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In a special intercontinental contest Selknam and Black Lion went head-to-head on Friday. The match was between a team from Chile and a team from Georgia. These are teams from Super Rugby Americas and the Rugby Europe Super Cup respectively.
In what was an epic contest Black Lion finished 33-30 winners. The match was not decided until the final tackle was made. The lead changed hands with Selknam having fought back from being well behind to lead in the final minutes.
The match was the leading domestic-based professional rugby players from Chile facing their counterparts from Georgia. It could arguably have been a test match. It was treated as such; both Chile and Georgia have their eyes on Rugby World Cup 2023.
Selknam were far better against Black Lion than were Los Dogos one week ago. Black Lion ate Los Dogos alive on that day. The 75-19 win raised questions of the competitiveness of teams in Super Rugby Americas. No such questions will be asked after the 5th placed Selknam’s showing against the Georgians.
Selknam fullback Francisco Urroz opened the scoring. Having missed an earlier penalty, Urroz landed his second attempt. Black Lion responded with the game’s opening try. Winger Otari Lashkhi dotted down to give Black Lion a lead that they would retain until the final minutes.
Black Lion added two further first half tries while Selknam crossed for just the one. The score by Raimundo Martínez was quite remarkable. The flanker broke through four defenders and accelerated to score.
Black Lion were 21-10 ahead at half time. They added a lineout to maul try to open the second half scoring. Selknam captain Santiago Videla cancelled it out with a try for his side. Of note was that Videla played the match on the wing. He previously did so against the USA in the RWC qualifier win in Denver.
Selknam chipped away at the Black Lion lead. Urroz slotted two second half penalties and Selknam matched the Georgians second half tally with two of their own. Nicolás Herreros’ 69th minute score made it a 28-27 scoreline in favor of Black Lion.
The Chileans took the lead with seven minutes remaining. Urroz slotted his third penalty of the match to make it 30-28. The action-packed match was not yet over. In a final twist, Black Lion went ahead with under two minutes remaining. Akari Tabutsadze scored to end the scoring at 33-30.
Black Lion now travel to Argentina. The Georgians take-on Los Pampas at Deportiva Francesa next Friday. Selknam fly to Colorado. They face the Raptors on April 22 at Infinity Park.
SCORING
SELKNAM (30)
Try – R Martínez (20′); S Videla (48′); N Herreros (69′)
Con – F Urroz 3/3 (21′, 49′, 70′)
Pen – F Urroz 3/4 (5′, 59′, 73′)
YC – P Huete (32′)
BLACK LION (33)
Try – O Lashkhi (8′); G Babunashvili (28′); M Babunashvili (33′); S Mamukaschvili (42′); A Tabutsadze (78′)
Con – G Babunashvili 3/3 (9′, 29′, 34′); L Matkava 1/1 (43′)
YC – S Mamamtarishvili (15′); M Babunashvili (37′); T Zamtaradze (59′)
RC – M Babunashvili (70′)
TEAMS
SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Pablo Huete, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Clemente Saavedra, 7 Raimundo Martínez, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Matías Garafulic, 12 Pablo Casas, 13 Domingo Saavedra ,14 Santiago Videla (capt.), 15 Francisco Urroz
Replacements: 16 Augusto Bohme, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Santiago Pedrero, 20 Ignacio Silva, 21 Lukas Carvallo, 22 Nicolás Herreros, 23 Thomas Orchard, 24 Jorge Delgado, 25 Simon Donoso, 26 Gaspar Moltedo
BLACK LION
1 Dato Abduschelisahvili, 2 Salva Mamukaschvili, 3 Nikoloz Khitiashvili, 4 Nodar Cheishvili, 5 Mikheil Babunashvili, 6 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 7 Sando Mamamtarishvili, 8 Luka Ivanishvili, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 10 Giorgi Babunashvili, 11 Otari Lashkhi, 12 Merab Sharikadze (capt.), 13 Demur Tapladze, 14 Akari Tabutsadze, 15 Lasha Khmaladze
Replacements: 16 Tengiz Zamtaradze, 17 Goga Kadaria, 18 Giorgi Chkhartishvili, 19 Tornike Akubardia, 20 Niko Aptsiauri, 21 Giorgi Margalitadze, 22 Luka Matkava, 23 Mirian Modebadze, 24 Tornike Kakhoidze, 25 Grigor Kerdikoshvili, 28 Nika Pataraia
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Simón Larrubia (AR)
Assistant Referees: Cláudio Cattivelli (UY); Luca Solda (AR)
