Pampas and Capibaras Play Out Tense Semi Final

Los Pampas and Los Capibaras competed in a tense Semi Final on Friday. In the second Super Rugby Americas (SRA) Semi Final, the Buenos Aires side defended brilliantly to eliminate the rookie SRA club. The 19-11 victory sees Los Pampas qualifying for the SRA 2026 Final against Los Dogos in Córdoba on Friday, June 19.

There were no first-half tries. This was not a reflection of the conditions nor of a lack of creative play; rather, it underlined how impressive both teams were defensively. Both teams scored points only via penalties in the half. Estanislao Renthel landed three for Los Pampas while Ignacio Dogliani landed two for Los Capibaras.

The first try of the match came minutes before the close of the third quarter. Scrum-half Lucas Marguery darted over from close range. Renthel added the conversion to give Los Pampas some breathing space.

Los Capibaras looked to responded but were held at bay by well-organized defense. Los Pampas then extended their lead with twelve minutes remaining with Renthel adding his fourth penalty of the night.

The was running out; yet, Los Capibaras showed a never say die attitude. Their determination was rewarded in the game clock’s final minutes. Replacement Bautista José Grenon came away with a try from a lineout to maul.

There was only a second left after Ignacio Dogliani’s conversion attempt sailed wide. It meant there was time for a restart though it mattered not as the score was 19-11. The end of the match means the SRA Champion for 2026 will either be Córdoba’s Dogos or Buenos Aires’ Pampas.

 

SCORING

PAMPAS (19)
TRY – L Marguery (56′)
CON – E Renthel (57′)
PEN – E Renthel 4 (16′, 23′, 36′, 68′)
YC – F Lusarreta (12′); L Moresco (79′)

CAPIBARAS (11)
TRY – BJ Grenón (79′)
PEN – I Dogliani (19′, 32′)
YC – F Villagrán (12′)

 

LINE-UPS

PAMPAS
1 Matías Medrano, 2 Francisco Lusarreta, 3 Marcos Camerlinckx, 4 Rodrigo Fernández Criado, 5 Francisco Sluga, 6 Faustino Santarelli, 7 Augusto Cabano Wall, 8 Lucas Moresco, 9 Lucas Marguery (capt.), 10 Estanislao Renthel, 11 Jerónimo Ulloa, 12 Juan Cruz Corso, 13 Agustín Fraga, 14 Santiago Pernas, 15 Tobías Wade

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Bottazzini, 17 Nahuel Zunini, 18 Ramiro Berardi Calvo, 19 Joaquín Pascual Viale, 20 Juan Penoucos, 21 Alejo Lavayén, 22 Bautista Farisé, 23 Santiago Cordero

CAPIBARAS
1 Diego Correa, 2 Martín Vaca, 3 Enzo Fabrizio Avaca, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Ignacio Gandini, 7 Felipe Villagrán, 8 Manuel Bernstein (capt.), 9 Alejo Sugasti, 10 Ignacio Dogliani, 11 Gino Dicapua, 12 Guido Chesini, 13 Bautista Estelles, 14 Lautaro Cipriani, 15 Franco Rossetto

Replacements: 16 Bernardo Lis, 17 Juan Ignacio Rodriguez, 18 Ignacio Orsetti, 19 Ignacio Alejandro Gallo, 20 Bautista José Grenon, 21 Juan Lovell, 22 Juan Bautista Baronio, 23 Bruno Heit

 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

To Follow

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Tomás Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Francisco González (Uruguay); Tomás Ninci (Argentina)