Super Rugby Americas (SRA) newcomers, Los Capibaras completed a statement victory on Saturday. Playing at home in Rosario, Los Capibaras dominated the reigning SRA champions, Peñarol with a 34-7 victory. The bonus point win sees Los Capibaras sending a warning to others: they are here to play.
Los Capibaras had a solid lineout and an impressive scrum. The team was also well-organized and played with intent. Peñarol had their moments but were too often being forced backwards. Discipline was also a factor for large period of play; indeed, second-rower Manuel Rosmarino was yellow carded inside the opening 10 minutes.
Los Capibaras took advantage of the situation to score the opening try. Back-rower Ignacio Gandini scored from a lineout to maul move. Juan Bautista Baronio converted from wide and from an unfavorable angle.
Both Gandini and Baronio are experienced SRA players but for teams other than the debuting Capibaras. Additional recruits back home to El Litoral contributed to first-half points. Franco Rossetto is a case in point. He scored twice in the first-half to make it a 21-0 scoreline at the close of the half.
Good defense from Peñarol denied Los Capibaras a try and set-up a goal-line drop-out. It was gathered by replacement Ignacio Dogliani who executed a perfect drop-goal for the home side.
Teenage hooker Manuel Cuneo shined brightly on debut for Los Capibaras. His replacement, Federico Cescut filled-in well and scored the bonus point try. Cescut went over from a lineout to maul and with it Peñarol were 31-0 down.
The Uruguayans found their way over in the final minutes. Sebastián Pérez scored from a rare off-target Capibaras lineout. His try was the one score of the night for Peñarol.
Baronio ended the scoring with a penalty for a 34-7 final scoreline. He and his teammates now turn their attention to Os Cobras. The week two battle will also be a home game for the SRA rookie team. Peñarol return to Montevideo to prepare for Los Tarucas. Week one results see Los Tarucas taking excellent form with them to the Estadio Charrúa.
CAPIBARAS (31)
TRY – I Gandini (10′); F Rossetto 2 (25′, 40′); F Cescut (70′)
CON – JB Baronio (11′, 26′, 40′, 71′)
PEN – JB Baronio (80′)
DG – I Dogliani (61′)
YC – JI Rodríguez (65′)
PENAROL (7)
TRY – S Pérez (77′)
CON – J Ferrario (78′)
YC – M Rosmarino (9′)
CAPIBARAS
1 Diego Correa, 2 Manuel Cuneo, 3 Enzo Avaca, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Ignacio Gandini (capt.), 7 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 8 Manuel Bernstein, 9 Alejo Sugasti, 10 Juan Bautista Baronio, 11 Franco Rossetto, 12 Guido Chesini, 13 Bruno Heit, 14 Gino DiCapua, 15 Tomás Sigura
Replacements: 16 Federico Cescut, 17 Juan Ignacio Rodríguez, 18 Lisandro Dipierri, 19 Ignacio Gallo, 20 Felipe Villagrán, 21 Juan Lovell, 22 Ignacio Dogliani, 23 Bautista Estellés
PENAROL
1 Francisco Suárez, 2 Joaquín Myszka, 3 Agustín Iglesias, 4 Bautista Cat, 5 Manuel Rosmarino, 6 Pedro Suárez, 7 Lucas Bianchi (capt.), 8 Manuel Ardao, 9 Alejandro Molinas, 10 Justo Ferrario, 11 Ignacio Facciolo, 12 Joaquín Suárez, 13 Juan Manuel Alonso, 14 Tomás Baca Castex, 15 Santiago Marolda
Replacements: 16 Sebastián Pérez, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Juan Francisco Besso, 19 José Ignacio Rodríguez, 20 Ignacio Merli, 21 Francisco Lawlor, 22 Ícaro Amarillo, 23 Alfonso, Perillo
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