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.

Chile 26-27 Uruguay

A titantic battle took place in Santiago del Chile on late Wednesday afternoon as Los Teros of Uruguay pulled off a one point win over Los Condores of Chile to move into second place of the 2012 South American Championship. Los Teros now face Brazil on Saturday while Los Condores take on Argentina meaning today´s result all but guarantees that Uruguay will finish in second place. The match was close throughout and was a dream encounter for the tournament organizers. At half time the score was 11-10 in favor of Uruguay after both sides had scored one first half try each. In the second half there was again one try per team and, as such, goalkicking proved to be decisive as Uruguay landed five penalties, one more than Chile who had converted both tries only to lose by a single point. 

The match was a reminder of the need for the IRB to make significant changes to the World Cup qualification system which makes it tough for South American sides to qualify for the global tournament. Three of the four teams from the CONSUR A category (South American Championship A) will be in contention to adavance to face the loser of Canada vs the United States of America. The fourth, Argenitna, has already qualified by virtue of being one of the three best teams from Pool B of Rigby World Cup 2011. The teams will battle it out in 2013 for a change to face the second best from North America in the following round of qualification for England 2015.

Chile

1 Alejandro Rios, 2 Manuel Gurruchaga, 3 Francisco Deformes, 4 Rolando Pellerano, 5 Pablo Huete, 6 Ignacio Silva, 7 Rodrigo Tobar, 8 German Suazo, 9 Juan Pablo Perrota, 10 Francisco Gonzales, 11 Francisco Metuaze, 12 Francisco de la Fuente, 13 German Herrera, 14 Felipe Brangier, 15 Javier Valderrama

Uruguay

1 Alejo Corral, 2 Nicolas Klappenbacg, 3 Oscar Durán, 4 Santiago Vilaseca, 5 Cristofer Soares, 6 Mathias Braun, 7 Diego Magno, 8 Juan Diego Ormaechea, 9 Francisco Vecino, 10 Mathias Arocena, 11 Rodrigo Martinez, 12 Juan de Freitas, 13 Agustin Ormaechea, 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Jeronimo Etcheverry

Los Jaguares Squad for IRB Nations Cup

Juan Pablo Socino named in squad

Argentina´s A side, known as Los Jaguares, has been confirmed for the upcoming IRB Nations Cup to be played in Bucharest, Romania between June 8 and June 17. The tournament is a strategic part of the IRB´s development of global rugby and sees Los Jaguares and Italy A compete alongside four test teams - Portugal, Russia, Uruguay and hosts Romania. Of the four Romania is officially a Second Tier rugby nation while the three others are considered to be developing and all have the potential to be included in the Second Tier. All have played in Rugby World Cup´s and two of the four are expected to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015. 

The 26 man squad consists of players considered to be fringe players for Los Pumas but players who will not feature for the senior side in the June internationals. The vast majority of players are Argentine based with twelve players having played in the this seasons Vodacom Cup. Three players were playing for European clubs with the most interesting selection being that of Juan Pablo Socino who was named in the RFU Championship´s Dream Team as inside centre. Socino has returned to Argentina after requesting to be released from his contract with Nottingham in England´s second division. He had offers to play for other teams, most interestingly, Treviso in Italy. A move to Treviso was a part of the FIR looking to make use of Socino in the Italian national side for the teams troublesome position of flyhalf. Socino´s selection means he will now not ever be elligible to play for Italy. 

Los Jaguares are grouped with Portugal, Romania and Russia with the teams first match being against the Portuguese on June 08. The team will be targetting winning the tournament after having lost two matches last season against Portugal and Georgia. The champions in 2011 were the South African Kings while Georgia finished second and Los Jaguares were third. The Los Jaguares team is coached by Los Pampas XV headcoach Daniel Hourcade and assisted by Emiliano Bergamaschi. Los Jaguares Squad

1-Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal (Universitario-Tucumán)

2-Felipe Aranguren (CUBA-URBA)

3-Nicolás Azorin (Liceo Naval-URBA)

4-Nicolás Basile (Aurillac, France)

5-Marcos Bollini (Club Newman-URBA)

6-Martín Chiappesoni (Atlético del Rosario-URBA)

7-Matías Cortese (Gloucester, England)

8-Jerónimo De la Fuente (Duendes RC-Rosario)

9-Ezequiel Faralle (Huirapuca-Tucumán)

10-César Fruttero (Jockey Club de Villa María-Cordobesa)

11-Martín García Veiga (Buenos Aires C y RC-URBA)

12-Juan Gómez (Los Matreros-URBA)

