Uruguay 27-15 Brazil

Juan Ormaechea

Los Teros of Uruguay complered a hard fought victory over os Tupis of Brazil earlier this afternoon in Santiago del Chile. It was the third and final match of both countries in the 2012 South American Championship. Brazil went into the match as major underdogs following the teams 11-0 hammering at the hands of Argentina on Wednesday. Uruguay had lost by half as many points against the same team on Sunday and had clawed its way to a 27-26 victory over Chile on Wednesday. Uruguay´s win continues the pecking order of CONSUR rugby with Los Teros number two to Argentina ahead of Chile in third and Brazil in fourth. For Brazil the loss against Argentina will be what the country´s media take in but the real story is the teams competitiveness against both Chile and Uruguay. Three years ago both sides were defeating Brazil by over 60 points.  But today´s match was a sign that the extent of Brazil´s loss vs Argentina has more to do with the schedule, of playing three tests in six days, than the teams actual ability. 

Uruguay scored first with a try and looked like it would be the first of many, however it was not to be as Brazil played the best rugby of the first half and went into the interval leading the match 12-8. Uruguay came back in the second half but were made to battle it out hard by the Tupis and it took a penalty try to give Uruguay the lead. As the second half progressed Uruguay´s superior fitness was evident and it worked out to the advantage of the favorites as they closed out the game to win by 12 points.

Los Teros scored four tries to two with fullback Jerónimo Etcheverry scoring the first of the match. Backrower Juan Ormaechea scored Los Teros´ second try while the penalty try was followed by a try to Diego Magno. Etcheverry converted two of Uruguay´s tries and also kicked a penalty. Brazil´s two tries went to Daniel Danielewicz and Daniel Gregg. The French bound Moisés Duque kicked a conversion and Gregg scored a second half penalty. Gregg´s try was the highlight of the match with the Niteroi flyhalf underlining why he has been moved from wing to flyhalf for the national side.

Argentina 111-0 Brazil

Brasil reflects on loss (portalderugby)

Eighteen years after the previous clash between Argentina and Brazil Los Pumas completed a massive win over their soccer rivals. The result was never in doubt as it was a clash between two contrasting rugby experiences. In Argentina the players start at a young age and there is an excellent infrastructure for the development of players. The result is clear as Argentina are a Tier One side and others need to replicate Argentina if they are to ever challenge Los Pumas. Argentina has players who started at a young age while in Brazil many only start playing after highschool. The CBRu appreciate this and are actively trying to change this by making it compluslosry for clubs in some regions to have junior teams or not be allowed to play in senior level competitions. 

In defeating Brazil, Argentina scored 17 tries and landing 13 conversions. Of the try scorers two players are strong contenders to play for Los Pumas this year in the June internationals vs Italy and / or France. Los Pampas XV winger, Manuel Montero scored a hatrick while scrumhalf  Tomás Cubelli scored a double. 

Argentina will face hosts, Chile on Saturday while Brazil will face Uruguay. Brazil now need to defeat Uruguay to avoid finishing bottom of the table while Argentina face Chile also on Saturday. The complaints made by teams at Rugby World Cup 2011 over the short turn-arounds were big news with Samoa, in particular, voicinig opposition to the four day gap between facing Namibia and Wales. Perhaps the players should spare a thought for the players in the South American Championship with Brazil facing two superior teams in the form of Chile and Argentina just three days apart.

Argentina makes nine changes to take on Brazil

Tomás Cubelli to play scrumhalf vs Brazil

After just a three day turn-around both the second round of the 2012 South American Championship will be played tomorrow, Wednesday in Santiago, Chile. The tournament favorites, Argentina, got a good 40-5 win on Sunday againast Uruguay and is confidently going about its business with nine changes having been made to the team to face Brazil in the second round. The changes will see Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba, Germán Aráoz, César Fruttero, Nicolás Azzorin, Rodrigo Bruno, Tomás Cubelli, Stéfano Ambrosio, Santiago Craig and Facundo Barrea all starting. The team will be led again by Leonardo Senatore who is the only player to have played professional rugby this season.

The match is to be the first between the die-hard soccer rivals in almost twenty years as the last time Argentina faced Brazil in test rugby was back in 1993. On that occassion Argentina won the match 114-3. The result is not expected to be so one sided this time around, however, but if Brazil can restrict Los Pumas to a difference of 50 points it will be a significant achievement. The closest match in history between the teams saw Argentina winning 30-8 in São Paulo in 1964. Argentina has won all eleven matches between the sides.

Argentina

1 Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba

2 Martín García Veiga

3 Germán Aráoz

4 César Fruttero

5 Nicolás Azzorin

6 Javier Ortega Desio

7 Rodrigo Bruno

8 Leonardo Senatore (Captain)

9 Tomás Cubelli

10 Stéfano Ambrosio

11 Manuel Montero

12 Javier Rojas

13 Santiago Craig

14 Facundo Barrea

15 Ramiro Moyano

Reserves: 16 Roberto Tejerizo, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Santiago Guzmán, 19 Benjamín Macome, 20 Martín Landajo, 21 Valentín Cruz, 22 Matías Orlando.

Brazil is yet to confirm its lineup for the match.

