ARC Round Up
- 2696
There were big wins for USA, Argentina XV and Canada in round three of the Americas Rugby Championship.
This weekend's results mean that USA still top the standings with Argentina XV and Uruguay in second and third.
- A hattrick of wins for the USA
- Argentina end Uruguay’s 14-game unbeaten run
- Canada back to winning ways
A hattrick of wins for the USA
USA claimed their third consecutive win in the competition to remain at the top of the table. USA fielded a relatively inexperienced side with 5 players making their test debuts against Chile.
Dylan Audsley and Malon Al-Jiboori all scored on their test debuts, while former NFL star Paul Lasike also crossed over for a try on his debut.
Former @@NFL player Paul Lasike goes on rampage to set up Malon Al-Jiboori for american wonder try [@USARugby] #ARC2018 pic.twitter.com/6Bx81lRB2O
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 18, 2018
Argentina end Uruguay’s 14-game unbeaten run
Joint leaders, with the USA, after two rounds of action Uruguay headed into their clash with Argentina - the competitions most successful side - having not lost a single match since the two sides met 12 months.
Uruguay's 14-game unbeaten run did not continue despite an early brace by centre Juan Manuel Cat, the second of the two came from a crunching tackle by Nicolás Freitas - who has put in multiple big hits so far this year,
Big hit leads to fantastic try for @RugbyUruguay #ARC2018 pic.twitter.com/h0NVo3jMWG
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 18, 2018
Uruguay lost their momentum when Mateo Sanguinetti was yellow carded and Argentina pounced on a loose ball after another big hit.
What a tackle! Big hit leads to @unionargentina try #ARC2018 pic.twitter.com/xoCywheYdY
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 18, 2018
Both sides headed into half time with a yellow card apiece for Argentine second-row Diego Galetto and Los Teros centre Andrés Vilaseca. Argentina lost their lead early in the second half but scored three unanswered tries to secure a 17-34 victory which sees them move into 2nd place on the log.
Canada back to winning ways
Canada got back to winning ways in 2018 having lost their first three matches of the year two Uruguay (twice) and USA.
The Canadians started the match well when Luke Campbell went over at the back of a rolling maul in the second minute of the match, Cole Davis sliced through the Brazilian defence for a second converted try ten minutes in.
Front rower Djustice Sears-Duru showed put in a massive swan-dive to score his side's third try of the match after half an hour.
SUPERMAN, That's how you finish a try! The big man Sears-Duru shows the backs how it's done. @RugbyCanada #ARC2018 pic.twitter.com/IesteVcTI5
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 18, 2018
Right before the break, DTH van der Merwe scored his 11th try in 10 tests to extend his national try-scoring record to 32. Canada continued to extend their lead to win the match 45-5.