Yacare Come to Life with big Upset Win over Dogos

After six narrow losses in the opening six rounds of Super Rugby Americas (SRA) 2026, Yacare were winless. This ended in week seven as Yacare were comprehensive winners over Los Dogos in Asunción, Paraguay. The 41-20 victory sees the team now having breathing space between itself and the bottom of the table Cobras.

Los Dogos could be accused of being complacent; however, the real story of the night was that Yacare turned-up and put in an excellent performance. In fact, Yacare won despite having lost Juan Bautista Mernes to a red card in the first-half.

The first-half was highly competitive. Both teams scored two tries and, thanks to goal-kicking accuracy, Yacare were 14-10 up at the interval. Paraguayan flanker Ariel Núñez broke clear to open the scoring while hooker Jordi Chavez scored from a lineout to maul late in the half.

Los Dogos’ two first-half tries also went to forwards. Former Los Cafeteros Pro forward, Enzo Ocampo scored from a pick-and-go while hooker Juan Ignacio Revol scored from a lineout to maul.

The second-half was very different. Los Dogos scored 10 points in total to double their score, but this was far from sufficient as Yacare went from 14 points to 41. Joaquín Lamas landed two penalties to give the Paraguayans a good lead before he converted Francisco Calello’s try which came from a loose Dogos pass. This was also inside the third quarter.

Winger Juan Gonzalez then scored for Yacare at the close of the third quarter to seal to victory. It was an example as to why the decision to exclude TMO’s from SRA 2026 is not universally approved. González’s foot brushed the sideline before he dived over for his try.

Fellow winger, Arturo López then scored from an interception to give Yacare a 31 point lead. Los Dogos were visibly cross with themselves but finished with two late tries to Pumas center Faustino Sánchez Valarolo and Argentina XV winger Mateo Soler to secure a losing bonus point. Woeful goal-kicking saw all four Dogos tries unconverted.

SCORING

YACARE (41)
TRY – A Núñez (13′); J Chaves (36′); F Calello (53′); J González (59′); A López (63′)
CON – J Lamas 5 (14′, 37′, 54′, 60′, 64′)
PEN – J Lamas 2 (47′, 49′)
YC – JB Mernes (18′)
RC – JB Mernes (33′)

DOGOS (20)
TRY – E Ocampo (18′); J Greissing Revol (34′); F Sánchez Valarolo (32′); M Soler (80′)
YC – O Filippa (52′)

LINE-UPS

YACARE
1 Nicolas Toth, 2 Jordi Chavez, 3 Rodolfo Rivadeneira, 4 Marteo Gasparotti, 5 Joaquín Domínguez Herrera, 6 Manuel Todaro, 7 Ariel Núñez, 8 Juan Bautista Mernes, 9 Juan Cruz Strada, 10 Joaquín Lamas, 11 Juan González, 12 Francisco Gaspes, 13 Ramiro Amarilla (capt.), 14 Arturo López, 15 Francisco Calello

Replacements: 16 Valentino Rocco Rios, 17 Camilo Blasco, 18 Luís Enrique Quinteros, 19 Matías Muniagurria, 20 Francisco Luis Bareiro, 21 Gonzalo Bareiro, 22 Sebastián Urbieta, 23 Joaquín Mussi

DOGOS
1 Ezequiel Bustos López, 2 Juan Ignacio Revol, 3 Octavio Ignacio Filippa, 4 Valentin Gozalvez, 5 Enzo Ocampo, 6 Gaston Garayzabal, 7 Lautaro Simes, 8 Valentin Cabral (capt.), 9 Nicolás Viola, 10 Facundo Pueyrredón, 11 Agustin De Vertiz, 12 Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Mateo Soler, 15 Mateo Sánchez

Replacements: 16 Tomás Montilla, 17 Juan Aguirre, 18 Galo Fernández, 19 Tomás Maria Gómez González, 20 Genaro Fissore, 21 Genaro Podesta, 22 Giuliano Avaca, 23 Ernesto Giudice

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS