Chile Open RWC Qualifying Campaign By Beating Brazil

Chile has opened its Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying campaign by beating Brazil. Los Cóndores outscored Os Tupis by 15-10, requiring a late try to seal the win.

Chile started the strongest. Impressive work from the forwards had Los Cóndores smartly advancing into Brazilian territory. It was, in many ways, a sign of how the game would unfold as handling errors repeatedly cost Chile opportunities.

Scoring opportunities were regularly spilled by the Chileans. A second minute raid though saw Francisco González Moller opening the scoring. The Sporting RC fly half landed his first shot at goal to give Chile an early three point lead.

González Moller had the goal kicking responsibilities despite wonder-kicker Matías Nordenflycht also starting. Nordenflycht would not line up a kick all match though González Moller would. His first attempt would be his only success of the match.

Inaccuracies saw Chile unable to capitalize. This saw it take 30 minutes for the game’s first try. It was scored by winger Franco Velarde in the left corner. The well-executed try came off the back of tremendous work from Chile’s best players today – Ramón Ayarza and Anton Petrowitsch. Superb carrying and linking put Velarde over.

Ayarza and Petrowitsch put in standout performances. The play that produced the try showcased their importance to their team. Similar opportunities would not be taken until late in the game.

Handling errors from Chile and the occasional loss of possession at the breakdown saw Brazil repeatedly able to get out of danger. This kept the score to 8-0 until late in the first half. Os Tupis did get on the board in the first half though, doing so through De Wet van Niekerk. The opportunistic score came from poor play from Jan Hasenlechner. The scrum half failed to clear a kick which was charged down inside his 22. De Wet van Niekerk went over untouched.

The hero from wins over the USA and Canada, Moisés Duque landed the conversion. With a penalty also on target the Brazilians would hold a lead until the 77th minute. Chile did have multiple opportunities to score, both though tries and penalties but raids ended and kicks were off-target.

The substitution of González Moller did not help matters. He was off-target as was Francisco Urroz, the latter badly missing an opportunity to take the lead. Ultimately it came down to a try. The decisive score came from Tomás Dussaillant. The replacement went over under the posts after his forwards had sent Brazil retreating. Urroz added the conversion.

The result sees Chile gaining revenge for their lackluster performance against Brazil in São Paulo earlier this year. More importantly it gives Los Cóndores the chance to dream of making it to Japan 2019. Next up is another home match, this time against Paraguay. Brazil, meanwhile, travel to Montevideo to face Uruguay. Both matches are on Saturday, May 20.

 

SCORING

CHILE 15
Tries – F. Velarde (31’), T. Dussaillant (73’)
Cons – F. González Moller 0/1, F. Urroz 1/1 (78’)
Pens – G. González Moller 1/3 (3’), T. Ianiszewski 0/1, F. Urroz 0/1

BRAZIL 10
Tries – D. van Niekerk (37’)
Cons – M. Duque 1/1 (38’)
Pens – M. Duque 1/2 (20’)

 

TEAMS

CHILE
1 Ramón Ayarza (17 Vittorio Lastra 77’), 2 Manuel Gurruchaga (capt.) (16 Tomás Dussaillant 62’), 3 José Tomás Munita, 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 Mario Mayol (19 Manuel Dagnino 60’), 6 Ignacio Silva, 7 Anton Petrowitsch, 8 Benjamín Soto, 9 Jan Hasenlechner (21 Beltrán Vergara 50’), 10 Francisco González Moller (22 Francisco Urroz 65’), 11 Franco Velarde, 12 Francisco de la Fuente, 13 Matías Nordenflycht (23 José Ignacio Larenas 55’), 14 Felipe Brangier, 15 Tomás Ianiszewski

Not used: 18 Maximiliano Hurtado, 20 Alfonso Rioja

BRAZIL
1 Jonatas Paulo (17 Lucas Abud 13’-20’, HT), 2 Yan Rosetti, 3 Caíque Silva (18 Matheus Rocha HT), 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Gabriel Paganini (19 Cléber Dias 67’), 6 André Arruda, 7 Arthur Bergo (20 João Luiz da Ros 60’), 8 Nick Smith (capt.), 9 Lucas Duque (23 Robert Tenório 70’), 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Lucas Tranquez (21 Laurent Bourda-Couhet 44’), 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 De Wet van Niekerk, 15 Daniel Sancery

Not used: 16 Luan Almeida, 22 Stefano Giantorno

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Joaquín Montes (URU)
Assistants: Francisco González (URU) & Juan Esteban Silva (URP)