13-Lisandro Gómez López (La Tablada-Cordobesa)

14-Santiago González Iglesias (Associación Alumni-URBA)

15-Fernando Luna (Córdoba Athletic-Cordobesa)

16-Benjamín Madero (San Isidro Club-URBA)

17-Matías Masera (Belgrano Athletic-URBA)

18-Santiago Méndez (San Isidro Club-URBA)

19-Ramiro Moyano (Lince RC-Tucumán)

20-Javier Ortega Desio (San Isidro Club-URBA)

21-Ignacio Pasman (Club Champagnat-URBA)

22-Francisco Piccinini (San Isidro Club-URBA)

23-Lucas Ponce (CUBA-URBA)

24-Javier Rojas (Universitario-Tucumán)

25-Juan Pablo Socino (Nottingham, England)

26-Roberto Tejerizo (Tucumán Lawn Tennis-Tucumán)

Argentina 40-5 Uruguay

Los Pumas score vs Los Teros

Argentina has won its first test match of the year by defeating neighbours Uruguay by a scoreline of 40-5 at the CARR in Santiago del Chile earlier afternoon. The match was the first both both Los Pumas and Los Teros in the 2012 South American Championship, also known as the CONSUR A.Argentina won the contest by scoring six tries to one but have little time to celebrate as Argentina will take on Wednesday. Brazil are currently battling it out with the host nation of the 2012 event, Chile in the second of today´s two matches. The structure of the event is such that all four teams play their matches on the same days which means that Uruguay vs Chile will also be played on Wednesday. The match is likely to go far to determine who finished second in the tournament with Argentina likely to win its two remaining matches by bigger scores. 

Neither Argentina nor Uruguay were at full strength for their match today but Argentina were significantly depleted with no European professional players at all in the side. Former Toulon backrower, Leonardo Senatore was the only player to have played his rugby in Europe this season but he left to join Los Pampas XV for the teams final matches in the Vodacom Cup. Five of the six tries were scored by players from the Vodacom Cup with Ramiro Moyano scoring a double and a youngster who would very well make the senior Pumas squad, Manuel Montero, also getting a try. Uruguay´s try was scored by winger Santiago Arocena.

Upcoming Fixtures

Wednesday Argentina vs Brazil

Wednesday Chile vs Uruguay

Saturday Uruguay vs Brazil
Saturday Chile vs Argentina

Source: UARE

Leo Senatore to captain first Pumas test of 2012

Los Pumas World Cup backrower, Leo Senatore has been given the honor of captaining Argentina in its first test of the year as Los Pumas take on Uruguay in Santiago, Chile on Sunday. In what is to only be his fifth international appearance, the man from Rosario will lead a team packed with players from the Los Pampas XV side which reached the Quarter Finals of South Africa´s Vodacom Cup. Such is the experimentation of the squad that Senatore is the only player who played in last years Rugby World Cup to be in the team. Others to have played in New Zealand who are a part of Los Pampas XV have been rested and are not a part of the 26 man squad for the South American Championship in which Argentina will also face Brazil and Chile over the next week.

Having just turned 28, Senatore is a player to keep an eye on in 2012 as Argentina are to have three home tests in June followed by home and away fixtures vs Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in The Rugby Championship and then a three test tour to Europe in November. Senatore, having returned from a stint in the Top 14 with Toulon is widely expected to be in Argentina´s starting XV to face Tier One opposition. He is likely to join Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Juan Manuel Leguizamón in forming the first choice backrow. 

Besides Senatore the other players who could well play in the June internationals are winger Manuel Montero, scrumhalf Martín Landajo and secondrower Santiago Guzmán. replacements Bruno Postiglioni and Tomás Cubelli are also players to watch out for. 

Argentina

1- Roberto Tejerizo

2- Martín García Veiga

3- Gastón Cortéz

4- Santiago Guzmán

5- Benjamín Macome

6- Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal

7- Javier Ortega Desio

8- Leonardo Senatore (captain)

9- Martín Landajo

10- Valentín Cruz

11- Manuel Montero

12- Javier Rojas

13- Matías Orlando

14- Diego Palma

15- Ramiro Moyano

Reserves:

16- Ignacio Saenz Lancuba

17- Bruno Postiglioni

18- César Fruttero

19- Nicolás Azzorin

20- Tomás Cubelli

21- Stéfano Ambrosio

22- Facundo Barrea

Uruguay Squad for South American Championship

Etcheverry retruns

Uruguay has confirmed a 26 man squad for the South American Championship, starting this Sunday in Santiago, Chile. Los Teros, as one of the top four South American sides will go head-to-head with the three other top side sides with full test matches vs Argentina, Brazil and Chile to take place with IRB World Rankings on the line. The list is notable for the inclusion of fullback Jerónimo Etcheverry, who has returned from Europe to play for Los Teros. Etcheverry has been playing this season in Verona, Italy for Valpolicella Rugby and was not expected to play in the South American Championship. Props Alejo Corral, Gaston Ibarburu and Mario Sagario who play their rugby in Argentina, France and Spain are the other foreign based players included in the squad. Uruguay´s star forward, Rodrigo Capó Ortega of Cartres will not play as he prepares for the Top 14 barrage next weekend vs Montpellier. 

