence grew with their third try moments later. A huge break from Massari came close to scoring but the ball was knocked on. Brazil won the scrum against the head, however, and Reeves quickly fired the ball to an open Lucas Tranquez who dove in the right side.
Los Teros went back to their lineout to get back in the game. From 5 meters out the maul was stopped short, but the forwards bashed away until Mateo Sanguinetti was just able to touch the ball on the line after himself being stopped short. Another lineout sparked an attacking move that ended with Juan Manuel Cat somehow getting around the defense to score in the corner.
With 15 minutes to play Brazil were suddenly down 28-20 but then a dramatic moment came as Andrés Vilaseca was shown red for a head-high tackle on Massari. Despite being short-handed it was Uruguay who put the pressure on and soon Cléber Dias joined Vilaseca on the sideline with a yellow card for repeat infringements.
Both sides were not reduced to 14 men but it was the absence of Dias that hurt as Brazil were forced to defend with only seven forwards. Uruguay took full advantage, scoring two tries to close out the game. The first was a second for Kessler and the then Juan Diego Ormaechea blasted over from the back of a scrum to end the game.
Though the result will be disappointing to Brazil, they can hold their heads high having given a strong account of themselves throughout the tournament. As talks of a new competition continues to circulate, the two South American rivals have proven again that they deserve to be part of whatever lies ahead.
SCORING
URUGUAY 42
Tries – G. Kessler 2 (32’, 73’), M. Sanguinetti (53’), J. Cat (64’), J. Ormaechea (79’)
Cons – F. Berchesi 4/5 (54’, 65’, 74’, 80’)
Pens – F. Berchesi 3/4 (12’, 25’, 44’)
Red cards – A. Vilaseca (68’)
BRAZIL 20
Tries – L. Duque (14’), D. Sancery (23’), L. Tranquez (48’)
Cons – J. Reeves 1/3 (24’)
Pens – J. Reeves 1/1 (6’)
Yellow cards – C. Dias (72’)
TEAMS
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (16 Facundo Gattas 66’), 2 Germán Kessler (17 Guillermo Pujadas 74’), 3 Juan Rombys (18 Mario Sagario 50’), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Ayala (20 Juan Diego Ormaechea 62’), 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Franco Lamanna, 8 Manuel Diana (19 Gonzalo Soto Mera 68’), 9 Santiago Arata (21 Tomás Inciarte 54’), 10 Felipe Berchesi, 11 Joaquín Prada, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Juan Manuel Cat, 14 Federico Favaro (23 Ignacio García 78’), 15 Gastón Mieres (22 Manuel Blengio 74’)
BRAZIL
1 Jardel Vettorato (17 João Talamini 78’), 2 Yan Rosetti, 3 Wilton Rebolo, 4 Gabriel Paganini, 5 Luiz Vieira (20 Alexandre Alves 24’), 6 Cléber Dias, 7 Arthur Bergo (capt.), 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Robert Tenório (23 Ariel Rodrigues HT), 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Lorenzo Massari, 14 Lucas Tranquez, 15 Daniel Sancery
Not used: 16 Walter Schildberg, 18 Pedro Bengaló, 19 Michael Moraes, 21 Douglas Rauth, 22 Stefano Giantorno
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Moe Chaudhry (RC)
Assistants: Gonzalo Ventoso (URU) & Marcelo Piñeyro (URU)
TMO: Francisco Pesce (URU)
