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Uruguay were 20-15 winners over Zimbabwe on Saturday in what was the first-ever rugby test match between the two countries. The hard-fought win saw energetic play from both teams and four first-half tries but none in the second-half.
Los Teros started the contest strongly. Center Juan Manuel Alonso scored in the 7th minute. The try had a centennial connection as Mateo Sanguinetti put in the assist pass in what was his 100th test match for Uruguay. Ícaro Amarillo added the conversion and Uruguay’s players had their heads up.
Zimbabwe responded to open their account on 13 minutes. Jason Robertson landed a penalty for a 7-3 deficit. The Sables then went ahead after a pair of rapid-fire tries from Tino Mavesere and Godfrey Muzanargwo. Suddenly, the Africans were 15-7 up after 25 minutes.
Uruguay successfully held their lines for the remainder of the match. Los Teros also scored thirteen points of their own. The next score was a well-taken opportunity in the right corner. With a man over, Juan Manuel Alonso passed to his right and the ball bounced well for Juan González. The Worcester Warriors winger just managed to get the ball down.
Zimbabwe held a 15-14 lead at half-time. Uruguay’s fight back started early with Ícaro Amarillo putting the South Americans back in the lead in the 43rd minute. It was one of just two point-scoring moments of the half. The other was another Amarillo penalty two minutes before the close of the third quarter.
Uruguayan captain Manuel Leindekar was happy to play out the remainder of the match. Rather than kick for the corner, he twice had Amarillo attempt penalties from inside his own half. Amarillo missed two which meant the contest concluded with five points separating the teams.
Zimbabwe will play another South American team next weekend when they take on the in-form Chile. That match will be played at Stade Chanzy in Angoulême, France. Meanwhile, Los Teros travel to Lisbon to face Portugal. Both matches will be played next Saturday.
| NOTES |
- The match opened international competition between Zimbabwe and Uruguay.
- Mateo Sanguinetti earned his 100th test cap, becoming the 2nd Uruguayan centurion after Diego Magno.
- Faustino Etchegorry and Manuel Parodi debuted for Uruguay.
| SCORING |
ZIMBABWE (15)
TRY – T Mavesere (20′), G Muzanargwo (25′)
CON – J Robertson (21′)
PEN – J Robertson (13′)
YC – J Robertson (80′)
URUGUAY (20)
TRY – JM Alonso (7′), J Gonzalez (30′)
CON – Í Amarillo 2 (8′, 31′)
PEN – Í Amarillo 2 (43′, 58′)
| LINE-UPS |
ZIMBABWE
1 Victor Mupunga, 2 Liam Larkan, 3 Bornwell Gwinji, 4 Dale Lemon, 5 Gary Porter, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere (capt.), 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 8 Aiden Burnett, 9 Tyrone Gombe, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Edward Sigauke, 12 Dion Khumalo, 13 Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, 14 Matthew McNab, 15 Tapiwa Mafura
Replacements: 16 Bryan Chiang, 17 Tjide Visser, 18 Farai Mudariki, 19 Daniel Cooke, 20 Tadiwanashe Gwashu, 21 Vuyani Dhlomo, 22 Ian Prior, 23 Bruce Houston
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Faustino Etchegorry, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Manuel Leindekar (capt.), 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Ignacio Rodríguez Bosch, 10 Ícaro Amarillo, 11 Ignacio Álvarez Akiki, 12 Juan Manuel Alonso, 13 Justo Ferrario, 14 Juan González, 15 Manuel Parodi
Replacements: 16 Germán Kigel, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Reinaldo Piussi, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Manuel Rosmarino, 21 Pedro Hoblog, 22 Alfonso Perillo Albarracin, 23 Alfonso Vidal
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
Video: To Follow
| MATCH OFFICIALS |
Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Ben Connor (Wales)
Television Match Official: Stefano Penne (Italy)