Uruguay´s strenght continues to be in the forwards, particularly in the frontrow but Los Terows will need to play well to hold onto its place in the World Rankings and its CONSUR ranking of being the second best team in South America. Chile´s recent age grade win over Argentina suggests that the hierarchy is changing and Brazil are also interested in leaving a massive impression at the tournament.  Uruguay seem to have the future in mind with plenty of young names in the squad. 

Uruguay Squad

Prop: Alejo Corral (SIC, Argentina), Rodolfo de Mula (PSG), Oscar Duran (Carrasco Polo), Gaston Ibarburu S. Jean Luz, France), Mario Sagario (Santboiana, Spain)

Hooker: Nicolás Klappenbach (Champagnat), Arturu Avalo (Carrasco Polo)

Secondrow and Backrow: Santiago Vilaseca (Oldboys), Cristofer Soares (MVCC),  Diego Bascou (PSG), Fernando Braun (PSG), Mathias Braun (PSG), Diego Magno (MVCC), Alejandro Nieto (Champagnat), Juan Ormaechea (Carrasco Polo)

Scrumhalf: Guillermo Lijtenstein (Trebol), Francisco Vecino (Carrasco Polo)

Flyhalf: Mathias Arocena (Old Christians), Felipe Berchesi (Carrasco Polo)

Centre, Wing and Fullback: Alberto Roman (PSG), Jean de Freitas (Champagnat), Agustín Ormaechea, Rodrigo Martinez (Carrasco Polo), Santiago Arocena (Old Christians), Gaston Mieres (Lobos) Jerónimo Etcheverry (Verona, Italy)

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

Top 14 - Final Round Wrap

Round 26, the final round, of the French Top 14 was played on Saturday, confirming Brive´s relegation to the Pro d2 along with Lyon and confirming Racing Métro as the sixth placed French side joining Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse, Toulon, Castres and Montpellier in the Top six and therefore qualifying for the 2012-2013 Heineken Cup. As such Racing Métro will take on the third placed Toulon in one of the two barrage play-off matches scheduled for May 26 while the fourth placed Castres will host Montpellier in the other, one day earlier in what is a rematch from last seasons barrage match when Argentina´s Martín Bustos Moyano eliminated Castres. By virtue of finishing first and second in the regular season, Clermont Auvergne and Toulouse are rewarded with automatic qualification for the Semi Finals and will face the winners of the barrage matches. The exit of Brive to the second division continues a tradition of Southwestern French sides exiting as the competition is increasingly being spread to more areas of the country and is also seeing the small town teams benig replaced by big city teams. 

The final round was another case in point of why Rugby World Cup 2023 ought to take place in Argentina as Pumas players both experienced and young were on show in large numbers, scoring tries and putting in solid performances. Moreover, Argentine players were joined by players from Canada, Uruguay and the USA as the Americas, the last frontier for Rugby World Cups, continues to contribute greatly to the global game.

Agen 25-22 Racing Métro

The new sensation, Juan Imhoff scored a try playing on the left wing and was joined in the backthree by  Juan Martín Hernández. Backrower Alvaro Galindo joined the pair in playing the full match. Juan Orlandi was a 54th minute replacement. None of Agen´s three Pumas featured. 

Bordeaux Begles 37-29 Perpignan
Former Pumas winger Rafael Carballo played outside centre for Bordeaux, scoring a first half try.

Clermont Auvergne 57-14 Brive

Canadian Jamie Cudmore played secondrow for the winners. Three former Puams played for Brive with Agustín Figuerola playing scrumhalf and scoring a try. Pablo Henn started atr loosehead prop and tighthead prop Pablo Cardinali played the full secondhalf.

Toulouse 20-13 Montpellier

Pumas secnodrower Patricio Albacete played 67 minutes for Toulouse but scurmhalf Nicolás Vergallo did not feature. Lucas González Amorosino played fullback for Montpellier and Martín Bustos Moyano was the left winger, kicking one penalty and a conversion. Juan Figallo started in his Pumas position of tighthead prop and Agustín Creevy at hooker. Pumas inside back Santiago Fernández came on in the 56th minute while Maximilano Bustos was unused from the bench.

