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Brazil overturned last year’s loss to down Chile in São Paulo this evening. With the two having yet to play in a Rugby World Cup this match was the one both targeted as a must win.
The opening half was extremely even. The teams both had 50% possession. On the scoreboard it was also very close. Chile went into half time with a 3-0 advantage. It came from a penalty from center Matías Nordenflycht.
Brazil has a chance to make it 3-3 after 20 minutes. A long-range attempted penalty from fly half Josh Reeves struck rebounded off the posts. A second miss in the 31st minute and a third in the 40th saw Brazil held scoreless at the interval.
As the players departed for the changing rooms the heavens opened up and it would change the match entirely. Chile was unable to adapt, committing one knock-on after another throughout the second half.
Chile’s tactical substitution at scrum half backfired. An excellent match from Beltrán Vergara would not be replicated by Jan Hasenlechner. The substitutes first act was to see a box-kick fail to have its desired impact. Disorder led to Brazil being awarded a penalty. Knowing his team’s lineout had the better of the opposition Reeves kicked for the corner. Quality ball saw Matheus Cruz break through to score. Moisés Duque added the conversion.
Minutes later Duque lined up a penalty. His 59th minute penalty struck the uprights, falling down into a dangerous spot for Los Cóndores. After sliding off a knee Chile managed to kick the ball dead. The resulting scrum saw Brazil go 14-0 ahead. From a tackle Felipe Sancery benefitted, collecting a teammates fumble to score in the left corner. Duque added the conversion.
Havoc continued to result from the wet weather. Chile’s handling errors continued to grow but their scrum would enable them to win penalties and get into Brazilian territory. The two Brazilian tries, though, were too much for Chile to cancel out.
Gaining better use out of the conditions Brazil went further ahead. A 73rd minute penalty from Duque put the result beyond doubt. With five minutes remaining Chile had an attacking lineout. A knock-on summed-up Los Cóndores’ second half. Any possibility of Chile scoring a point ended with a dropped ball.
For Brazil the victory is sweet. Os Tupis can look now at avoiding the wooden spoon. Chile will need to address their appalling handling skills to have a chance at winning a match in the competition. Both teams will play again next weekend, both in North America. Brazil take-on the USA in Texas while Chile face Canada in British Columbia.
SCORING
BRAZIL 17
Tries – M. Cruz (55’), F. Sancery (60’)
Cons – M. Duque 2 (56’, 61’)
Pens – M. Duque (73’)
Yellow cards – F. Sancery (9’)
CHILE 3
Pens – M. Nordenflycht (3’)
Yellow cards – C. Zamorano (32’)
TEAMS
BRAZIL
1 Alexandre Alves (18 Vitor Ancina 52′), 2 Yan Rosetti (16 Daniel Danielewicz 77′), 3 Wilton Rebolo, 4 Diego López, 5 Lucas Piero, 6 João Luiz da Ros, 7 André Arruda, 8 Nick Smith (capt.) (20 Matheus Daniel 42′), 9 Beukes Cremer (21 Matheus Cruz 25′-35′, 52′), 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Stefano Giantorno, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery (22 Luan Smanio 68′), 14 De Wet van Niekerk, 15 Daniel Sancery
Not Used: 17 Jonatas Paulo, 19 Felipe Tissot, 23 Guilherme Coghetto
CHILE
1 Claudio Zamorano (capt.) (17 Vittorio Lastra 68′), 2 Tomás Dussaillant (16 Rodrigo Moya 47′), 3 José Tomás Munita (18 Gonzalo Martínez 68′), 4 Nikola Bursic (19 Nicanor Machuca 73′), 5 Mario Mayol, 6 Cristóbal Niedmann (17 Vittorio Lastra 36′-42′), 7 Anton Petrowitsch, 8 Manuel Dagnino (20 Benjamín Soto 56′), 9 Beltrán Vergara (21 Jan Hasenlechner 50′), 10 Francisco González Moller, 11 Pedro Verschae (22 Francisco Cruz 64′), 12 Matías Nordenflycht (23 Tomás Ianiszewski 47′), 13 Franco Velarde, 14 Martín Verschae, 15 Rodrigo Fernández
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Claudio Cattivelli (URU)
Assistants: Ricardo Sant’Anna (CBRu) & Murillo Bragotto (CBRu)
Attendance: 3,500
