Uruguay Down Emerging Italy in Nations Cup

Uruguay downed Emerging Italy in the Nations Cup earlier today. The 23-19 win was the second straight victory for Los Teros, the hosts of the World Rugby organized tournament.

Emerging Italy came off a late defeat against the Argentina XV. They were looking to go one better in Montevideo today. Their task was not to be an easy one as Uruguay had impressed in defeating the Fiji Warriors 29-10 on Saturday.

A bright start from Emerging Italy saw no 8 Andrea Trotta diving over from close range. The 12th minute try would go unconverted.

At the completion of the opening quarter Uruguay had leveled the scores at 5-5. Going over for the opening try for Los Teros was Federico Favaro. The left winger received a brilliant off-load from fullback Gastón Mieres who had made a half break.

Six minutes later and Uruguay and their second try. Coming off his wing was Leandro Leivas. The right winger cut through the mid-field defense to break into the Italian 22. With good support from Joaquín Prada Los Teros went ahead in style.

Yet it would be Emerging Irtaly who would lead at half time. In the 39th minute captain Federico Conforti was the try scorer from an advancing 5 meter scrum. Fullback Massimo Cioffi converted to give Emerging Italy a 12-10 half time lead.

In the second half Uruguay gained control. They did so with great impact from the bench. Replacement fly half Felipe Berchesi set-up the opening score after the interval. Having made a break the opportunist Andrés Vilaseca scored yet again from a loose ball. Agustín Ormaechea converted before being replaced by Santiago Arata.

Two Berchesi penalties put the result beyond doubt. With the game into the final minutes Los Teros were 23-12 ahead. Emerging Italy would, nevertheless, find a late score as Uruguayan ill discipline saw a penalty try awarded. With it the final winning margin was four points.

Both teams will play again on Sunday. They are to do so in the third and final round of the Nations Cup. Emerging Italy will battle it out against the Fiji Warriors for third place while Uruguay host the Argentina XV with the winner to be the 2018 Nations Cup Champion.

 

SCORING

URUGUAY 23
Tries – F. Favaro (21′), J. Prada (27′), A Vilaseca (53′)
Cons – A. Ormaechea 1/3 (54′)
Pens – F. Berchesi 2/2 (57′, 74′)
Yellow cards – M. Benitez (79′), N. Freitas (80′)

EMERGING ITALY 19
Tries – A. Trotta (13′), F. Conforti (39′), Penalty try (80′)
Cons – A. Menniti-Ippolito 0/1, M. Cioffi 1/1 (40′)
Pens – A. Menniti-Ippolito 0/1

 

TEAMS

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (17 Matías Benitez 60′), 2 Carlos Pombo (16 Germán Kessler 45′), 3 Juan Echeverría (18 Felipe Inciarte 60′), 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Diego Ayala (19 Diego Magno 56′), 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara (capt.), 7 Juan Diego Ormaechea, 8 Alejandro Nieto (20 Manuel Diana 54′), 9 Agustín Ormaechea (21 Santiago Arata 54′), 10 Rodrigo Silva (22 Felipe Berchesi HT), 11 Federico Favaro, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Joaquín Prada (23 Nicolás Freitas 54′), 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Gastón Mieres

EMERGING ITALY
1 Riccardo Brugnara (17 Niccolò Zago 52′), 2 Nicolò Broglia (16 Luhandre Luus 65′), 3 George Iacob (18 Alessandro Vannozzi 58′), 4 Ugo D’Onofrio (19 Davide Fragnito 54′), 5 Samuele Ortis, 6 Giovanni Pettinelli (20 Gianmarco Vian 73′), 7 Federico Conforti (capt.), 8 Andrea Trotta, 9 Simone Parisotto (21 Charly Trussardi 54′), 10 Andrea Menniti-Ippolito (22 Maicol Azzolini 56′), 11 Pierre Bruno, 12 Matteo Gabbianelli (23 Marco Capraro 60′), 13 Marco Zanon, 14 Andrea Bronzini, 15 Massimo Cioffi

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Shota Tevzadze (GRU)