Lyon 5-29 Toulon

The man expected to lead Los Pumas, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe played the full match for Toulon, scorign a try. His Pumas backrow colleague, Juan Manuel Leguizamón did not play however.

Castres 31-29 Bayonne

Uruyan international, Rodrigo Capó Ortega started for Castres.

Biarritz 15-6 Stade Français

USA winger Taku Ngwenya played in the 14 shirt for Biarritz and Pumas centre Marcelo Bosch played fullback. Francisco Gomez Kodela came into the frontrow in the 49th minute while secondrower Manuel Carizza entered in the 62nd. Pumas legend Rodrigo Roncero played his final game of French rugby and Felipe Contepomi played at inside centre and Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga was a 54th minute replacement. 

Top 14 Barrage
Friday May 25 Castres vs Montpellier, Stade Pierre-Antoine
Saturday May 26 Toulon vs Racing Métro, Stade Féliz-Mayol


Final Standings
1 Clermont 87
2 Clermont 87
3 Toulon 73
4 Castres 69
5 Montpellier 67
6 Racing Métro 64
7 Stade Français 58
8 Bordeaux 53
9 Biarritz 52
10 Agen 52
11 Perpignan 49
12 Bayonne 48
13 Brive 42
14 Lyon 31

* Semi Finalists
* Barrage
* Relegated to Pro d2

Agen vs Racing Métro

SUA v RM 92 - Le résumé en vidéo por racingmetro92

Bordeaux vs Perpignan

Résumé du match Bordeaux vs USAP - Mai 2012 por USAP_Communication

Clermont vs Brive

ASM-Brive : Le résumé por asm

Toulouse vs Montpellier


Lyon vs Toulon

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. 

French Top 14 - Round 22 Wrap

Perpignan 25-10 Toulouse

Patricio Albacete

With USAP being threatened with relegation the club had to get a win to guarantee its survival in the French Top 14. Despite the urgency the club was given little chance of a win over Toulouse even though it was playing at its home fortress of the Stade Aime Giral. Toulouse´s embarrassing performance in the Heineken Cup last weekend which saw the giants fall to Scotland´s Edinburgh resulted in Lionel Beauxis being benched. It enabled Toulouse to actually play some rugby as the young French scrumhalf, Jean-Marc Doussain played in the 10 shirt. At halftime the visitors were leading 7-6 thanks to a try to Argentine secondrower Patricio Albacete, his first of the season. After the break, Perpignan went on to win with Wales´ James Hook kicking 20 points. Argentina´s World Cup scrumhalf, Nicolás Vergallo came on for Toulouse to play the final 11 minutes. 

Agen 22-13 Toulon

JM Fernández Lobbe

The match, for Pumas fans, was the most important of the weekend as it featured the return of the worldclass Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe from injury. The Argentine backrower last played vs Scotland in the World Cup and had to leave the field in the first half of the do-or-die encounter. he came on for Toulon from the bench as a secondhalf replacement in the 53rd minute. Toulon´s surprizingly poor performance featured former Wallaby, Matt iteau playing in place of Jonny Wilkinson at flyhalf. The team fielded a star-studded lineup with notable players from Australia, England, France, Fiji, Georgia and South Africa all joining Giteau in the starting lineup.Agen fielded a team lacking big name players but got the result. Former Pumas centre, Miguel Avramovic played two minutes from the bench. 

Clermont Auvergne 25-9 Stade Français

Martín Rodríguez Gurrruchaga

The hot-and-cold form of Stade Français continued as did the home record of Clermont. In winning, Clermont has confirmed its place in the Top 14 Orange Semi Finals alongside Toulouse. The teams a re tied at the top of the table and neither team can finish below second. They will not, therefore, play in the barrage round of the Top 14 play-off´s in May. The loss means Stade Français´ chances of making the barrage play-offs are complicated as the team is now six points behind fellow Parisians, Racing Métro. The club remains on target for a place in the Heineken Cup, however as it appears to be well placed for a Heineken Cup victory, assuming Toulon give preference to the Top 14. Canada´s Jamie Cudmore missed the match for Clermont due to injury while Stade Français fielded its Argentine 10-12 combination of Felipe Contepomi and Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga. Pumas veteran loosehead prop, Rodrigo Roncero came on for the Parisians in the 47th minute. 

