A hat-trick to flanker Santiago Civetta, helped guide Uruguay to victory against Paraguay in a Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifier on Saturday. Los Teros were 38-0 winners over Paraguay in Asunción in what was the first of a two-match series. Game two will take-place in Montevideo in August. The winner will face Chile in the South American Final to determine who qualifies for Australia 2027 as South America 1.
Uruguay had a dream start in Asunción. Center Joaquín Suárez sliced cleanly through the mid-field defense in the 2nd minute. He off-loaded to Santiago Civetta to score his first try. Santiago Álvarez converted from close to the posts.
Try two came eleven minutes later. Following a lineout to maul drive inside the Paraguayan 22, Uruguay used the width of the field and Tomás Etcheverry scored in the right corner. The try was the first for the Los Teros 7’s player who made the conversion from second-row to wing.
Uruguay were in control but scoring was slower than perhaps expected. The third try saw hooker Germán Kessler scoring following a lineout to maul move on 25 minutes. Álvarez missed the conversion but more than made up for it following the restart.
A box-kick from Álvarez was chased and won by Uruguay. It saw Juan González beating three attempted tackles before off-loading to Santiago Civetta for his second try. Álvarez converted for a 24-0 lead in the 28th minute.
The remainder of the first-half saw no scoring and nor did the third quarter of the match; in fact, Paraguay did not concede any points between the 28th and 67th minute of the test match. The drought ended with a sensational solo try from Santiago Álvarez. The scrum-half scored following a lineout and a 40 meter break.
A second try followed quickly. Uruguay had a scrum-feed on half-way. having won the ball, Joaquín Súarez burst up-field. Los Teros recycled smoothly so as to pass wide for Santiago Civetta to complete his hat-trick. The 72nd minute score was the final try. Ícaro Amarillo converted from the sideline.
The match was the second of two Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifiers played in South America on Saturday. The other match saw Chile at home against Brazil. Los Cóndores were 35-20 winners over Brazil. It was the second match of that side of the Semi Finals.
Chile now await the result of Uruguay vs Paraguay in August. Los Teros will have home advantage in games two against Paraguay. Uruguay will enter game two against the Paraguayans with a +38 point advantage.
- Uruguay remain unbeaten in international rugby competition against Paraguay.
- International competition between Paraguay and Uruguay began in 1971.
- Alfonso Perillo Albarracin madę his test debut for Uruguay.
- Germán Kessler earned his 70th cap for Uruguay.
- Manuel Diana earned his 50th cap for Uruguay.
PARAGUAY (0)
URUGUAY (38)
TRY – S Civetta (3); T Etcheverry; G Kessler; S Álvarez
CON – S Álvarez 2; F Etcheverry (1); Í Amarillo
PARAGUAY
1 Daniel Cabral, 2 Agustín Benítez, 3 Enrique Quinteros, 4 Mariano Garcete (capt.), Ignacio Martínez, 6 Francisco Bareiro, 7 Ariel Núñez, 8 Mateo Rodríguez, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro, 10 Joaquín Mussi, 11 Juan Gonzalez, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Ramiro Amarilla, 14 Gianfranco Parodi, 15 Arturo López
Replacements: 16 Jordi Chávez, 17 Cesar Pérez, 18 Estefano Aranda, 19 Juan José Heisecke, 20 Juan Martín Sebriano, 21 Camilo Blasco, 22 Diego Miño, 23 Hector Gayoso
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Perillo, 2 Germán Kessler, 3 Ignacio Peculo, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Manuel Leindekar (capt.), 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Ignacio Álvarez, 12 Joaquín Suárez, 13 Bautista Basso, 14 Tomás Etcheverry, 15 Juan González
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Mateo Sanguinetti, 18 Reinaldo Piussi, 19 Felipe Aliaga, 20 Lucas Bianchi, 21 Juan Manuel Tafernaberry, 22 Ícaro Amarillo, 23 Alfonso Perillo Albarracin
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (AR)
Assistant Referees: Cauã Ricardo (BR) Juan Pablo Chumbita (AR)
TMO: Lucas Galán (AR)
