Chile Celebrate Solid Victory Over Romania

It was a big evening for Chile Rugby as Los Cóndores completed a solid victory over Romania. In a match that could have gone either way, Chile came out on top to win 48-31 at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago. The win came with Chile demonstrating planting of character to start the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup

Los Cóndores scored the opening points through the boot of Matías Garafulic. The center was back in the action again after three more minutes as he converted Lucas Berti’s try. What looked like being all-Chile was quickly proven not to be so as Romania scored twice through Ștefan Marko Buruiană and Adrian Mitu for a 14-10 lead.

Garafulic and Gabriel Rupanu exchanged penalties before half-time while a try to loose head Javier Carrasco and another to flanker Raimundo Martínez ensured Los Cóndores were on top at half-time with a 27-17 lead.

Romania showed plenty of fight in the opening half and this continues in the second-half too. South African Dylan Schwartz scored for Romania to reduce Chile’s lead to three points. Diego Escobar scored his first of two tries in response.

El inicio del complemento mantuvo la intensidad. Rumania descontó rápidamente para ponerse a solo tres puntos, pero nuevamente apareció una de las principales armas chilenas. Tras otro maul dominante, Diego Escobar apoyó el cuarto try nacional y devolvió algo de tranquilidad al marcador.

Cuando el conjunto europeo volvió a acercarse hasta el 34-31, emergió el liderazgo del capitán Martín Sigren. El tercera línea culminó una nueva ofensiva chilena con un try que volvió a estirar la ventaja y terminó inclinando definitivamente el encuentro a favor de los nacionales.

En los minutos finales, Los Cóndores mantuvieron la presión sobre la defensa rumana y sellaron el triunfo gracias al segundo try personal de Diego Escobar, quien culminó una gran corrida iniciada desde una sólida plataforma de maul. Santiago Videla acertó la conversión para decretar el definitivo 48-31.

Romanian fullback Marius Simionescu went over late in the third quarter to give Chile a scare. However, with good use of the replacements and both Raimundo Martínez and Diego Escobar adding tries, Chile finished the contest 17 points above Romania.

Los Cóndores now turn their attention to Hong Kong. Chile will have home advantage on Saturday, July 11 against the Asia no. 2. The match will take place at the Estadio Sausalito in what is to be a preview ahead of their match at Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.

Romania will also be in action again on Saturday, July 11. The Oaks travel to Montevideo to face Uruguay at the Estadio Charrúa.

 

MATCH NOTES

• Emilio Shea and Max Schleiger debuted for Chile.
• South Africans Jean–Pierre Smith and Keanan Murray debuted for Romania.

 

SCORING

CHILE (48)
TRY – L Berti (14′), J Carrasco (29′), R Martinez 2 (40′, 63′), Diego Escobar 2 (48′, 71′)
CON – M Garafulic 4 (15′, 30′, 40′, 49′), S Videla 2 (64′, 72′)
PEN – M Garafulic 2 (11′, 34′)
YC – M Garafulic (57′)

ROMANIA (31)
TRY – A Mitu (19′), S Buruiana (25′), D Schwartz (42′), M Simionescu (58′)
CON – G Rupanu 4 (19′, 26′, 43′, 59′)
PEN – G Rupanu (39′)
YC – N Onuțu (42′), A Mahu (47′)

 

LINE-UPS

CHILE
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Raimundo Martínez, 8 Ernesto Tchimino, 9 Lucas Berti, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Nicolás Saab, 12 Domingo Saavedra, 13 Matías Garafulic, 14 Manuel Bustamante, 15 Cristobal Game

Replacements: 16 Jorge Delgado, 17 Emilio Shea, 18 Matías Dittus, 19 Max Schliesinger, 20 Clemente Saavedra, 21 Marcelo Torrealba, 22 Santiago Videla, 23 Clemente Armstrong

ROMANIA
1 Alexandru Savin, 2 Ștefan Marko Buruiană, 3 Jean-Pierre Smith, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 5 Andrei Mahu, 6 Kemal Altinok, 7 Cristi Boboc (capt.) 8 Adrian Mitu, 9 Gabriel Rupanu, 10 Daniel Plai, 11 Iliesa Tiqe, 12 Jason Tomane, 13 Dylan Schwartz, 14 Nicolas Onuțu, 15 Marius Simionescu

Replacements: 16 Tudor Butnariu, 17 Iulian Hartig, 18 Cosmin Manole, 19 Logan Weidner, 20 Keanan Murray, 21 Alin Conache, 22 Mihai Graure, 23 Damian Bonaparte

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Video: To Follow

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Juan Manuel Martínez (Argentina); Cauã Ricardo (Brazil)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FR)