Agustín Creevy

Montpellier 43-12 Lyon OU

A massive home win sees Montpellier continue to look like a team that could win this seasons title. With five Argentine players in the starting lineup, Montpellier ran riot against the bottom of the table Lyon OU. Two of the six tries were scored by Argentine players with hooker Agustín Creevy scoring a tryin the 40th minute and centre Santi Fernández going over in the 55th minute. The star of the show, however, was Georgian backrower Mamuka Gorgodze who scored three tries. Creevy played 53 minutes while Fernández played the full match for Montpellier. Creevy was joined in the frontrow by Argentine props Juan Figallo and Maximilano Bustos. Figallo played 50 minutes and Bustos 60 with both being replaced. Lucas González Amorosino continued his mortage on the 15 shirt while Martín Bustos Moyano was a late withdrawl having been named to start as such François Trinh-Duc was the teams goalkicker for the first time this season. Juan Manuel Leguizamón missed the match for Lyon due to a minor injury. While Lyon are going down to the Pro d2, neighbouring city, Grenoble are on the way back as after seven years in the second division the Alps city has won promotion back to France´s top flight. 

Racing Métro 40-19 Brive

Juan Martín Hernández

Racign Métro look close to being confirmed in the play-off´s after hjaving come right followign an extremely up and down season. Brive, in contrast, will not be breathing easily as the club may not be safwe afterall as Perpignan and Biarritz have both gone clear while Bayonne are only four points behind Brive on 38 points. Brive cannot take anything for granted and need to win some of its remaining matches. A tough task given the opposition of Toulouse, Bordeaux-Begles and Clermont Auvergne. Racing Métro´s win featured three Pumas in the starting lineup with Juan Orlandi playing 49 minutes at tighthead prop, Juan Imhoff playing 75 minutes on the left wing and el Mago, Juan Martín Hernández playing 65 minutes at flyhalf. Juan Martín Hernández is looking increasingly like being Argentina´s flyhalf again as he continues to put together some regular game time for Racing Métro and put hisn players in spaces.  His playmaking had the Parisians leading 33-12 when he was substituted. One of the Parisians four tries was scored by Imhoff who continues to cement the Pumas 11 shirt in a likerly partnership with Leicester´s Horacio Agulla at 14. Another player likely to feature extensively for Argentina is Agustín Figuerola who started at scrumhalf for Brive, playing 74 minutes.

Bayonne 24-19 Biarritz

Manuel Carizza

Another upset took place on the Spanish border as Bayonne scored a vital win as it tries to stay in the Top 14. Biarritz were missing a number of players to injury including Taku Ngwenya and Marcelo Bosch. This worked out to the advantage of Bayonne who are doing nothing other than fighting for survival in the Top 14. The teams victory was a tryless performance and came with a bit of luck as Biarritz were very close to scoring a try from a lineup with time up on the clock. The lineout was won by Manuel Carizza who had come on for Biarritz in the 64th minute. He may be heading for a return to Heineken Cup rugby as he is being lined up by Racing Métro who have lost Sebastien Chabal and will soon lose Lionel Nallet who is aged 35. Francisco Gomez Kodela also recieved game time for Biarritz, coming on in the 54th minute to play tighthead prop.

Castres 44-20 Bordeaux-Begles

Rafael Carballo

A massive win, and a rare bonus point one, for Castres sees the club continue to be impressive at home while failing to match this on the road. The home team had a one man advantage for twenty minutes as Bordeaux received two yellow cards for indiscipline. An outcome which ultimately ruined the teams chances in htis contest. The four tries to two victory features Uruguay´s Rodrigo Capó Ortega in the secondrow. The 2003 World Cup player started and was replaced in the 73rd minute. Bordeaux-Begles had one of its two Argentine players in the match with Rafael Carballo playing 90 minutes on the wing. 

Top 14 Orange Standings
1 Toulouse 78
2 Clermont 78
3 Toulon 63
4 Montpellier 62
5 Castres 59
6 Racing Métro 59
7 Stade Français 53
8 Agen 48
9 Perpignan 44
10 Biarritz 44
11 Brive 42
12 Bordeaux-Begles 41
13 Bayonne 38
14 Lyon 30

* Play-offs zone
* Relegation

Perpignan vs Toulouse


Agen vs Toulon

Résumé Agen-Toulon por rctoulon

Clermont Auvergne vs Stade Français

ASM-Stade Français : Le résumé por asm

Montpellier vs Lyon OU

Montpellier/LOU (43-12) : le résumé vidéo por LOURugby1896

Racing Métro vs Brive


Bayonne vs Biarritz Olympique


Castres Olympique vs Bordeaux-Begles