Chile 19-6 Brazil

The host nation of the 34th South American Championship, Chile got off to a positive start by defeating the foruth ranked side, Brazil by thirteen points in Santiago today. Brazil showed significant progress despite not scoring a try to underline the teams growth in recent years which has seen the sport boom in both playing numbers and clubs. The only try of the match was scored by Francisco Neira. it was converted by Timothy Gibson who also slotted a penalty goal. Javier Valderrama scored the remaining nine points with three penalties of his own for Los Condores. Brazil´s points game from two penalties with Daniel Gregg and Moíses Duque scoring one each.

Both sides only have two days off before returning for matches on Wednesday. Chile will play its most important match of the year as it hosts Uruguay with the winner very likely to go on to claim the silver medal. Brazil will take on soccer rivals and bitter enemies, Argentina also on Wednesday. With Brazil set to host the 2016 Olympic Games in which Rugby Sevens will make its Olympic debut there is a lot of effort going into the abbreviated format of the game. Argentina2023 firmly believes that Brazil will, this this time, be on par with both Chile and Uruguay in the full version of the sport, rugby union.

Moises Duque confirms move to French rugby

Moises Duque vs Uruguay

Brazilian international centre, Moises Duque has confirmed he will be playing rugby in France next season after telling Brazilian sources that he has agreed to terms with French Third division (Fédérale 1) side Blagnac. The São José dos Campos centre went to France with his brother, Lucas, following the national Brazilian mens team´ participation in the Emirates Airline Cup of Nations in Dubai last December. In France the pair had trials with professional clubs and were spotted at a Top 14 match in Brive which resulted in questions being asked over to the possible recruitment of a Brazilian to the Top 14. 

Based in the zones of current French champions, Toulouse, Blagnac is in the rugby heartland of France. The Fédéral 1 has proven to be a breeding ground for international players from a number of developing rugby countries. The most successful being Georgia. 

Brazil ready to impress at 2012 South American Championship

Brazil Tupis - new name for the national mens team

Ranked fourth in South American but making significant progress, Brazil is a team with its eye on the future. The governing body of Brazilian rugby, the CBRu has invested significant resources into making sure the national mens team can make as big of an impact as possible. Changes have been made both on and off the field with the team now having an official mascot the Tupis, which was selected as the new emblem to give Brazil a nickname similar to Argentina being Los Pumas, Chile Los Condores and Uruguay Los Teros. The governing body ash also seen sweeping changes in player preperation with former Crusaders and All Blacks international backrower, Scott Robinson taking over as the headcoach and being assisted by Brent Frew. Former Crusaders centre and Fijian international, Tabai Matson has also been involved in preparing the players for the South American Championship. 

The Brazilian team will flyout to Santiago on Thursday. Robertson is to take a squad combining new and experienced international players with the goal being to return home with not only strong performances but also a win. The tournament is to involve the top four from South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay) who will all face each other. It is known as the Sudamericano Mayor A in Spanish. 

Head Coach: Scott Robertson

Assistant Coach: Brent Frew

Brazil Squad
Carlos Oliveira, Daniel Danelewicz, Danilo Lima, Diego Lopez, Jardel Vettorato, Jardel de Mendonça, João Luiz da Ros, Lucas Ceccarelli, Lucas Pierro, Maurício Costa, Pedro Manzini, Ramiro Mina, Thiago Perovic, Allan Martins, André Silva, Daniel Gregg, Felipe Claro, Gustavo Krahembuhl, João Neto, Júlio de Mendonça, Leandro Castiglioni, Martín Schaefer, Matheus Daniel, Matheus Silva, Moisés Duque, Paulo Santos

Argentina squad named for South American Championship

Before taking on Italy and France in June and then Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in The Rugby Championship, Argentina will start against humble opposition as the South American giants take on Brazil, Chile and Uruguay in tests this month. Argentina, as normal, will use the matches to give fringe players a chance to impress ahead of the June tests. But, coaches Daniel Hourcade and Martín Gaitan have named a team which includes a number of players from Los Pampas XV and also incldes Leonardo Senatore who started vs the All Blacks in the World Cup Quarter Final last year. The team also includes stars of the future such as winger Manuel Montero Argentina are heavy favorites to again win the tournament. In 2011 Argentina was far too good for all others en route to winning the CONSUR Senior tournament. 

Argentina´s Match Schedule

May 20 Argentina vs Uruguay

May 23 Argentina vs Brazil
May 26 Argentina vs Chile

Argentine Squad

Frontrow: Roberto Tejerizo, Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba, Martín García Veiga, Bruno Postiglioni, Germán Áraoz and Gastón Cortez.

Secondrow: Nicolás Azorin, César Fruttero and Santiago Guzmán

Backrow: Lisandro Ahualli, Rodrigo Bruno, Javier Ortega Desio, Leonardo Senatore and Benjamín Macome

Medio scrum: Martín Landajo and Tomás Cubelli.

Flyhalf: Stefano Ambrosio and Valentín Cruz.

Centres: Santiago Craig, Jerónimo De la Fuente and Matías Orlando.

Wingers: Facundo Barrea, Manuel Montero and Diego Palma.

Fullbacks: Ramiro Moyano and Román Miralles.