USA thrash Chile in ARC opener

The US Eagles made easy work of Chile in the opening match of the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship, scoring 11 tries en route to a 71-8 final. AJ MacGinty led the way with a hat-trick in his return from injury, also landing five conversions to come one point shy of the USA single-game points-scoring record of 26.

Another notable moment came in the second minute when Joe Taufete’e crossed for his 15th career test try. It tied Keith Wood’s all-time record for most test tries by a front row forward, and puts Taufete’e one behind Wood for most tries as a hooker with 14.

MacGinty’s first try came in the 6th minute but the floodgates would close temporarily as Chile scored their only points of the half through the boot of Francisco González Moller. The USA would have their bonus point sewed up before the half-hour mark as Paul Lasike, Nick Civetta, and Shaun Davies scored in quick succession. Hanco Germishuys blasted over to bring on the intermission with the score 33-3.

Chile would enjoy something of a purple patch after MacGinty scored his second. The Cóndores held out and worked their way into US territory. After a line break from Tomás Dussaillant got them close it was another front rower, prop Matías Dittus, who went in low under the defense for a try on debut.

It would take another 15 minutes before the Eagles would break through again. MacGinty crossed for his third to earn an early shower. His replacement, Tadhg Leader, wasted no time getting his name on the scoring sheet. Just moments into his international career he would take a wide pass from Ruben de Haas into the corner, converting his own from a tough angle.

de Haas would score one himself soon after on a long breakaway sparked by Marcel Brache and Bryce Campbell. Chile would be reduced to just 13 men to end the game as Julio Blanc went to the bin for a tip-tackle and Dittus for collapsing a scrum. With the extra space Cam Dolan sauntered over to bring down the curtains.

The USA continue their South American trip in Cipoletti next week where they face the Argentina XV. Chile will also be on the road with a match against Uruguay in Montevideo next on their schedule.

SCORING

CHILE 8
Tries – M. Dittus (49’)
Cons – F. Urroz 0/1
Pens – F. González Moller 1/1 (17’)
Yellow cards – J. Blanc (78’), M. Dittus (80’)

USA 71
Tries – J. Taufete’e (2’), A. MacGinty 3 (6’, 46’, 64’), P. Lasike (22’), N. Civetta (26’), S. Davies (29’), H. Germishuys (40’), T. Leader (68’), R. de Haas (74’), C. Dolan (80’)
Cons – A. MacGinty 5/7 (7’, 27’, 30’, 47’, 65’), W. Magie 1/1 (23′), T. Leader 2/3 (69’, 80’)

TEAMS

CHILE
1 Francisco Pizarro (17 Javier Carrasco 32’), 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Nicolás Ovalle (18 Matías Dittus 32’), 4 Bastián Burguener (16 Augusto Böhme 51’ {3 Nicolás Ovalle 66}), 5 Clemente Saavedra (19 Javier Eissmann HT), 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Ignacio Silva, 8 Jaden Laing (20 Thomas Orchard HT), 9 Domingo Saavedra (21 Juan Pablo Larenas 47’), 10 Francisco González Moller (23 Julio Blanc 48’), 11 Gonzalo Lara, 12 Vicente Ayarza, 13 Christian Huerta, 14 José Ignacio Larenas, 15 Tomás Ianiszewski (22 Francisco Urroz 17’)

USA
1 Titi Lamositele (18 Paul Mullen 66’), 2 Joe Taufete’e (16 James Hilterbrand 66’), 3 Dino Waldren (17 Chance Wenglewski 51’), 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Nick Civetta (19 Nate Brakeley 63’), 6 John Quill (20 David Tameilau 56’), 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Shaun Davies (21 Ruben de Haas 54’), 10 AJ MacGinty (22 Tadhg Leader 66’), 11 Marcel Brache (capt.), 12 Paul Lasike (23 Dylan Audsley 66’), 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Gannon Moore, 15 Will Magie

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
Assistants: Frank Méndez (FERUCHI) & Luis Díaz (FERUCHI)
TMO: Gabriel Pinter (UAR)