Selknam was defeated 54-0 this Friday afternoon against Pampas of Argentinain the match that opened date 12 of the Super Rugby Americas league, a tournament for professional franchises on the continent.
This is the second defeat in the history of the Chilean representative, who on the previous date fell, also on the road, 35-17 against Peñarol Rugby of Uruguay.
Pampas’ overwhelming game took place from the first minute in the Cathedral of San Isidro, CASI’s home field. A triumph that helps the Argentines, based in Buenos Aires, to assert themselves at the top of the Super Rugby Americas table and stretch the difference with their followers.
The trans-Andean team, led by Juan Manuel Leguizamón, was solid in all facets of the game. Meanwhile, the Chilean team could never find a way to do damage to get into the game.
At first, Pampas showed all its power with the forwards and as a result of two mauls came the tries of Ignacio Bottazzini and Estanislao Carullo. The locals quickly took the lead on the scoreboard, showing themselves comfortable in contact and also in the game played.
At 30 minutes into the first stage, scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz explored the blind lake very well and had Joaquín Moro run on the left end, who scored a try for Pampas.
And with two minutes left before halftime, Santiago Pernas, one of the Argentines’ most explosive players, intelligently intercepted a ball and ran alone towards the try that closed an overwhelming first half.
The result at halftime was 26-0 in favor of Pampas, while Selknam showed a worrying face, because in the first stage he never managed to disturb the rival goal.
But the Chileans did not give up and seemed to even things out at the beginning of the second half, with both teams fighting for contact with the forwards.
However, 13 minutes into the second half, Bruno Heit crowned an outstanding play with a try that allowed the home team to escape even further on the scoreboard.
With the clock ticking, the tone of the match continued in the same way: with Pampas looking for the rival goal and Selknam holding on as best he could, without disturbing the Argentine franchise in attack.
Finally, a new try came from Joaquín Moro and another from Manuel Nogués, to seal the match and Pampas’ rout of Selknam 54-0.
With this result, Selknam will have to trust that Peñarol or Yacaré stumble, in addition to the imperative obligation to win their next two games.
This Saturday Cobras XV (Brazil)-American Raptors of the USA will play (13.55) and Yacaré
